Name Change: Could One Suffolk County Town Be Preparing For A Makeover

They say a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, but some local residents, don’t quite agree with that sentiment.

Namely, they believe there is more to a name than meets the eye and ear. In fact, some residents are petitioning for a name change for the town of Farmingville.

Concerned that their name poorly represents their community, identifying them as the area synonymous with the Mexican Day controversy, they are considering changing their name to Oak Hills.

Those living west of Nicolls Road have been tossing the idea around for about a year and suggest that changing the name and the towns identity would help secure property values they believe were damaged by the “dispute”.

Plus, they say they would like more control over the happenings in the neighborhood/community and look forward to collaborating areas of Farmingville with sections of Holtsville and Lake Ronkonkoma.

However, their main focus is changing the name from Farmingville to Oak Hills.

Still, some locals and local officials note that they are not sure how the measure would affect immigration issues or home prices and they assert that many areas have been adversely affected in the real estate pocket book, not just Farmingville. And, some flat out oppose the idea.

The proposal would divide the village by a boundary by Nicolls Road on the east and the Long Island Expressway on the south; as well as Hettys Path on the north and Venue D on the west. Still, most of Farmingville’s day laborers reside on the east side of Nicolls Road, a busy north-south lane highway.

But, in order for the new measure to be enforced, the Oak Hills group must secure petitions form at least 20 percent of the voting residents in the proposed area and present the petition to the Town of Brookhaven Board fro review and consideration. Once the board okay’s the signatures and it proceeds to place the question on the ballot for approval by the majority of the local voters, before it can actually be put into motion and take effect.

And, if the proposal and name change were implemented, the new village, according to state law would be responsible for providing basic services including garbage collection, street maintenance, snow removal and police protection; all subsidized by taxes residents of the town would by and/or via the creation of new departments or contracting skilled professionals for the job. The new village would also have to secure a mayor, a board of trustees, a zoning board, a planning board, a clerk and a village attorney.

But some people are against incorporation as a new village, and note higher taxes as among their key concerns. But research is still being conducted on to maximize the advantages and minimize the “disadvantages”, including a possible migration of immigrant workers across Nicolls Road, which seemed to be at the heart of the proposal and the supporter’s efforts. But, for know it’s business as usual and one day at a t