Donald Middleton

by Carolyn James

Donald Middleton, a resident of Babylon, former Long Island Regional Director, and an environmentalist, was tapped as chairman of the Town of Babylon’s Conservation Commission recently. He is looking forward to reshaping the role and responsibility of the Commission, and working closely with elected officials to help usher the Town through a new era of responsible change and growth, he said.

Also appointed to the Commission is Harold L. Wade, Jr., of Amityville, an expert in organic horticulture and Scott Huber: They join other members, Carl Vogel, John Consiglio Bernice Bostic Carol Wilder, Harvey Fleck and Michael Juliano.

In his state of the town address recently, Babylon Town supervisor Steve Bellone said the days of the strip mall development in Babylon are over and that a new era of smart growth will be the hallmark of his administration. That kind of approach takes on a special meaning in a Town that is 99 percent developed, however, and means a rededication to careful planning for the future, as well as correcting some of the mistakes of the past.

"Hopefully we will have a chance to correct a lot of the mistakes and the errors of omission that occurred when this Town of given away—and it was," said Middleton, who added that the Commission will work closely with the various Beautification committees throughout the Town.

That’s not to say that the scope of the work and the projects will be plot-sized or small. Part of Bellone’s agenda is to entirely redevelop Route 110 into a technology corridor, which, he said, will help fuel the Town’s economy for decades to come.

At a recent business meeting sponsored by the Town’s Industrial Development Agency, Bellone outlined the importance of that plan to realtors, bankers and business owners. "There is incredible resiliency of our economy because of the strong housing market, but have to move forward if we hope to continue to have prosperity."

Bellone outlined three major areas: energy, affordable housing and traffic, all of which have to be addressed to keep the Town’s economy running.

Redeveloping the 110 corridor for technology will create high paying jobs and attract and keep young families in the Town, said Bellone. In addition, the Town is working with the Town of Huntington and hopes to reopen the Republic Airport Long Island Rail Road station and establish a shuttle between the two towns, to alleviate traffic in the area.

Middleton said these are all exciting projects that the Commission will play some role in on a consulting basis.

"There are a lot of retail and service jobs along the 110 Corridor that pay $30,000 to $40,000 a year, but these jobs don’t pay enough to keep our children on Long Island," said Middleton. "We have to work to attract environmental and technological businesses to the Town and to Long Island."

Middleton has 25 years of public service experience. He served as Manhattan’s Director in the office of Mayor John Lindsay from 1972-76 and was Long Island Regional Director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation from 1976 to 1983.

In 1983, he opened Kontokosta Associates an environmental consulting firm. He directed a number of projects, specializing in preparing environmental site assessments to assist banks, the FDIC and private clients to avoid clean-up liability and litigation costs. He is currently the Deputy Director of Planning and Environment for the Town of Huntington.

"My career has come full circle and I am delighted to be back in the public sector, serving in the Town of which I live," said Middleton.