Full Transcript

Thank you. Thank you. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everybody. Okay, I have several announcements to make. It's going to be a busy weekend in Riverhead. 7.30 on Saturday, October 4th, 7 a.m. to 10.30, the Riverhead Athletic Club 5K race at Riverhead High School. That's at 700 Harrison Avenue. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the American Cancer Society making strides against breast cancer walk at Granja Bell Park. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., fire prevention open house at Jamesport Firehouse on Manor Lane in Jamesport. From 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Racetrack Knot Street Motorsports event at EpCal. And the annual Chicken Kids consignment show at Polish Hall runs through Sunday. And that's from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. That's a great event, people. If you're young parents and you're looking for slightly used equipment for your toddlers or infants, awesome place to go and find some great bargains. And then on Sunday, October 5th, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., it's Racetrack Knot Street, drag and go-kart. And that also is up at EpCal. Okay, moving on, we will go to our open session. And on the open session, we have one item on today, and it's with Diane Tucci from the Main Street Agency, matters surrounding the 2025 Halloween Fest in downtown Riverhead. And that will be with Joanne and Diane. Come on up. Good morning. Good morning. I cannot believe it's the beginning of October and Halloween is almost here. I ordered my costume last night. I'm very excited. Are you going to tell us what it is? You have gotten me a costume. Are you going to tell us what it is? Are you going to tell us what it is? Are you going to tell us what it is? Are you going to tell us what it is? to share them with you today yeah i don't know what i'm going to do yet for a costume but i'll figure that one out come in the middle um so we've you know we kind of were waiting a little bit on plans because as you know the town square we weren't quite sure when the shovel was going to go on the ground so we're kind of planning a little bit conservatively even though you know we know it'll be after halloween fest but basically um a little bit of reinvention on the halloween fest also this year because it's not being run by the bid and so there's different funding and so forth so we're gonna uh look to have a four to ten event uh we're gonna have the showmobile in the town square just like we did during live at 25. uh we're gonna have the east sun arts bands we're gonna have the school of rock from riverhead iconic ballet theater riverhead blue mass all the community groups performing um and uh close down the town square we're gonna have uh some local uh breweries we're gonna have a seaside grill mugs on maine um riverhead brew house is now they have a new name moonfish brewery um and ben and jerry so far um they're all going to be participating and serving inside the town square area uh we're going to be looking to do some kid-friendly activities in there and kind of keep it contained inside there and really focus on um the parade because the parade is kind of an easy lift for the community with so many things going on and homecoming and all these different things so um really want to ramp up the parade and make it community friendly uh we do have some things yet that um i didn't hand out anything yet because we have some conversations but we are looking to hopefully confirm having fireworks oh nice at the end of uh the parade after we have our um our regular we're going to give out prizes for the best float and again we're just we have to fine-tune some hopefully we get some sponsors in and just have some details to work out on there we have a website and justin pulled that up uh i was up till midnight last night working on this uh haweenfestriverhead.com so that you're going to see when you go on there this is going to be updated as we go along there is a few things that are tentative to be announced because everything is still kind of it's early we know the date we know the time frame and we know that everyone's out there building floats um but this is more or less what the time frame is that we're looking at uh we're also looking to potentially do a new parade route um kind of came off of uh the idea that you're working on for the anniversary parade for riverhead not the same route but but we were talking about making it longer because people put so much time and effort into building these floats and energy that we really would like to make it a longer route so i've already spoken to the police chief and fire marshals everybody's fine but we just need to meet and like look at the route and kind of plan that make sure because again there's you know i just want to make sure the construction and everything like when we did alive in 25 be good with the construction we've talked to all the parties involved and there won't be anything going on prior to the parade okay i just want because like i know live in 25 like two weeks before all of a sudden those barrett those barricades were out and we didn't you know we had to do like a last minute reconfiguring of vendors for Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale so I believe those stay up. Kelly Brennan and Sean Brennan from Golden Acres are donating the corn socks to go on all the poles that have the veterans banners. Thank you. Yep and then so they'll take we'll take care of getting those decorated and then the opposite poles you know we'll be looking for businesses and organizations to decorate those like they have in years past and we're going to give a $150 prize for the best pole. How we're going to do all that judging yet we're going to figure all that out I promise you it'll come together but you know all the information will keep it here. We're also using the Alive on 25 social media pages that we built really staying with that Riverhead block party because people really gravitated towards that idea so you know. That worked out really well. Yeah so it's like the Halloween fest block party but since we have so many followers there and people are there we're just you know kind of just keeping it under that branding so that's social media and everything else. Kind of oh the pumpkin Derby so it was Joanne's idea. I was going to ask about that that looks terrific what's that about? That was your idea. I've found another state they have a Halloween party and they do the pumpkin Derby and it's where you take a pumpkin and you put it on wheels and you can decorate it however you want and then it's different age groups even adults and you push the pumpkin and whichever one comes in first to the finish line is on a little bit of a of a decline so whoever gets the the end first wins that's great where was this pumpkin have to stay on the cart to win does your pumpkin have to stay on the court to win i don't know i didn't think well we're going to figure so we are working a little bit on the fly and i think that we should be able to do it on heidi bear way without any problem talking about this big around it's nice and late to push yeah well we'll see and i you know we have to hopefully get the the goal will be i did was talking to some people i went on just came back from a vacation and there were some people i was talking to about getting some pumpkins donated so the goal really would be to have the pumpkins donated and have some of these things donated so families and kids could come out and they're kind of there ready and waiting for them so it doesn't cost anybody anything nobody has to really do anything except just show up and have some fun with it and i didn't check the tides for the day or anything but i mean we've had river flooding during all the events i don't want to talk about that but um with as long as all things are good weather condition and you know heidi bear ways still open and it would be a short term but um and again these are just conversations that you know after you guys are all like this is great i'll go back to the police chief and meet with him and just kind of confirm all the things that we're talking about and kind of solidify everything but the fireworks would be in the river that went off extremely well for alive and 25 so um and ed rubio is uh offered to also sponsor part of that so there is a cost to it but he's got something a little bit special up his sleeve um and ed rubio from the fireworks company um so i really hope people pull it out for the floats and participation in that because when i started this uh when i started it transferred from the poe festival and then i created the halloween fest because the year i took over that was we didn't have the contract for the poe festival that we created so my goal was to have the biggest and best halloween parade on the island um so i really kind of want to refocus on that so i think it's great to have the the fireworks hopefully we're able to to pull that off um because this is going to be the last event downtown that's before the shovel goes in the ground for the new um you know town square and all the exciting things that are happening downtown it's like we're going to go out with the bang into the new and i think i think it's going to be fabulous this is one of my favorite events i have to tell you i've been we've as a group my family's always gotten together and we've been in this parade every year and to see the number of people that you draw down that have been come down to that parade yeah that's reminds me of my younger days here yeah when they had parades and such it's the streets were lined with people it's great and and really again my goal like with the live and 25 and with this is really just kind of bring it back to the community and having community involvement and excitement and um you know and i think i think that buzz and we have plenty of time right now because everybody knows halloween's coming like i said we know the date is there and you know so now we can start getting people excited and having the businesses come in and the little things so and i think that you also mentioned that some of the uh businesses downtown might be creating um like a special menu for yeah yeah right so i put that on there right so that was one of the things um uh downtown crawl specials so again and you know i i don't want to make it sound like it's easy to put together but in some ways i'm you know reach out to everybody uh like i talked to steve from diggers you know the first thing i asked him do you want to serve food inside the town square he says we don't have the staff for it but we'll definitely do something so i'll start reaching out to everybody those and that's kind of how i had halloween fest set up when i first did it was all the specials and everything were just on the website um put a qr code out or whatever and on the facebook page so i challenged the businesses to come up with you know at that time mozzie was here right yeah like a spooky eyeball cocktail and you know like a little you know flaming things and you know so i will challenge all the businesses to come up with something fun and creative and you know like the downtown crawl that we had for alive on 25 whatever people have going on um you know we're just going to wrap it into that promotion and i do know and it's not a lot of people but i do know that it's going to be on here right now but i think it's the last day uh the aquarium has their spooky tree that they've uh they turn their whatever that is so that that probably will be open during the day but i will gather and um everything that's going on during the day and put that into this and you know so uh but with the fireworks we you know hopefully i think we're almost pretty set that we're going to be able to make that happen you know that will bring the business to you know downtown that was a great firework show yeah and it it was a great firework show and it was a great firework show and it was you know some places you go and it's like three fireworks go off and like that's it they did such a great job it went on for like what 20 minutes yeah at the at the um alive on twitter and they were great i mean i have to say again between uh ed rubio and his company and the fire marshal and the town everybody working i mean i've just never seen anybody work so hard to try and make something come together and they were really excited about it particularly andrew because he was like he loved the fact that it was in the river and away from the buildings and it just it was a great experience and i think it's a great thing to see that you know since it did work so well it was really a safer place to have it um being away from all the buildings and these things set the siege for the future town square and i know dawn was excited because we really started calling this the town square even though when that grass went in it was just like it was the grass grassy area right and it slowly mutated into the town square and setting the future and i'm excited and i i think it's kind of cool that i get to be throughout the last big event yeah so such a great job you and your agency i'm very pleased to be able to present this today with you and i hope that this the board supports it hundred percent i can't wait yeah so if anybody wants to volunteer you guys are fine you can just show up and have fun but if anybody you know halloween people either love it or they're not into it but you know anybody out there and tv land wants to just come out and have a good time you know um i think everybody knows how to find me at this point but um there's that website it's halloween fest riverhead right halloweenfestriverhead.com so we'll keep it up there maybe the town could drop a link off uh the town website just to this absolutely so this way because you know um we'll know how to contact us but anybody wants to get involved and get dressed up so in prior years you know um fire department wants to come out and we had classic car shows if anybody wants to do a headless horseman if anybody wants to come up with something fun and and surprising and you know um i would love to really put us on the map with this event again so and have some fun i remember a long time ago when i told you guys i said when you see me coming it's all going to be fun stuff so i'm happy to have be back doing that absolutely great well thank you for your support and um looking forward to it all right awesome thank you thank you diane my pleasure again that's october 25th from 4 p.m to 10 p.m and it'll all take place in the downtown room sunday and that's it there will be no rain there will be no rain probably snow zero 75 sunny and beautiful no humidity excellent well wasn't it last year the yaboo was gorgeous it was like 80 degrees it was too hot in costume actually that's why i'm saying yeah you have to ask for the right thing right morning okay that takes care of our open session um all the items we had on we are now moving up to resolutions uh deputy supervisor higgins if you would call out the resolutions good morning to the board good morning everybody's ready we'll get right into it resolution number one water district capital project number 82516 budget adoption for washville 1535 old country road i'm assuming that's the new uh car wash that's under construction at the corner of pulaski and route 58. resolution number two ratifies budget adjustment for the removal of unsafe structure chapter 217 article 4 40 17th street wedding river new york good number three ratifies budget adjustment for the removal of unsafe structure chapter 217 article 439 pi lane jamesport new york this one can't happen fast enough with that chimney resolution number four amends town board resolution number 2021-274 and it was just a typographical error in the amount of the unspent developer fee we're just cleaning that up number five reversal of budget adoption for the removal of weeds yard waste litter garbage refuse rubbish upon the premises known as 262 holst avenue waiting river new york resolution number four amends town board resolution number 2021-274 resolution number six authorizes removal of fixed assets number seven same thing authorizes removal of fixed assets i haven't seen my name in there as a fixed asset so that's good it's a good sign it's encouraging number eight amends fire prevention feed burn permit so just to remind the board we're not going to be charging it's a zero fee for the agricultural burn permits it's a zero fee for the agricultural burn permits number nine ratifies the authorization for one police department employee to attend a seminar for ten authorizes one police department employee to attend training number 11 authorizes fire marshal to attend fire arson investigation seminar number 10 I'm sorry number 12 the points of building plans examiner 13 appoints me maintenance mechanic twos number 14 ratifies the appointment of a colon park attendant to the recreation department for 15 ratifies the reclassification of a heavy equipment operator to construction equipment operator for 16 ratifies the reclassification of an automotive equipment operator to heavy equipment operator number 17 ratifies the resignation of a networks and systems specialist to number 18 ratifies the resignation of a traffic control specialist we actually have this resolution in duplicate it's in here twice two different departments were equally on it and put the same resolution in so we'll just pull number 20 because it's a duplicate so when we get to that number 19 ratifies the appointment of a net works and systems specialist to number 20 ratifies the resignation of a groundskeeper to number 20 that's the duplicate so we'll pull that one number 21 ratifies the authorization for the supervisor to execute a stipulation with local 1000 AFS CME AFL CIO Riverhead unit of the Suffolk local 3852 number 22 authorizes supervisor to execute agreement with interpreter for Justice Court Alvarez for 23 designating a visa for Sale Sale Sale Sale

agreement with a Demco Inc.

Number 26 ratifies authorization for the supervisor to sign an agreement with the Riverhead chamber of commerce for use of the town square for a movie and ice cream event that took place already. Jen and Jerry supplied the ice cream. Yup. That's a nice thing. Number 27 ratifies the authorization for the supervisor to execute a license agreement with the Riverhead business improvement district management association bidma. So they can use a portion of the annex next door for storage of some of their items. Number 28 ratifies the authorization for the supervisor to execute an agreement with Goodman marks associates Inc to conduct an appraisal. This will be done on the Vale Levitt building, uh, pending its contract and sale. Number 29 authorizes the supervisor to execute a letter of intent for the redevelopment of two 46 Griffin Avenue. This is for the lot right next door here.

Number 30 authorizes town attorney to retain special counsel for perfection of an appeal. This is regarding one of the, uh, cannabis cannabis dispensers. 31 authorizes the application for funding to empire state development through the long Island forward housing project to conduct a market study. This is for the TOD. Number 32 acceptance of bulletproof vest grant. It's nice to get 33 authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice for public hearing regarding us HUD community development block grants, CDBG 2026 funds. That'll take place November 6th at 2 PM for 34 adopts a local law to amend chapter two 89 of the Riverhead town code titled vehicles, traffic and parking regulations. Article four parking standing. And. Stopping

35 adopts a local law to men. Chapter two 89 of the Riverhead town code titled vehicles, traffic and parking regulations. Article one terminology

36 adopts a local law to men. Chapter two 13 of the Riverhead town code titled bicycles and electric scooters, electric scooters. Article one bicycles

number 37 adopts a local law to men. Chapter two 13. The Riverhead town code titled bicycles and electric scooters. Article two electric scooters.

Number 38 standardizes back factor vacuum truck and authorizes purchase for town and Riverhead highway department.

Number 39 authorizes purchase of dump trunk for dump truck for highway department. So people understand this is a new dump truck that is needed and it'll be a dump truck. Number 40. A number 41 awards bid for disposal of town generated construction and demolition material. Number 42 awards bid for Dow Flake Extra !

83 87% calcium chloride or equal. Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale Sale What we're doing here essentially is there were three bids that were awarded, so at the recommendation of the town engineer, they're going to give all three awards to the same paving company. It just makes things a little easier. Number 46, authorizes reduction of performance security for Overlook Homes Major Subdivision. Number 47, approve special event chapter 255 application for Bold Broadcasting LLC Riverhead Holiday Light Show. Number 48, pays the bills. We have one additional resolution that didn't make it into the packet. We have Greg Bergman here. We'll ask him to come up and he can review it with you guys. I have copies for the board and copies for the press as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. the resolution which the applicant, Adam Coples and Elizabeth Ronsetti, are seeking to amend. So, again, just the recitals, you know, the recitation of the public hearing dates. There is a secret negative declaration in there. I do have the EIFs prepared for that. I do not find that the amendment to the special permit application is expected to have any significant negative environmental impacts. When we get to the second to last page is where we start the conditions and the amendments to the prior resolution. So, being resolved that the town board hereby amends the conditions of town board resolution number 2023-751 as follows. Number one, the applicant no longer seeks an expansion of the number of restaurant seats which remain at the existing 80 seats. The applicant no longer seeks a physical expansion of the on-site facilities. And as such, the town board rescinds the previously approved 600 square foot expansion of the building as well as proposed expansion of the parking facilities. Number three, condition regarding tents, canopies, shelters, awnings or structures of any kind, whether temporary or permanent, shall remain in effect. And none of the aforementioned features shall be used upon the property for restaurant use or any other private event. Number four, no accessory structures located on the property shall be utilized for any use other than storage of equipment or supplies. Number five, and this is really the condition that the current applicants were seeking to amend. Number five, that the second floor of the structure may be used for restaurant use with total restaurant seating not to exceed 80 seats. That there should be no further expansion of the restaurant, restaurant use, parking facilities or catering use shall be permitted. Number seven, as there is no proposed expansion of the existing parking facilities and the further expansion of parking facilities is restricted per condition number six above. Conditions regarding parking setbacks from side and rear property lines is unnecessary. However, parking stalls in existing parking areas shall be physically delineated by parking stops in order to allow for orderly use of the parking facilities. Number eight, trash enclosure may remain in the location as depicted on the June 16th 2025 site plan prepared by young associates. Stamped by Douglas V Adams PE and Howard W Young LS and must be screened in a manner which conforms with town code 245-8. Number nine, as the approval for the construction of the physical expansion of the existing facility is rescinded per number two above. Conformance with the sound sense acoustic report is unnecessary. And then number 10, regarding hours of operation as the applicant is no longer proposing catering use in the subject premise and is only seeking traditional restaurant use. The need to regulate the hours of operation is no longer necessary. However, owners and operators of facilities shall be subject to all other applicable sections of town code, including but not limited to chapter 245. Chapter 247, loitering and graffiti. Chapter 247, loitering and obscene public content. Chapter 251, noise, public nuisances, and property maintenance. We just have to add the word no. Is no longer necessary. The hours of operation is longer necessary. We just need no one there. All right. Good.

So does the board have any questions or comments? I think given the proposal to no longer seek a catering use on the property, you know, we still have the controls in there that there's no tents, no, you know, structures that'll sort of limit the outdoor noise. And again, as they're not really proposing any physical expansion, they will need to expand the parking lot as was previously proposed. I think they're reasonable conditions and put a, you know, put the necessary safeguards in place. These were all the conditions we discussed as a board when they came before us. I certainly agree with that. I've actually been in contact with Adam and Elizabeth. They're really nice people that really are looking to put a fine restaurant in Jamesport. And I'm very happy to see this come to our town. And at the presentation, an individual was indicating that there were violations of the code with regard to lighting. There were no town violations with regard to the lighting. And I understand the photos that were sent were not from. This, I think the last week or so, I think they were prior dated photos. Are you familiar with this? I didn't see the photos I did. I wasn't able to attend, but I did listen to the public hearing. I looked in IPS that there were no complaints that were lodged with the code enforcement department. And again, I mean, if there are noncompliant lighting fixtures, a complaint can be made to the code enforcement department and they would investigate that. And if they're found, if they're founded, you know, they would address those. I mean, again, everything that I've been, you know, every all my conversations with. Elizabeth and Adam, if there's a violation of the property, I'm certain that they will be more than happy to remedy that issue. And, you know, they seem like very professional, responsible owners that are really just going to do a great job with this restaurant. And they have been in contact with Officer Downs and anything that even could slightly be an issue has been taken care of. Good. All right. So we're good? We're full into that opening. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Greg. Thank you. Okay. In a moment, I'm going to ask for a motion to go into executive session to discuss under litigation matters surrounding potential litigation with Suffolk County Water Authority. That will be with Howard. And that's the only item we have on for executive session. So could I have a motion to close open session and go into executive session? So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay. Open session is closed. We will now adjourn to executive session.