June 18, 2026 — Town Board Work Session

Summary AI

The June 18 work session was brief, covering an executive session on several personnel, litigation, and contractual matters, then two public items: naming the town historian as Grand Marshal for the July 4th 250th anniversary parade, and discussing a memorial bench or plaque at South Jamesport Beach for a recently deceased community member.

Key actions

The town board named the town historian Grand Marshal of the July 4th 250th anniversary parade.
A board member presented a proposal to place a memorial plaque with native plantings at South Jamesport Beach for a community member who passed away last September, with the family offering to pay for it; the item was brought to the board for discussion and support before proceeding.

Discussed

Executive session covered personnel, tax grievance litigation involving Tanger Outlet Center, litigation involving a local golf course, an odd-even year election update, potential retirement incentive contract changes for three employee units, a racetrack contract matter, and a current investigation.

Auto-generated from an unofficial, machine-made transcript. It may misstate names, figures, or votes. Verify against the agenda and the full transcript below.

Timestamped Transcript

Click any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.

0:00Thank you.

0:30Good morning everybody.

0:49Today is Thursday, June 18th.

0:51And before we go any further for our executive work session, let's stand and say the Pledge

0:54of Allegiance.

0:55Councilman Rothwell, would you lead us please?

0:57Yes, Supervisor.

0:58I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:11Absolutely awesome. This morning we'll be moving right into executive session.

1:15And so in just a second I'll ask for a first and second to enter into executive session to discuss the following.

1:20Personnel matters surrounding update on disciplinary matter with an employee, with myself helping.

1:25Litigation matters surrounding tax grievance with Tanger Outlet.

1:28center with our assessor's office Tannenberg, Lipinski, and Brown. Matters surrounding litigation

1:33between the town of Riverhead and traditional links with Tannenberg, Lipinski, and Brown.

1:37Matters surrounding update on odd even year election with Councilor Howard. Contractual

1:42matters surrounding potential contractual change regarding retirement incentive for CSEA, PBA,

1:47and SOA with Halpin, Howard, DiApolo, and Peeker. Matters surrounding possible change

1:52to contractual agreement between the town of Riverhead and race track, Notch Street,

1:57with Councillor Howard and legal matters surrounding a current investigation and potential legal

2:02action with Councillor Howard.

2:04And may I have a first and a second to move into executive session, please?

2:08So moved.

2:09Second.

2:10All in favor?

2:11Aye.

2:11So moved.

2:12All right.

2:13Goodbye.

2:27Welcome back to our June 18th, 2026 work session where as we get ready to discuss one item,

2:43we have something extraordinarily exciting to announce this morning.

2:47And so I believe, Justin, you have a graphic for us that will be up as we announce our

2:52Grand Marshal for our 250th parade here in Riverhead.

2:56the absolute Georgette, our town historian.

2:58So Georgette, if you would come forward.

3:00Yes, we are so excited.

3:06All of the work that you do,

3:07all of the love that you have for this town,

3:09this community, and for the rest of Riverhead's history,

3:13may people remember that you led us

3:15into the next 250 years.

3:17So we have flowers to present to you.

3:19We have an absolute certificate of honor,

3:22and I've asked Councilman Rothwell to pin you

3:25with a 250th American flag.

3:28Councilor, so everybody knows,

3:29Georgette has a direct descendant

3:31from the Daughters of the American Revolution

3:33all the way back to the original days.

3:3514, so that is amazing.

3:36So this is so fitting for you to be our Grand Marshal.

3:40So if you mind, can I put this on here?

3:43Okay?

3:43Yes.

3:55Nice and straight.

3:56Perfect.

3:57Congratulations.

3:58Can I have a hug, Georgia?

4:00Thank you so much for honoring us with your presence at the parade and everything you do.

4:04Thank you.

4:05Would you like to say anything?

4:07You don't have to, but we just wanted to welcome you.

4:09Oh, I'm excited about 250 years.

4:14Yesterday was the 251st anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

4:22and I'm trying to prove that one of my ancestors fought in that battle.

4:30But thank you so much.

4:31I'm truly honored.

4:34I didn't expect it.

4:36Georgia, these are for you.

4:39And I want to say this.

4:40I am honored every time I come down there to your office.

4:45I learn so much.

4:46You have no idea.

4:50So thank you.

4:51Thank you.

4:53You've been doing such good work with all the committee,

4:56with all of the different events that we've had throughout the year so far.

4:59Thank you so much for everything.

5:01Thank you for your dedication to the town of Riverhead,

5:04for keeping our history alive.

5:07It means so much to me personally and the rest of the town.

5:12I think if the town was open seven days a week, I'd be here.

5:16You would.

5:17We had to call you over.

5:19You were volunteering at the Historical Society for Suffolk County.

5:22Yes.

5:22You are amazing.

5:24Thank you for all you do.

5:30I owe it all to my dad who instilled in me the history of not only Riverhead,

5:37but of the country.

5:39Absolutely.

5:40It means a great deal.

5:41Thank you.

5:42Can we take a couple pictures with you?

5:44Eric would you join us as our as our town council member we would love to do

5:48that

6:14Give me a hug.

6:20And if you're watching at home, don't miss July 4th.

6:23Our parade is going to be absolutely astonishing.

6:26And Georgette will be leading the way.

6:27Thank you.

6:35We'll see you at the parade, Georgette.

6:38Absolutely.

6:49Would you need Ashley Shandell down here?

6:53I really don't need her. This is going to be very simple.

6:56So one caveat, Georgette. We do have Paul Revere's horse for you to ride to lead the open front.

7:01Announce that the British are coming.

7:03George Ed, Councilman Rothwell has something for you he wants you to know.

7:09The caveat to being the Grand Marshal is you will be on Paul Revere's horse to announce a British are coming, headed down the front of the parade at full speed.

7:17Yes, ma'am.

7:20That's awesome.

7:22So for our holy work session item this morning, we have a matter surrounding memorial for Christina Gabrielson and James Ford with Councilman Waski.

7:29Yes, thank you.

7:30So as many of you know, unfortunately, we lost Christina Gabrielson, who is larger than life out in Jamesport from where she grew up this past September.

7:48Very young age of 49, she had a brief battle with cancer, and the community has really mourned her passing.

7:57and I've been in contact with her family and they would like to have a little

8:05memorial for her at South Jamesport Beach something that kind of resembles

8:19this this is something that I just printed out based on our discussion it

8:24would be much smaller with a plaque memorial plaque for her that is not just

8:34South James Port Beach it's just a just a you know informal rendering but I

8:39wanted to bring this to the town board to see if this was something that I

8:44could explore exactly where this could go it at the beach with buildings and

8:50grounds I just didn't want to go ahead and do it without the conversation out

8:56in Jamesport the Gabrielson family is such a great family throughout all of

9:01Riverhead they they're constantly giving donating they're willing to pay for this

9:10and put in some native plantings around it that that are permitted by the DEC

9:16and maintain it and I really think that it's just keeping Christina's memory

9:24alive in our hearts it just it means a lot to me and a lot to our community and

9:32I'm hoping that I can get the support of the board during the veterans Memorial

9:39Park we did a veteran's tree planting program she was right there front center

9:43to help and they not only had the Gabriel since don't need all the flowers

9:46but she was placing them all and beautification wonderful wonderful woman

9:51and wonderful family so very appropriate thank you for bringing it so with that

9:59said I was asked for a motion to adjourn our meeting today closer closer you had

10:07to close our meeting we are closed and we will see you soon

10:16Thank you.

Full Transcript

Thank you. Good morning everybody. Today is Thursday, June 18th. And before we go any further for our executive work session, let's stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Rothwell, would you lead us please? Yes, Supervisor. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Absolutely awesome. This morning we'll be moving right into executive session. And so in just a second I'll ask for a first and second to enter into executive session to discuss the following. Personnel matters surrounding update on disciplinary matter with an employee, with myself helping. Litigation matters surrounding tax grievance with Tanger Outlet. center with our assessor's office Tannenberg, Lipinski, and Brown. Matters surrounding litigation between the town of Riverhead and traditional links with Tannenberg, Lipinski, and Brown. Matters surrounding update on odd even year election with Councilor Howard. Contractual matters surrounding potential contractual change regarding retirement incentive for CSEA, PBA, and SOA with Halpin, Howard, DiApolo, and Peeker. Matters surrounding possible change to contractual agreement between the town of Riverhead and race track, Notch Street, with Councillor Howard and legal matters surrounding a current investigation and potential legal action with Councillor Howard. And may I have a first and a second to move into executive session, please? So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. So moved. All right. Goodbye.

Welcome back to our June 18th, 2026 work session where as we get ready to discuss one item, we have something extraordinarily exciting to announce this morning. And so I believe, Justin, you have a graphic for us that will be up as we announce our Grand Marshal for our 250th parade here in Riverhead. the absolute Georgette, our town historian. So Georgette, if you would come forward. Yes, we are so excited.

All of the work that you do, all of the love that you have for this town, this community, and for the rest of Riverhead's history, may people remember that you led us into the next 250 years. So we have flowers to present to you. We have an absolute certificate of honor, and I've asked Councilman Rothwell to pin you with a 250th American flag. Councilor, so everybody knows, Georgette has a direct descendant from the Daughters of the American Revolution all the way back to the original days. 14, so that is amazing. So this is so fitting for you to be our Grand Marshal. So if you mind, can I put this on here? Okay? Yes.

Nice and straight. Perfect. Congratulations. Can I have a hug, Georgia? Thank you so much for honoring us with your presence at the parade and everything you do. Thank you. Would you like to say anything? You don't have to, but we just wanted to welcome you. Oh, I'm excited about 250 years. Yesterday was the 251st anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. and I'm trying to prove that one of my ancestors fought in that battle. But thank you so much. I'm truly honored. I didn't expect it. Georgia, these are for you. And I want to say this. I am honored every time I come down there to your office. I learn so much. You have no idea.

So thank you. Thank you. You've been doing such good work with all the committee, with all of the different events that we've had throughout the year so far. Thank you so much for everything. Thank you for your dedication to the town of Riverhead, for keeping our history alive. It means so much to me personally and the rest of the town. I think if the town was open seven days a week, I'd be here. You would. We had to call you over. You were volunteering at the Historical Society for Suffolk County. Yes. You are amazing. Thank you for all you do.

I owe it all to my dad who instilled in me the history of not only Riverhead, but of the country. Absolutely. It means a great deal. Thank you. Can we take a couple pictures with you? Eric would you join us as our as our town council member we would love to do that

Give me a hug. And if you're watching at home, don't miss July 4th. Our parade is going to be absolutely astonishing. And Georgette will be leading the way. Thank you.

We'll see you at the parade, Georgette. Absolutely.

Would you need Ashley Shandell down here? I really don't need her. This is going to be very simple. So one caveat, Georgette. We do have Paul Revere's horse for you to ride to lead the open front. Announce that the British are coming. George Ed, Councilman Rothwell has something for you he wants you to know. The caveat to being the Grand Marshal is you will be on Paul Revere's horse to announce a British are coming, headed down the front of the parade at full speed. Yes, ma'am. That's awesome. So for our holy work session item this morning, we have a matter surrounding memorial for Christina Gabrielson and James Ford with Councilman Waski. Yes, thank you. So as many of you know, unfortunately, we lost Christina Gabrielson, who is larger than life out in Jamesport from where she grew up this past September. Very young age of 49, she had a brief battle with cancer, and the community has really mourned her passing. and I've been in contact with her family and they would like to have a little memorial for her at South Jamesport Beach something that kind of resembles this this is something that I just printed out based on our discussion it would be much smaller with a plaque memorial plaque for her that is not just South James Port Beach it's just a just a you know informal rendering but I wanted to bring this to the town board to see if this was something that I could explore exactly where this could go it at the beach with buildings and grounds I just didn't want to go ahead and do it without the conversation out in Jamesport the Gabrielson family is such a great family throughout all of Riverhead they they're constantly giving donating they're willing to pay for this and put in some native plantings around it that that are permitted by the DEC and maintain it and I really think that it's just keeping Christina's memory alive in our hearts it just it means a lot to me and a lot to our community and I'm hoping that I can get the support of the board during the veterans Memorial Park we did a veteran's tree planting program she was right there front center to help and they not only had the Gabriel since don't need all the flowers but she was placing them all and beautification wonderful wonderful woman and wonderful family so very appropriate thank you for bringing it so with that said I was asked for a motion to adjourn our meeting today closer closer you had to close our meeting we are closed and we will see you soon Thank you.