Full Transcript
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Claudette.
Okay, I have a couple announcements to make before we get started. Number one, and probably a very important announcement, is the pre-submission meetings that we handle every Tuesday here in the town, for whatever reason, have been closed. To the public. And in researching our town code and in talking to my staff and in talking to other towns, we realized that these meetings, according to our code, the meetings should be open. And at some point in time, they were open. Years ago, from what I understand, going back maybe in time to when Barbara Blass was on the town board, and then when I came on the town board eight years ago, they were closed. So somewhere in that time period, they were closed. Instead of made open, the code says they should be open, and they will be open. We have nothing to hide. We have people who are very suspicious about these meetings, and there's no reason to be. So they will be open to the public. They'll be similar to a work session. Public is welcome to attend, but there won't be a back and forth with the public on the items that are being discussed. That will be discussed amongst the group that's working on the planning pre-submission committee. Okay. Those meetings are open. Those meetings are on Tuesdays at 930. They've been upstairs in the past since we moved here, but we're going to have them here in the town boardroom again so the public can attend. And it will be posted. The agenda for those meetings will be posted on Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting at 930 in the morning. So that's one announcement. Who here is going to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday? Where's our money going, people? Who? San Fran. San Fran, yeah. Kansas City. Kansas City all the way. The story of the San Francisco quarterback is too good for me not to root for them. I'm a Miami Dolphins fan, as many people know. My team didn't make it here this year. That explains it. But I love the story of Brock Purdy and how he was the last person picked in the NFL draft, and to see him take his team to the Super Bowl I think is pretty cool. Good luck this weekend, everybody, whoever you're rooting for. And enjoy the game. Thank you. Enjoy the weekend, and we'll get on to our town board meeting. Tim, wasn't Tom Brady at the end of the pick, too? Tom Brady at the end of the pick way long ago? No. Well, not at the end. He wasn't the last one. He was the seventh rounder. Oh, I see. But, yes, he was late in the draft when he was picked. So late drafts can do well. Hidden diamonds in the rough out there all over the place, absolutely. Sorry. Okay. We have no minutes to approve, so we will move on to correspondence and reports from the town clerk, James Wooten. Do we want to start with an implication? Yes, actually, we want to do the implication first. I'm very sorry about that. Yes, okay. Ken, would you? We are very pleased and honored to have Reverend Lorraine DeArmit from a retired United Methodist Church minister. So thank you so much for joining us today. What an introduction that is. Anyway, it's good to be here. Beautiful new room. Let us pray. Just bend the mic down a little bit. There you go. Only one. We come to you today asking for your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. Help us to engage in meaningful discussion. Allow us to speak with simple honesty and in our actions to nurture the bonds of community. I ask that God would grant the people of Riverhead prosperity and peace. Amen. Amen. Thank you very much, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. Thank you, Reverend. from the Tango revision from the last meeting clarifying her position. We also have two letters from the Greater Jamesport Civic Association, one dealing with the cannabis zoning, and the other one dealing with the expansion of the Rivet Charter School onto Sound Avenue. And also a letter from BID from Christy Verity, reference to Chapter 301 increase of park and rec fees. And that's it for correspondence. Okay. Do we have any reports? Under reports, we have the Town Clerk Monthly Report for January 2024 at $10,475.45. We have the tax receiver total collection as of January 17, 2024, at $87,024,832.11. As of January 24, 2024, $92,122,430.28. And at the end of the month, on January 31, $92,758,380.42. We also received a report from the Rivet Sewer District, the Influent Gallagher Report for 2023. And also from the Building Department, their collection for January 2024 at $114,459. And that's it for reports. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Wooten. We have two public hearings. On the calendar for today, the first public hearing is time for 205. It is now 208. And this public hearing is to amend Chapter 289, Vehicles, Traffic, and Parking Regulations. And I will ask for Councilor Hurley to come up to the microphone and explain. Thank you. Good afternoon. So just quickly, some background before the public hearing on this opens up. This was discussed at a work session, and we'll go through the discussion in detail. But for those who didn't attend the work session or watch it, I'll reiterate. So the reason this code came about, we were getting reports from residents and PD about towing. They would leave the shopping, they would leave their car in a shopping center. They would come back after shopping. Their car wasn't there. They thought it was stolen. They eventually found out that it was towed, and then they were stuck paying over $600 to, to get their car back. There was also an opinion article in the local newspaper about these overly aggressive towing policies. So this topic was brought to Code Revision Committee. I researched the Suffolk County towing policy, Brookhaven Town policies, and through Code Revision Committee, we tailored this code to meet the needs of the town of Riverhead. So what happened? So what this details is a plan for the owners that have these privately owned, publicly accessed parking lots. A plan for them to follow so that there are conspicuous signs, the reasons that towing may occur, the hours of towing, the tow company's name, and the phone number. It also details requirements that the owner may have to pay for the towing. So there are some requirements that the tow company itself must meet. And after, most importantly after a tow is a, is completed, the tow company gives a form that we're calling the seizure authorization to Riverhead PD. So that Riverhead PD is put on notice right away that the tow has occurred in case that individual calls PD looking for their vehicle. They're able to, PD is able to direct that person to where they can retrieve their vehicle. It also puts in place, a cap on how much the tow companies can charge it's capped at 375 which is the municipal towing rate for the town and it also contains a penalty section thank you okay do we have anybody from the public who would like to comment on that public on this public hearing no absolutely i think i may have written that letter um we'll get to the mic first state your name and and yeah my name is adam strauss i've lived here for uh since 2003 uh my wife uh has parked and used the you know pretty much every week for 20 years um we didn't even know that you weren't permitted to park in rowan up plaza parking lot uh she parked there in august this is after doing it for 20 years um and my son and i went four hours later to pick up the car it was gone uh we first called her to see if she had indeed parked there and not in calverton or across the street which is seems to have been fine also she had parked there the next thing we did was we were going to call the police to see if it had been stolen i mean obviously that seemed like the only other possibility finally my son saw a very small sign about towing that didn't really say anything about the jitney it said something about overnight parking fire zone etc but it had a number for the tow towed car we called um they said 600 cash to retrieve it we went scurried the cash up paid for it and got it back in the car and we got it back got it, felt victimized and robbed and carjacked and really criminal, called the police about it the next day. They couldn't do anything because it's a private, you know, property. So I called the manager, did some research about Brixmore, which is supposedly community-oriented, and they have a sign that says, let's grow together, which I want to change to let's tow together. But anyway, called the property manager. He would hear nothing of it. It was legal, et cetera. So I said, well, I'm going to, you know, bring this to the public. I'm going to do something, you know. So I wrote a letter, Dennis Civiletti published it in the local, Riverhead local, and here I am. So I would. I would urge, you know, some kind of action, you know, because it's really very uncool. Can I make a suggestion that maybe that you contact the Jitney and see if they'll lease X amount of spaces? They have been kind of opposed to that. They're not very helpful in that regard. But yes, that would be a very good solution because you've got, I mean, Riverhead is growing. It's growing with people. I mean, there are some people that go into Manhattan. It would be great if they could park legally somewhere other than Calverton. Well, not to mention the bus stops are predominantly in places where there's parking that's available. The bus stops are right there. Exactly. Exactly. And parking. And one thing we have in Riverhead to this point is parking. You know? So I mean, it's like, it seems easier to get towed here than it is in Manhattan, you know? I mean, in that case, in our case. I mean, I don't know. case it was so that's just to me it's just unacceptable will bricks more do something about allowing X amount of spaces to be used I don't I mean I haven't had any communication with them since you know they were they were very unhelpful or very adamantly opposed to doing anything as far as I can tell you know I could certainly check with them again about it and the jitney as well but I also think many of the projects you know site plan approval requires a certain number of parking spaces you know for a particular shopping center so what that's how they come up with those numbers so I think when when the Hampton jitney using them as an example not to single them out but but you know if if you have you know 20 cars parked out there you may be offsetting the actual you know the parking space and so on and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so forth and so required parking space allotment for that particular business you know because it's not calculated into equations when we're passing a site plan here so I mean they do have ample parking on Edwards Avenue you know it's realities it's only two or three miles down the road yeah not too far and they're not I mean but she's going there now she does you certainly doesn't believe it anybody I think Danielle's done a great job addressing your concerns by certainly now we're going to require you know a large signage where it's going, what's going, what are the rules and regulations, you know. So where, if you should find your car missing, you know, where it's been brought to and so forth. And we're also capping off because $600 for a tow is a crazy high, but, you know. That's expensive four-hour parking. So this also addresses a cap on those fees as well, making it more fair. Absolutely. So try to approach it different ways. It's actually a shame it can't be worked out because every parking lot that we have and every shopping plaza has way more spaces than ever needed. Our code probably actually asks for too many spaces, quite honestly. And for those spaces to sit there empty all day long, it's not hurting anybody. It's unfortunate, but I agree with what Ken said. It's like, let's put the trees back if we're not going to pay. Yeah, exactly. I mean, what are we doing? Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. But thank you for your letter because you started this, so thank you. And I hope you're satisfied. And thank you, Danielle, for putting this together. I think this will make things much easier and much more in the open for the public to realize they should not park there overnight. Anybody else on this public hearing? Anybody online? Nobody online? Okay. It is now 2-17. I will keep the public hearing open for 10 days, which brings us to the 16th. Right. 2-16-24.
Okay. We have a second public hearing. It was scheduled for 2-15. It is now 2-18. And this public hearing is to amend our procurement policy. And I would ask Councilor Pradente to come up and present.
Good afternoon. Good afternoon. This amendment is to our procurement policy. Specifically, the language regarding the language and requirements for apprenticeship. So this proposed amendment to the procurement policy increases the dollar value, which would trigger apprenticeship requirement from 250,000 to 750,000 and or 1,000 square feet would change to 250,000 square feet. Okay. And the reason and the purpose essentially is, as the town board could appreciate and has appreciated, since COVID, the cost of goods, materials, services has skyrocketed. Our original language didn't account for that. I will tell you, I researched several other codes and they all vary. The town of Hempstead. The trigger set in 2017 was 500,000. Here we are in 2024 and we were well below at 250,000. In addition, this policy allows for, quote, exclusions. Those exclusions are public contracts for specific trade, which is not included among the lists maintained by the New York State Commissioner of Labor. Okay. And in 2017, there were no exclusions in the New York State Department of Labor. Or such a trade is classified as miscellaneous or general for which an apprenticeship agreement doesn't exist at the time of bid opening. It also exempts any construction contract wherein the town is receiving federal, state, county or other funding, which precludes application of the apprenticeship section. And it excludes subcontractors performing work on a contract which is less than $100,000. Again, you know, you can do a compare and contrast against other apprenticeship programs. For instance, Town of Havishaw subcontractor is less than $250,000. We're only going up to $100,000. And that's about it. I think Frank Mancini actually wants to comment because it's very relative to a lot of the competitive bidding that the Water District is putting out. And he'll explain to you that actually the way our existing apprenticeship language is working, it's actually excluding and prohibiting. Prohibiting competitive bidding.
Hi. I'm Frank Mancini, the Water District Superintendent. Thank you for having me. And I will just back Ann Marie up. And a lot of the trades we do are quite specific, like well drilling and horizontal boring. This particular standard we have is undermining our competitive bid process. We value all of our contractors. But we also value our competitors. We value some of the smaller family-owned businesses that are more common here on the east end of Long Island than they were anywhere else. So when it comes to, say, a well drilling contract, we've got two really strong bidders as our number one and number two. Our number one is just under $500,000. And our number two is just under $900,000. So you can see this is costing my rate payers a lot of money. Our number two bidder is a great company. They happen to have every other well drilling contract. And I can't even tell you how much I have in my hands that I have right now. So because no one else is really competitive because of this standard. The number one bidder, which is a great deal for us, is located on the east end as the Water Authority's go-to contractor. So it's not like some fly-by-night contractor. And very popular if you're in your agricultural community here. You probably know them. So I think that we're unbalanced right now and it's not equitable to either my rate payers or the small family-owned businesses that we depend on. on the larger ones. The same thing with our horizontal boring contract. We're lucky enough to have a very competitive and strongly bid contract. We had five bidders here, and we're looking at more of like a $150,000 difference, and we're talking about a winning contractor that's local from Cinema Riches. So I just want to make sure that we're getting the best deal and we're doing it equitably for our rate payers, and I think right now, the way our standard stands, it's too heavily favored to the larger companies. Now, and a apprenticeship program can be provided by the union, but it is also a standalone product you can buy. So it's not eliminating, you don't have to be in it or not. You can purchase this requirement, but it's just going to add cost to our work and to our rate payers. We'll get less bang for the buck. Any particular questions for me? No? Male Speaker 1 I just have one question for Ann Marie if I can ask. On guideline 6, the end of 2A, it just says that general municipality law was originally expired in August of 2017 and has been extended to 2019. Do we know if anything has increased or changed since then while we're revising this particular section of the code if it's been updated since 2019? Ann Marie Buerkle I can certainly double check, but I don't have an answer for you. Ann Marie Buerkle I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Male Speaker 1 I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Ann Marie Buerkle I'm sorry. Male Speaker 1 I'm sorry. Ann Marie Buerkle I'm sorry. Ann Marie Buerkle I'm sorry. Male Speaker 1 I'm sorry. I'm just reading it now, so I would normally try to point it out earlier, but just why we're doing it if we have to change or update one more date. Ann Marie Buerkle Oh, no. I can tell you those. Actually, Ann Marie Buerkle Those requirements are still in effect. Male Speaker 1 Okay. Is there a new deadline on them, or no? Ann Marie Buerkle They just continue to roll over and roll Male Speaker 1 Okay. Ann Marie Buerkle Years ago, the monetary amounts were far less than $20,000 and $35,000. thousand they were more like five thousand and ten thousand but it hasn't gone up yet okay thank you well in a sense with this say ten years down the road from now we're gonna have to probably revisit this and change it also because of inflation cost of goods so on so forth and absolutely and the town board should be aware that the water district superintendent myself Karen in the office when it came to the well drilling contract we actually did significant reach out and we contacted the Empire State water well drillers Association and they informed us there is no apprenticeship program for water well drillers then when we went higher up in the state the state acknowledged that fact and they said well perhaps you could use like a general construction type apprenticeship program but again it's really not tailored to what this contract truly is right and left in place costing the rate payers twice as much and I'm sure this isn't the only specialty where there's not an apprenticeship program for so that's understood I will say though that I really do appreciate the apprenticeship program I think they're an awesome way for a young person to get involved in a career and a career that pays living wages for Long Island and it allows them to stay here but I understand it is better suited for the larger projects and I get that I've known several young men that have gone through the apprenticeship and a young lady who went through it and they're doing very well for themselves and I'm glad they had it college wasn't for them they were more of a hands-on trades type program they were more of a hands-on trades type person and there's a lot of people out there like that and I think the apprenticeship does a great job for that so I'm not alleviating it by any means right most of the towns that I researched had either qualification or exemptions we did not right okay do we have anybody else from the public that would like to comment do we have anybody online nobody online okay it is 227 I will close the public hearing and keep it open to for written comments till February 16th 2024 and that's what we that's all we have today on public hearings we will move on now to comments on resolutions comments on any of the resolutions that are in today's on today's calendar we have anybody from the public that would like to come up and speak regarding our resolutions okay we have two people online can we take person number one okay
good afternoon Mike Foley respond okay yes we can Mike good afternoon I'd like to comment on the resolution that was made by the public and I think that is a good thing that we have to do is we have to comment on two of the resolutions and we'll go in a miracle order resolution 147 that has to do with the cannabis wording changes to the zoning it's on page I'm sorry I think it's on page 169 but don't quote me on that I just wanted to comment on it that there have been three or four meetings that Ken Rothwell chaired and made available to the public and I think that is a good thing that we have to do is we have to comment on two of the resolutions that are in today's calendar we have to fist fist fist fist fist and comment. And I was a participant in two or three of those meetings. And the first meeting kind of put in restrictions that after investigating the restrictions in the original zoning really didn't open up more than a couple of plots and certainly didn't have any ability to put five zones together, which would be the equivalent of about six retail stores, two of them being on Route 58, one of them being in each zone designated from Wading River to Jamesport. You know, Anne-Marie and her staff and Ken looked at this hard and looked at the best way to open up a handful of places with the least amount of inconvenience for residential lessening of the requirements of distance. And I thought they made a pretty common sense move. They went into areas where there was retail. Where residents were within the location of the retail established and wanted to put a handful of possible stores in all of the five areas selected, including Route 58, which there would be two. There was a tremendous amount of pushback from the retail community. They felt that there were not enough stores available, that they needed more space. And as we had discussed in the early stages of this, we want to take a look at the future. And I think that's a good thing. And I think that's a good thing. And I think that's a good thing. And I think that's a good thing. And I think we have to make our time on this. We don't know exactly what the impact on weed is going to be in the community retail environment. I think it will have a positive impact. But I think restricting the number of possible retail outlets was prudent. And like this zoning language has changed, we can implement additional changes down the road if we find out that the six that we're putting up there have already been a saturation point for the retail. there is more demand and maybe we could put one or two in there or maybe there isn't enough of a demand to handle six doors so if there's only a need for four it's better to have two guys go out of business than ten so there was a you know for people that weren't in the know and weren't in the room there was a tremendous amount of pushback to expand this well beyond uh what this new legislation uh proposes i'm in favor of this legislation and i think it is a matter of urgency to me now uh knowing that there is a need uh at a public demand for retail weed uh that you know retail weed is safe you don't have to worry about any poisons or fentanyl and things on the street drugs that people worry about and i was just curious ken or ann marie uh one of the things i had a lot of back and forth with the retail is on was that they got to do their homework that there are spaces out there go and get a get a local realtor and have them do the work for you have them find locations that fit within this footprint and open up a store uh i'd just like to check with ken or ann marie if you're comfortable answering the question have any of these retailers come back successfully to let us know that there are in fact a couple places uh that they are getting ready to open i see at the at the podium ann marie hi uh good afternoon so i will report to you obviously it is still in planning review but they're coming in pretty fast and furious and you can anticipate two if not three if this legislation gets adopted it wouldn't comply with our present zoning but if this legislation gets adopted you can anticipate that two or three right from the start uh would quote the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW CODE. YEAH, MIKE. SO WE'RE RESPONDING TO THOSE LETTERS, YOU KNOW, BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT ARE RECEIVED THROUGH THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE, BUT THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING DENIED BECAUSE WE'RE UNDER THE CURRENT LAW AS WE SIT HERE TODAY RIGHT NOW. SO WHEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TAKES PLACE AND THEN IT GOES BEFORE VOTE BEFORE THE TOWN BOARD, LOOKING AT THOSE SAME APPLICATIONS, IF THEY WERE RESUBMITTED AFTER THE NEW LEGISLATION POTENTIALLY IS PASSED, THEN THOSE, THERE MAY BE VIABLE OPTIONS FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS, BUT WE ONLY RESPOND TO THE APPLICATION BASED ON THE CURRENT LAW RIGHT NOW. SO NOT TO DISAGREE WITH THE COUNCILMENT, BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO RESPOND TO A NOTICE OF LOCATION, WE'RE REVIEWING THEM, HOLDING THEM, AND UNDER THE LAW, WE COULD REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL THREE DAYS. SO WE'RE NOT APPROVING THOSE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T. WE'RE REVIEWING AGAINST THE EXISTING CODE AND THE PENDING CODE. SO THEY'RE IN THE HOPPER RATHER THAN SUMMARILY DISMISSING THEM AT THIS POINT. NEW SPEAKER POTENTIALLY PASSES, THEN THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE PRESENTLY NOT ACCORDING TO CODE WILL THEN FALL INTO CONTROL. DOES THAT MEAN TO DO TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO REQUEST AN time parameters of the either the initial 30 or if the state were able to request an additional 30 which we fully well that's that's good news for the applicants could i just ask one other question are any of these locations on route 58 on any of these big box stores uh mike to be honest i don't know if it's a box store location but i believe one is on route 58 there's been applications for route 58 but i think some of them are single single property not not great not like a home shopping center at that point well listen let's let's get this past let's get this going hopefully by springtime when i get back in may i can go local and buy local i like that um finally i don't want to take up too much of your time uh i want to talk about uh resolution 162 just before you go forward mike thank you for your help on the other one as well i thank you for your participation help on the committee thanks ken uh i'd like to finish with the resolution 162 which is found on page 228 of the agenda packet ratifies appointment of special counsel in legal action against the town of riverhead entitled calvin and avian technology against the town of riverhead cda and ida um this obviously very quickly garnered near unanimous support of the community to defend against these guys that in my opinion uh perpetrated a fraud on this town and the chronology of how the gramezians got involved is almost ironic here we have a guy uh uh the deceased daniel preston who conned sean walters into thinking that this was the how it used of aviation and that he was going to turn aviation into the uh the uh silicon valley of the east coast i was at a couple of those meetings i was at a couple of those meetings i was at a couple of meetings i was at a couple of those meetings i was at a couple of those meetings i was at a couple of meetings i was at a couple of those meetings i was at a couple of those meetings i was at a couple of I got one of his T-shirts and hats, as a matter of fact. So I go back a long way at this. And, of course, when he fell down on it and was looking for deep pockets, the Gramezians and him hooked up. You know, what a partnership that turned out to be. So, you know, it is clearly not just litigation against the town. It's litigation against the residents and taxpayers of the town of Riverhead. So I'm sure that there's a few negatrons out there that are doing an, oh, why is this happening to us? But you know something? I'm not sad. I'm angry. I want to be aggressive on this. And I want the town to have the financial resources to do that. So speaking of this resolution, looking down at the end, which was, I think, page 230, it talks about the financial impact of this. And I'm toggling down to it right now. And I'm almost there. And I'm there. So on page 230, Section G, the proposed source of funding. And, of course, that all stems from Section A. But let's go right to Section G, which discusses the sources of funding for this. The appropriation account to be charged can be from a grant or another revenue source. Now, I don't know if there's any grants available for this. Really, there might be a grant. Money to be able to spend to defend this frivolous lawsuit and hopefully get a counter judgment that cannot only reimburse the town or whoever is funding this 100 percent for defending this frivolous suit. But who knows, maybe get damages from that for the years of delay and not gathering tax revenue because of one fraudulent submission after another. They didn't want to call the airport. What was all the artwork there a year ago that we could throw to court? So just wrapping up, we need you to have adequate funds. We need you to know that this is something that the town supports almost 100 percent. And I, for one, believe that we need to tell the Garmesians you're not going to outspend this year. If you want to get us into court, OK, we're going to go in there. We're going to defend this and we're going to sue you for doing what you've done here. And maybe they will run. Like they did in Brookhaven when they were challenged. I know Brookhaven's application was a lot shorter and a lot less involved in losses. But the fact of the matter is they were never qualified here, ever qualified here. They have been proven that way. And now they just want to hold us up, hoping that we don't have the money to defend so they can come back and purchase this property. Everybody in this room knows that's not going to happen. Let's make sure that this gets funded. And if the taxpayers are told we need two million dollars. We need to defend this. Let's let them know so that they understand if the taxes are raised, that it was to defend this suit. And I believe you're going to have overwhelming support on whatever amount of money that you need to require to beat these guys back. Thank you. Mike, one thing regarding the cannabis I just want to back up for a second on. One of the reasons I voted for the town to have dispensaries in our in our township was because of the availability of tax money that might come our way. I have seen some early numbers from some of the towns. The numbers are astounding. I realize because it's new and there's limited dispensaries, those numbers are going to be inflated. But even if you deflate those numbers, they're still pretty good numbers. And it's certainly something that the town can always use. So I just wanted to bring that up because Tim, you might recall that I spoke on this before the vote and my guesstimate was that the town was going to get it out at 3 percent. And that's a piece that's supposed to come from the state to us about one and a half million dollars. And people thought that was high. Well, clearly, to me now, if they're looking at the numbers and also understand that there's only five dispensaries in Long Island and then there were 50, there's going to be some diminishment in margin, but not a lot because the people will come. But I think the one and a half million might be closer to four and a half million. And, you know, that in and of itself could take care of an awful lot of musical instruments from our school. Our football uniforms for our people, surveillance cameras for our downtown and paying to fight the litigation against these bums. But in the meantime, because we're in court now and the first weed still hasn't come up, we want you to be comfortable funding this. And I want to hear that. I want to hear anybody that says we should not be funding this as a town. We have to support it. We have to be ready to pay for it. We have to hope. And I've seen the council that. Riverhead local just announced through you guys. They're certainly competent council. And I think they actually have a success against the the guy that the Gramezians dug up to fight this frivolous lawsuit. So go get them. You've got the town support. And we just want to make sure that you know that. And I'm anxious to hear anybody that opposes. Thank you, Tim. Mike, I gave you so many minutes today. You can't go back till May, but that's OK. No problem. Thanks, Mike. Appreciate it. OK, we have one more online. I'm sorry. We have one at the podium. You do the online first. OK, online first.
OK.
Cool. We're all from Northville. Just a quick question on Resolution 133, the licensing agreement for Cousins Paintball. I'm curious to know, it looks like they don't have utilities there, and I'm wondering what the provision is going to be for restrooms for that place. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you. Kathy, they're going to use porta-potties.
Is that right? Yes. Yeah, that's a lot of what's been used up there, has been porta-potties in the past. We know we have to get permanent restroom facilities up there. We're working on that along with the hockey rink and other locations up there. There's probably about five, six, or seven different locations in the master plan map of the park up there that eventually will have permanent structured restrooms. But for temporary use, yes, we have permission from the Department of Health to do that. Okay. Just keep in mind. Okay, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Yeah, the baseball fields have been using porta-potties for 10 years. I just thought it was a little different since it was a licensee that's using this property and not the town. But if you're satisfied with it, that's fine. Thanks. Okay, thank you. Sir? Hello, how are you doing? Mr. Hubbard, congratulations. Thank you. State your name, sir, and the town you're from. Hello, everyone. My name is Hugo Rivas. I represent the Long Island Cannabis Coalition. I'm here because, again, we appreciate you guys, what you're doing. The work that has been done is amazing. Again, we always feel like there's always some information that's always been missing, and we would like to just kind of put that out there. The new zoning map, it's kind of doing what the old zoning map was doing. Okay. 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. in the sense of retail availability. It looks like there's more parcels available, and which there are, but we took it upon ourselves and we actually sent Mr. Rothwell the list, and I don't know, a few other people got the list of every single parcel that's available, and there's not many available. And they didn't also consider the fact that we have ColumbiaCare there. So ColumbiaCare itself eliminates other possibilities that were considered to be possibilities. So we would just appreciate that all the information that we sent you already, if you just kind of look at that information and kind of consider what's going on there, that by changing lot line to lot line situation, where we could do door to door, how it's in the MRTA, it will just kind of open up a little bit more parcels and allow how it's supposed to, just a little bit more, and then that will literally give more opportunity. And then just for the public to understand, this will not create a clutter or a whole bunch of dispensaries in your area, it won't. From what's available, number one, there's very few areas available for it, and the restriction that we have with the 2,500 feet that you have right now, which is almost, it was double and a half of what is in the MRTA, it's also affecting that. So if that could be also considered, that would be also helpful. Like I said, we gave you guys information, and I'm more glad to help send it again, or reprint it and give it to you personally, but that's gonna affect the whole situation. The people that are advantaged here is Columbia Care, because they're already operating, and I heard that there's some applications that have been sent in, they've been denied because of the rules, and even the new rules are gonna have those places in denial. So please consider those situations. Like I said, we provided the information, we went, we sent it to the public, and we're gonna have it. Really, just to thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Really thank you all for all the space that you've provided in the space. Thank you. We did all receive your information and it's kind of a constant source of conversation amongst board members because it's still somewhat of a work in progress where we want to get it right. And if we put something out and we find it's not working, we can bring it back to the table again and tweak it a little bit. And I know a lot of work goes in from people in the community on this. I appreciate that tweaking. We would definitely love that. And I appreciate just having that frame of thought. That's very important. So we definitely appreciate that. Right. But I think we've proven ourselves in terms of that. We admitted the first legislation that's in place right now is not working. It's really down to, I think, really about four parcels. And so it doesn't give you viable options. And so realizing that, this legislation goes from four parcels to 144 parcels. But we have to take in the long-term planning. So just because a particular parcel may not be available. If it's in the middle of a 10-year lease or a 20-year lease, when that lease expires, the owner or landlord may choose at that point to say, okay, now I'm going to change it up. I'm going to rent to a cannabis retail store. So we have to take baby steps in this. And we put this out. And my goal, at least I'll speak for myself, was to put this out there. I think the Cannabis Committee did great work. There are options out there. We watch it. We monitor it. We see. And then if time goes by and you're back, and this room's saying it's not working, there's nothing available, then we take a second look at it. But once we open the gates and allow it in certain areas and zoning and parcels, it's very hard to restrict it. You can't take it back. You can't go, wait a minute, now there's too much. Because what might not be available today under the current download without changing any town codes could be available a year from now, six months, a year, or 10 years. And that's what we have to take in consideration. It's not our job to go out and specifically find you a location, but to make sure that you're not in a situation where you're going to be in a situation where you're not going to be in a situation where you're not going to be in a situation where you're not going to be able to get a lease. And we can't speak on behalf of the landlords or property owners that may say, I choose not to rent or lease into this particular type of retail establishment. But we hear you, but we're taking baby steps. You were very active during our forums, and I appreciate your insight. And I think we're going in the absolute right direction, but we've got to take these baby steps. Because you can't just open the gate and say, all right, we're going to allow it everywhere, and then all of a sudden it's too many and too much. Yeah. Like I said, it's not opening the gate. Because it's just tweaking it a little bit to make it a little bit more convenient. And then, like I said, even with the same rules, the rules were designed for it to be spread out, so it's not going to be like that. Taking the baby steps, like you said, the baby steps could literally be, like you said, five to ten years. And right now you have smoke shops that are operating in your town, and you literally have them from two blocks away or one block away, and they're operating, and they're not being restricted, but we are. And we're trying to bring safety. So every time, if you go to any other state, cannabis brings safety. It doesn't bring harm, because the way it's protected inside, you have to go to security, and then you have to go to a vote in order to get this stuff. And if you go to these smoke shops, you could literally reach over the counter and grab the products and be able to get it. And you see minors going there. So, yeah, I like the baby step situation, but I think if we just give that little tweak and possibility, especially with the lot line to lot line, not a big deal is going to give that situation and give opportunity also for, like, the people that are in the community to open a dispensary, not just the people that have, like, the all roads, like ColumbiaCare, because they're going to be able to operate right away. But everybody else is being restricted about it. But, yeah, we still have smoke shops operating. So, yeah, let's take the baby steps, but let's do that baby step in the beginning. Let's make it right, like Mr. Herbert said. Let's try to do it the right way so we have more opportunity for the people, for the people of our community, not for the people that come from out of state. We have big companies, and they're the ones producing. So at the end of the day, let's do it for each other, right? Let's do it for community. And I understand you want the immediate desire to have something immediately available. But we have to legislate, at least in my opinion, for long term. Over the next year, if this legislation is passed and goes into effect over the next year, two years, there might not be any cannabis retail shops in Rivet because nothing is available. That doesn't mean without changing it that a few years from now there could be six. And that's the way we have to look at it. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Sarah? Sorry, I just want to make a point, too, just to clarify for the public. You said about smoke shops. They are not legally permitted to sell any type of narcotic. But we have them in our neighborhoods, though. I'm just letting, I just want to make sure it's clear for the public that that's not legally allowed. Understand, we understand. But they're in our neighborhoods, and we don't understand that at least us that we are, we're in the world of cannabis, we know what's going on in the situation. And we're trying to address it, but nobody's looking at that picture as well. So like I said, at the end of the day, bring in legal action. We're not looking at legal cannabis dispensaries. It's going to be the right thing for our neighborhoods and our communities. Taking these little tweaks to help out the people from our communities open up stores, that's what we're talking about. I'm not looking to do that immediately, but we're trying to at least give ourselves opportunities as well. Not just, like I said, big companies that are already doing it. They're already able to switch over, and we're not getting those same opportunities. I mean, it should be both ways. We feel like we're being neglected. And even though we have opportunity to do the same thing as anybody else, and we want to do it the right way. So like I said, we appreciate everything you're doing, but just please, let's look at that. The information is there. We went to every single place. So I mean, we put the work in for you guys. I know that you, but we put the work in, so please take that into consideration. Thank you very much. Thank you for your participation in the forum as well. Thank you very much. Can I take the next caller online, please? We kind of postponed him or her, whoever it is. It was Kathy, wasn't it? No. Did we have another one on the line? No. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Did we have another one online? Yes. Oh. Let's read that.
Ron Mitchell? You're on. Can you hear us?
Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Hi. I'm Mitch Hagler, Roanoke Heights, Riverhead. Commenting on, I believe it's Resolution 148, the amendment to the factory outlet overlay. A little bit of background. My family had a three-generation business on Main Street in Riverhead, which I was involved in. And I was the one who was involved in the construction of the factory. I had an employee there for about 25 years. So I'm pretty keenly aware still to this day of retail comings and goings in Riverhead. And much like the downtown zero-tolerance family-friendly zoning that you, the town board adopted last year, I'm always looking to see if there's any I'm a little bit perplexed about what the town has decided is allowed and not allowed in certain retail districts. I just want to highlight that in the proposal that you're going to vote on today, that proposal limits or restricts or says no to cannabis, tobacco shops, adult entertainment. But again, much like the downtown family friendly, it seems to overlook firearms businesses. Tanger itself in various places around the nation, including in your flag, ship headquarters, city of Greensboro, North Carolina. A number of their facilities do not allow firearms or firearms businesses. So I would ask that the town board look at adding that as a excluded use in what it's going to be adopting today or at least voting on today. Excuse me. Thank you. Thank you. Next up. Sir. Say your name and your residence. How are you? My name is Brian Stark. I'm a first round card licensee that got a cannabis license back in November of 2022. And I'd just like to make some comments about that cannabis zoning as well. To speak about what Hugo was talking about, Columbia Care would have a thousand foot door to door state required buffer around it. It wipes out all the real available real estate east end of 58. The middle of 58 is out because of lot line restrictions to the school properties. And the western end only has one viable piece of property that will not work for anybody. I know Anne Marie is saying that there's two or three applications that are in. It's not from anybody that's already licensed. These are people that are looking to get a license and probably won't get a license because they're only giving out 250 of them. I'm. And with the restrictions that are. In place now, obviously, there's nothing available with the new zoning that's being done. The majority of the properties that are on that hundred and forty four parcels are residential agricultural horse farms. It eliminates a majority of them. If not, you're going into areas on 58 that big box stores are in that have mass releases. You cannot rent there. So to go back to what something like what Mike was saying. Yeah, we worked with all the realtors. Out here. We've done the research. You're talking maybe one, possibly two properties that are not going to cooperate with the cannabis licensees. So we're going to be back in the same situation. We would definitely like to address it some more and see how we can open this up where we all have a fair shot. There's not going to be multiple dispensaries in the riverhead. There are setbacks. I know you guys want twenty five hundred feet. The law states that the state made is a thousand with that. And if you're going to be able to get one thousand and the real estate that's currently available, you maybe get one, possibly two. And that would be if you if you follow the state requirements. That's all I really got to say. But I think the new map was a step in the right direction. But I think it's going to end up in the same exact situation. We're already in and we're going to be back here six months from now. So I just think maybe look into it a little bit further. See where we would be at if we follow the state requirements. Which is door to door requirements. And then we'll see how many parcels open up there and if there's anything available. That's it. That's all. I'm just going to correct you. But the hundred and forty four parcels that we listed are eligible parcels. So like we put together all the surrounding restrictions for the schooling, you know, town property, churches and so forth. And it comes up with one hundred and forty four parcels when you're saying that they're not going to be permissible because school goals, those parcels were already eliminated from the count. We are at one hundred and forty four. There's zone residential. There's owned agricultural. There's zone for a horse farm. Yeah. We're not nobody's going to take that parcel over and try to rezone it into a dispensary in the middle of the for instance, the corridor that's in James Port actually where the gentleman wrote the letter from its forty parcels that are available there. Thirty of them are either residential agricultural horse farms land land rights, which I guess that means it can't even be developed. And then there's the other part of the ! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
or translate into non-permitted. But that said, at any time, if you want to sit down with me for me to further explain and go through it, I absolutely would. But I think there's a disconnect because the only properties that are identified are those in the commercial corridors which permit retail. They might be presently used, you know, like in downtown, we have some single-family homes. You might not see that in the zoning, or it could switch to a retail shop, even though it's a house presently. So they're seeing something as a home, but the reality is you can purchase that house and convert it to a retail center. Where are you going to put parking? It's never going to work. You're not going to take a horse farm and turn a horse farm into a retail shopping with 27, 30 parking spots to have business. You can if it's permissible. And that's the way we have to look at it, though. Right. But if you want, I'd be happy to go through the list, the commercial districts with you, whatever you need.
Hey, how are you? Good, how are you? Good. My name's Michael Rita. I reside in St. James. Cardholder. Have been fighting the uphill battle. I'm a member of LICC. So I grew up on the East End. I grew up in East Merchants my whole life. Since I got licensed, I've been focusing on Riverhead because I know that the growth that Riverhead has had over the last 20 years, you guys all know, 1871, which is Barclays Building. I've been trying to put a deal together on that since April. Unfortunately, the man's just impossible. So a couple of things that I do want to touch base on. So based off of that list, ColumbiaCare's current address isn't listed as one of those parcels. So what exactly is going to happen with that location?
Like, are they going to get a pass because they're already there? Like, how is that going to work? I know that we've seeked clarification, I don't know if, Ann Marie, if you've received any clarification about ColumbiaCare, but it's... Dawn's going to come up and try to explain because it's an ongoing thing. We have been looking into it because our zoning doesn't allow it there, but because they're pre-existing, but they were under a different type of licensing agreement where they would do medical marijuana. It doesn't mean that it should be consensually go right into retail. But I'll let Dawn explain. So ColumbiaCare did submit an application to do retail at the location where they are currently at. That came with a memo from their council indicating that because they are doing medical there, that they are entitled to do retail there. We typically, that location, or currently, that location doesn't comply with our code, but because of its current existing location, we submitted our parameters together with the legal memo that was submitted by council to ColumbiaCare to the state. And I'm not sure what the state will do, but they may be exempt from our local zoning because of that existing medical dispensary. So real quick, just to touch base, Dawn, right? Yes. On what she said, how, like, logistically, to me, that doesn't make sense how they could be exempt because it meets the state's laws. But all the general state laws on cannabis, every, and listen, I understand it's new, but every township and municipality on Long Island is adopting their own. So how does that, that makes no sense to me, how you can allow, I know they're existing, right? But how you can allow them to operate under the state's guidelines, but we have to operate under the town's guidelines, right? Well, there are two different things. You're not comparing apples to apples. We are, because they are turning to adult use. But they're also doing the medical, which got them in the door first. That's completely understandable. How it happened. So the state regulates them a little bit differently. So, you know, that's our problem. It's not what we want. It doesn't fit our zoning. But I can't tell you that we're going to be able to, like, when I say, not we open this board, but myself, like, I don't know that we can legally stop or prevent it if the state of New York is, in fact, granting them a license to do it. But the state of New York is consulting, with us on every other application that comes before the town, asking, does it meet your current zoning? So we say yes or no. So with Columbia Care, the answer is no. It does not meet our current zoning, but that doesn't mean that the state is going to try to supersede us. I understand. I just wanted a little more clarification on that. Exactly. You're doing right. Okay. And again, just to reiterate, we all do appreciate the town of Riverhead trying to work with us and trying to come up with something. That makes sense. You know, at the end of the day, it might not be exactly what we all want right now, but like you said, Mr. Rothwell, hopefully as time goes on, if we see that nobody's able to actually get open and operational, we can make some tweaks and make some adjustments. I mean, ideally, what we'd all like to see is everyone fall into suit and follow the state's guidelines. I've said since the very beginning that we will continue to revisit it, monitor it, revisit it, and if time goes on, we'll be able to get it done. And I think that's what we're trying to do. And I think that's what we're trying to do. And I think that's what we're trying to do. And I think that's what we're trying to do. I'm sure we can certainly reopen the cannabis forum, come back to the table, and try again. So what I do ask, because I am working on a location that is within one of the corridors, is that on the 21st, that the resolution in favor to the zoning change be made during the hearing. It doesn't have to be benched, and let's have a vote during the hearing, and get it done. You want to end the open comment period, is what you're saying? Yes. You guys vote, and pass it. You know, it's just a long process that's just going to continue. You know, this deal that I'm working on, everyone that's in the space has been spending countless amounts. You know, I'm working on another location in the town of Brookhaven. The attorney's fees to do his EBA, and a special use permit, and because unfortunately, they're not playing ball like you guys are. So again, thank you very much for trying to help us out, and trying to get something opened up here, so you can see how it works, and what it does for the community, because that's what it's about at the end of the day. It's about the benefits to the community, and to the citizens of the community. But that's what I would ask, is on the 21st, have open public comment, and let's get started. Let's get this done. My only response to that would be that, you know, you have to take into effect everyone that comes here with the open comments, and sometimes people raise valid points, and sometimes we need to go back, we need to look, you know, before we vote on something. So my personal decision on whether or not I would consider to vote, to waive a 10-day, you know, the 10-day comment period would be, it would certainly need, I couldn't make that decision prior to a public hearing, because we need to see how the public hearing leads us that evening, you know, and whether or not we can do that. Absolutely. And whether or not we feel there's more work to be done. Anybody have anything for me, or you guys? Yeah, Mike, I'm just going to, I want to just speak to you, Brian, and you go. I agree with you. I think the time has been incredibly lengthy. I do appreciate, I've sat in on all the cannabis committee meetings, and I appreciate all the work that's being done. I think you're absolutely right about the 2,500-foot distance. I know I've spoken to you guys over, I don't know, last month, and I can completely see what's going on. And I agree with the supervisor that the tax, and I'm familiar with the operation, I think you're familiar with, where they're doing in excess of a million dollars a week, which equates to about $39,000 a week to Riverhead to utilize that tax. In addition, there's another 4% that goes to the state, which, which allows any town that's participating in cannabis to then file for grants from that pop. It's 40%. It's 40, I'm sorry, I said four, it's 40%. So, you know, I can appreciate, and my concern is that this doesn't land where, okay, there's one or two. I also don't have the, the same view that if this opened up, there's going to be 100 dispensaries. Not a shot. It's never going to work. They'll cannibalize it. They'll cannibalize each other for sure. So I'm not, you know, that's like having a, you know, 30 pizza places on 58. They'll cannibalize each other. They'll smoke each other out. Oh yeah. Yeah. I stand corrected. They'll smoke each other out. So, you know, I would like to see the distances change because I know if you put one in, now you're 2,500 feet on both sides. That's tremendous amount of distance. Listen, the fact of the matter is if you guys adopted the state's regs, I guarantee it would be what you're looking for. What you guys are predicting six to eight max, but realistically two to three dispensaries would open and that's it. I agree with you. I think we all feel pretty much that same way. So let's go out of the states regs. Very simple. Get it done. All right. Thank you very much. You're very welcome. Thank you. Do we have anybody else who would like to comment on any resolution? Justin, anybody online? No. Okay. Let's move on to the reading of the resolutions. Start out with resolution number one. Resolution 113. Appoints a water treatment plant operator trainee. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rockwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 114. Appoints the public safety dispatcher to the police department. Yes. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rockwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 115. Ratifies the appointment of an account clerk. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rockwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. As a result? Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 116. Ratifies the appointment of a technical support aid. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Motion adopted. Resolution 117. Reappoints a zoning officer. Non pro tonque. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 118. Ratifies the reclassification of a maintenance mechanic 3. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 119. Ratifies the reclassification of an automotive mechanic 2. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 120. Appoints financial advisor. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 121. Accepts the retirement of a custodial worker 1. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Yeah, I just want to thank George Modern for his years of service to the town. He's been instrumental in keeping the building clean down at the Senior Center for years. And I just wish him nothing but the best in his retirement. I vote yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 122. Ratifies the acceptance of a resignation from a public safety dispatcher. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 123. Ratifies the termination of an AEO. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution adopted. Resolution 124. Authorizes the attendance at the 2020 National Day of the Deaf. Yes. Moderators agree to the resolution. held by the association of towns february 18th through the 21st of 2024 so moved seconded vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution adopted resolution 125. authorized attendance at judicial continuing education program so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution adopted resolution 126 appoints official print newspaper for the town of riverhead 2024 so moved seconded vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution adopted resolution 127. appoint bond council so moved seconded vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution adopted resolution 128 appointment and an approval of the fee schedule for the rainer group p e and ls pllc as consulting engineers and land surveyors so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes resolution adopted resolution 129 appoints official online publication so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution adopted resolution 130 authorizes the supervisor to enter into an agreement with specified employees so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes doing business as Cousins Paintball Incorporated. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Just another amenity for the town of Revhead. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Just remember to duck, Bob Kern. I'm coming to get you. He said he's going to use me as a shield. I don't know what he meant by that. Resolution number 134. No. Authorizes renewal of a musical works license agreement with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, SCAP. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 135. Awards bid, installation of water mains and appurtenances. I apologize. Seacrest Estates Subdivision, aka the Villas at Roanoke, Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. And I think every board member has messed that word up every time they first read it. Yes. I'd never heard of it prior to coming to the board. Thank you. I think it's made up. Resolution 136. Awards bid, installation of water mains and appurtenances. Yes. Resolution 136. Yes. Resolution 136. Yes. I think it's made up. I think it's made up. I think it's made up. Resolution 136. Awards bid, distribution system maintenance and emergency services contract, Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. I apologize. Seacrest Estates Subdivision, aka the Villas at Roanoke, Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. And I think every board member has messed that word up every time they first read it. Yes. I'd never heard of it prior to coming to the board. No. Thank you. I think it's made up. Resolution 136. Awards bid, distribution system maintenance and emergency services contract, Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 137. Awards bid, electrical system maintenance and emergency service contract, Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 139. Awards bid, management management and management services contract, Riverhead Water District. district so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 139 awards bid mechanical maintenance and emergency services contract riverhead water district so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell mancini's going for a clean sweep yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 140 awards bid process control system maintenance and emergency services contract riverhead water district so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern you have enough employees yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 141. here comes more to the board yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Resolution is adopted. Resolution 143. Authorizes notice to bidders construction of pre-stressed ground storage tank at East Wind Drive Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 144. Approved special event chapter 255 application for race awesome, Jamesport Triathlon. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 145. Authorizes special event chapter 255 application for the American Cancer Society making strides against cancer of eastern Long Island. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 146.
Approved special event chapter 255 application for Polish Town Civic Association, Polish Town Street Fair. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Yes. Maryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 147. Authorizes town clerk to publish and post public notice to consider a local law to amend chapter 301 zoning and land development part three supplementary regulations article. What is this number? Oh, where are you? 50. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Cannabis. I'm messing up left and right today. Cannabis of the Riverhead Town Code. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 148. Props of local law amending chapter 301 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled, Zoning and Land Development, Article 17. I'm a Catholic school girl. We did our Roman numerals. Business F, bus F, zoning use district, manufacturer's outlet center overlay zone. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. The resolution number 149. Adopts a local law amending chapter 301 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled, Zoning and Land Development, Article 53, condominiums map. So moved. Second. Vote, please. 58. Waskie. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. I'm going to require that everybody watch the Super Bowl this weekend. I'm going to ask you to vote. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. numbers so move yes yes so I mean yes it's so approved resolution 150 adopts a local law amending chapter 301 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled zoning and land development part for subdivision and land development article 51 site plan review so moved 56 56 no Super Bowl for me seconded remember when it was Super Bowl 10 vote please Alaska yes Murrayfield yes Kern yes Rothwell yes Hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 151 adopts a local law to amend chapter 273 of the riverhead town code entitled solid waste so move seconded vote please wasky yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 152. oh that's me adopts a local law amending chapter 301 of the riverhead town code entitled zoning and land development part four subdivision and land development article 53 subdivision regulations so moved seconded vote please wasky yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution number 153. what a district budget transfer for vehicles and equipment so moved second vote please wasky yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes much needed resolution is adopted resolution number 154. budget transfer emergency repairs at reeves beach so moved seconded vote please wasky yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes i just want to add in the repairs done to reeves beach the ramp should be done by super bowl weekend as long as mother nature cooperates between now and then they should be able to get enough work done on it to open the ramp back up the gazebo definitely not but the ramp will be available i've gotten a couple calls from residents wanting to know they're getting winteritis and want to get outside and get down on the beach and and they go down they pick up litter and everything else so uh the good news is hopefully by the end of this weekend uh the ramp will be open and available great resolution number 155. thank you Yes. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 156. 203-213 East Main Street, Riverhead Sewer District, Capital Project, so moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Great work, CDA. Yes. Excellent. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 158. Authorizes the filing of an application for New York State assistance from the State of New York. Is there a motion to approve this resolution? So moved. Seconded. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Great work, CDA. Yes. Excellent. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 158. 203-213 East Main Street, Riverhead Sewer District, Capital Project, so moved. Seconded. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 159. Authorizes application for funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE 2024 grant funding. Is there a motion to approve this resolution? So moved. Seconded. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 160. Resolution calling public hearing regarding a capital improvement for the proposed extension number 99 of the Riverhead Water District for the Marist Farm Subdivision and other properties collectively known as Subdivision 1. The proposed extension number 99 is to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the purpose of providing a capital improvement for the Riverhead Water District. The proposed extension number 99 is to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the purpose of providing a capital improvement for the Riverhead Water District for the Marist Farm Subdivision and other properties collectively known as Suffolk County Tax Map Number District 0600, Section 117, Block 01, Lots 6.1, 6.2, 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 in Riverhead, New York. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Resolution calling for a public hearing regarding a capital improvement for the proposed lateral water main extension at 203 to 213 East Main Street, Suffolk County Tax Pap District number 0600, section 129, block 1, lot 17 through 20, Riverhead, New York. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 162. Ratifies appointment of special counsel in legal action against the town of Riverhead entitled Calvertin Aviation and Technology LLC, the town of Riverhead, the town of Riverhead Community Development Agency, and the town of Riverhead Industrial Development Agency. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. I just want to take a moment to thank our town attorney, Eric Howard, and the entire town attorney staff. They put together an incredible group of individuals from different law firms that came here and did a nice presentation to us. Some immense work. I firmly believe in this particular law firm, and I think that there was many great options in front of us. So I think we are in good hands. I vote yes. Thank you for your guys' work. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 163. Pay bills. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. This completes our resolutions. We're now going to open the floor for open comments from the public on any matter at all. Any matter at all?
And we have... We have three online. Okay. Thank you. Good afternoon. I am Pilar Moyamansara, the Executive Director of Housing Help, Inc., a tiny but mighty housing and financial counseling agency that has been serving Long Island for over 50 years. I am here to express our sincere gratitude for the invaluable support from the Riverhead Police Department during our Three Kings Day event on a cold and snowy January 7th at Centro Franciscano, the Episcopalian Church located on Roanoke Avenue. The collaboration with the Riverhead Town Police Department was instrumental in the success of our initiative, where we had the privilege of providing assistance to 521 adults and 507 children, totaling 1,000 children. 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. This was a drive-through event, so their traffic coordination was crucial for the event's safety and success and played a crucial role in creating a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. During the event, Housing Help was able to offer a range of essential resources, including food, toys for the children, and food gift cards. This support would not have been possible without our local and regional community partners and local leaders. A special thanks to Council Members Joanne Waski and Denise Merrifield, who joined in the snow and cold to help us give out food to our event participants. As we reflect on the success of this event, I am excited to share with you the !
Moderator
or I can speak on behalf of Councilwoman Merrifield as well. We really enjoyed meeting everybody, and you did a very successful event, so thank you. No, thank you for participating. You know what? We make hundreds of children so happy with those toys, right? It made us happy. Yes. It was a really nice event. Thank you. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwomen, and thank you, Chief, for the police services provided. We are very proud of our police department. Hi. Claudia Bianco, Bading Hollow. I just want to say thank you to Tim and the Council. I'm sure I had an input in this, in changing or correcting the terrible wrong that was done, however it was done and by whomever it was done, to correct the pre-submission conference. The town residents need to know what is being presented, what ideas developers have before they get acted upon, and I'm still disappointed. I know you were reminded that you changed that agritourism code without letting the COMP Plan deal with it. I know the whole hoopla about the circumstances, but it really should have been done in a different way, but I'm glad you corrected that. I hope if there's anything else that has been going on that we are unaware of, it gets corrected as well. Claudette, the COMP Plan actually did assist us with the agritourism. Okay, that's good. I have a question totally unrelated Last year sometime the recreation department requested money or was looking into buying a computer program to allow for digital electronic access, speech passes and such, so that you don't have to have an actual sticker on your car. And I just got a sticker last week. So I guess they didn't get the program or they're not getting the program. John Haskellsson, In that particular program they did not get the money that they had went more into putting their applications and things online so you can do them online. I did that. I did it online. But we're not going to have that digital system. I don't think it's going to be ready for this year. Okay. Because I know they have it, I think in Brookhaven they're using it this year and stuff. So that would be saving. These are parts of budget things that had to be weighed in. You weigh what you. It will come up again in this year's budget. So maybe this year there's room for that. Okay. Always looking forward to progress. Understood. Thank you. Thank you. We'll take somebody from online.
I know this says, Tom, you're on the news, but he will come on after me. We had great confusion. We were trying to use two computers. This is Kathy McGraw from Northville again. And Mr. Hubbard, you pledged more open government and you've made some really excellent changes. I was delighted to hear the change you announced today on the pre-submission meetings. And I thank you very much. But there remains for me the question of what to do about the many such meetings that have violated that town code. And in particular, we have learned that since 2022, you and Mr. Rothwell, Don Thomas, many staff from the planning department and the town attorney's office have been meeting in person and by Zoom and through emails with Wiseman Realty, as well as consultants paid for by Wiseman Realty. 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. And specifically, the subject of all of that has been a luxury resort to be built by Wiseman at 33 94 sound Avenue on the bluffs of the Long Island sound. And if this is an aside, if the people of Riverhead are interested, you can read the countless, what I consider to be eye-opening emails that have been obtained by the Riverhead local. were published today, emails between town staff and representatives of Weissman. Town staff with Weissman reps has not only been reviewing site plans, but also considering changes to the TDR program and drafting a new zoning code, which we've heard about today, Agritourism, that allows the Weissman resort, which otherwise could not be built. This was all done behind closed doors until last July, when Riverhead Local, checking on campaign contributions, came across one to Mr. Hubbard from Weissman Real Estate. The reporter then checked the Weissman website and found on that site, notice of a new Zip Code. We have a luxury resort near Briarmere on Sound Avenue. And at that point, the cat was out of the bag. That was July of this past year. And when asked about this, no one from town government was really very forthcoming at first. And you, Mr. Hubbard, when asked specifically, said you would not support a zoning change to allow hotels and spas. Correct. But correct me if I'm wrong. Correct. And correct me if I'm wrong. Next, at the next town board meeting, you are holding a public hearing on this zoning code change that will allow those very things. Correct. Mr. Hubbard, I have always, as a lifelong resident of Riverhead, that you have the best interests of Riverhead at heart. This episode has got me wondering a little bit if that's true. The Agritourism Commission, which is the largest organization in the United States, has fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist fist just said mr hubbard that the comp plan was involved but i never saw anything publicly i don't know if the representatives to the comp plan meetings know anything about it i just think such a dramatic zoning change would be of real interest and very important to the people who live in riverhead and i think by not having it be front and center studied in the comp plan it looks like this comp plan is a very expensive empty exercise in as much as the agritourism code all began with meetings that violated town code 301-305 i would ask that you withdraw this proposal this proposed zoning change cancel the hearing for the next town board meeting and roll this significant zoning change it is truly significant to put luxury resorts along the historic sound avenue corridor and make this a part of the comp plan it might cost some more money but it will restore confidence in this town and i hope that all of you on the town board will choose to do so i very much appreciate your time thank you and if you'd like tom hughes would now speak up go ahead good afternoon i apologize for the uh confusion uh with two people sharing one computer and i also had to make some changes in my script because of the fact that i was in the middle of a meeting and i was trying to figure out what i was doing and i was trying to figure out what i was doing and i was trying to figure out what i was doing and i was trying to figure out what i was doing mr hubbard's uh welcome but tardy acknowledgement that what has been happening with the developers of this proposed hotel if not dead wrong at least looks wrong this can't be how riverhead town wants to be seen to do their business in this new age of open government which we all welcome it is legitimate for people to ask why is mr wiseman a respected westchester developer why is he getting such concierge care from the town of riverhead of course as previously mentioned we have since learned public records that mr wiseman was a lavish benefactor during the recent town elections there's nothing wrong with that perfectly legitimate he gave a little more money than he should but i understand that that's why we're talking about it if it doesn't matter well i think it's a germane point and why i believe it is reasonable to to comment on how this matter is being handed certainly mr wiseman is not getting all this attention from the town of riverhead because he built a nice new hampton in in yonkers there's there is reason why the doors are open if i go into town hall and say i want to you know put a room over the garage or if i'm a businessman and i want to uh put up a larger sign sign or I want to open a new restaurant on a busy corner, the results will vary. I don't have that entree that Mr. Wiseman and his law firm apparently do. And I'm just saying it is legitimate. That's simply not true. The planning board is open to the public and any resident, any developer, contractor, attorney, any investor can come forth. We run a town hall of open doors, and it's not exactly investigative reporting. You can come to the town hall, come into the planning department, discuss your ideas, and we'll make comments on them. And good ideas are brought to the table. Poor ideas are brought to the table. I don't really see what this is all about. It's an open door policy, and we're proud of that. I will concede that this debate is a mere kerfuffle. This is just a concern that many people have about the operations of the town hall. I don't know if you can see it. I don't know if you can see it. I don't know if you can see it. I don't know if you can see it. I don't know if you can see it. I don't know if which is only obviously weeks old, and its predecessors and beyond. And there are enough people in town, obviously not enough, but there are enough people who share that opinion. But I think the bigger issue is the unsuitability of the proposed enterprise for that particular piece of land. We're being misled by the whole agritourism buzzword. There's been agritourism in Riverhead for the 50 years I've been there. You know, Briarmere, the peach farms, Swedes, buffaloes roaming the range, wineries, breweries. You know, agritourism is here. It's nothing new. And this idea that there are going to be fields of endive and sorrel and guests at the hotel are going to be out picking their own supper is just nonsense. They're using the word. This is public comment, and I'm, remember the public, I'm making my comments. They're using their code word to obscure what their real plan is, which is another hotel and wedding venue with a few fields of corn for hay rides in the fall. You know, otherwise, there's also ample room for tents and bands and playing fields. I've heard talk of sports complexes. You know, the idea of playing fields for travel teams and mom and dad rolling in the minivan and stay at the hotel. And they're there for a couple of days. Right. And they're there for a couple of days and play lacrosse or field hockey or whatever. Mr. Hughes, excuse me. Are you in favor of major subdivisions along Sound Avenue? I understand the pressure on the agricultural land. And I think when they come up before the town, those questions can be addressed. So a project that would save land is not something you would support. A project that would preserve 70% of that land. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. When I first heard of this proposal, I was against a zone change. And I publicly stated that. When the proposal was presented to me with the TDR program and the possibility to save and preserve 70% of 100 acres, that changed my mind instantly. And by the way, I do have the right to change my mind. If the project is bad, I don't support it. If it becomes good, I will support it. If it doesn't, I won't. And that's how things work. So to insert— insinuate that because somebody who if that person walked in this room right now i would not know what that person looks like but they donated to my campaign mr hughes you don't know me you don't know my credibility you don't know anything about me nobody can buy me nobody has ever bought me and nobody ever will so for you to get on live tv and insinuate that people on this board are doing things because they received money you're taught entirely in in the in the wrong i can't state that any other way you are completely wrong and i urge you to get on with your point quickly because we are going past our time period here okay well i my final i do respect your and i don't i i said there's politics in america today that's just it there's no no uh other reason uh you know you You had campaign contributions. Your opponents had campaign contributions. But it is part of the reason people will, you know, talk. But what I want to get back to, again, is the future of this project. And if the town is relying on the developers and their attorneys and consultants to write their own code, which is the suspicion abroad in the land, you won't be able to stop what they eventually want to do there because they will have contrived a code that allows them to do what they will. Tom, I have to interrupt you. They did not write their own code, number one. Number two, Joanne brought up asking you a question about subdivisions. And you didn't answer that. Would you rather see subdivisions on the north side of Sound Avenue or not? This also, and having, I've spent two years on the comp plan, this plays a significant role in the TDR program in order to preserve land. And this is something that was brought to my attention, absolutely worth looking into. And how do we use the TDR program and how do we stop subdivisions, period? So if you want to weigh in on that part of the solution, I'd be happy to hear your thoughts. As someone who has worked on the comp plan, why are we putting this before the horse? Why are we doing this before the comp plan that the town has spent good money on? Because you're not listening. This was vetted through the comp plan. This was vetted through the comp plan. It was done through the steering committee. You just refused to acknowledge that, and I can't help you with that. And Tom, you should know if you've worked on a comp plan, you should also note that, uh, during the process of the comp plan, it does not stop the town board to have the ability to do zoning. The 7,000 acres left, we're doing everything we can to preserve. So projects that may fall within the zoning category, if it's passed, have the opportunity to preserve that acreage and to purchase other parcels through transfer development rights to increase their maximum density. So even a 100-acre site can preserve 7,000 acres. And then they can go out and potentially buy 20, 30 acres someplace else. The goal is to preserve as much as the 7,000 acres that does. If you're against this project, then what you must be for is that you'd prefer to see 350 houses built along Sound Avenue with an average cars for three cars per house to go in and out of there three times a day, and then to put all those 600, 700 kids in our school district. And I don't support that endeavor, so I disagree with you. Well, those are valid points. And they are being addressed and will be addressed when the comp plan to the people of Riverhead at some point. Again, Tom, we don't have to wait for the comp plan to address this. We're addressing it as the need comes up, which is responsible. But without public input. Without public input. We haven't had the public hearing yet. We haven't had the public hearing yet, Tom. So you're painting a picture that's incorrect, and that irritates me. You're meeting with the... Be truthful. Be truthful in what you're going to say when you come on camera. That would be what I say to you. Don't portray something. Use facts and tell the truth. That's what we prefer to hear up here. That's what we call out. And just to add also that this is part of the recommendations of the 2003 comp plan. An exact discussion in, I believe it's 7.7C, but don't hold me to that. But check the 2003. The 2003 comp plan. And it talks of just doing projects just like this along the scenic and historic corridor. And that the people wanted that. So we've edited through the new comp plan. We're going off the old comp plan. I don't know what more we can do to you, Tom, to make you feel differently about this. You're entitled to your opinion, obviously. But I'm going to agree to disagree with you on many things that you said. Okay. I understand. And I... I respect that. But I do want to be on record as against this proposed hotel. I do understand that the pressure on agricultural land is intense, not just in Riverhead, but on the entire east end. And there are different ways to address the issue. This one is not one I support. I hope the DEC will put a stop to it. And that's all I have to say. I respect your opinion, Tom. Thank you very much. Thank you. is the purpose of the public hearing. Next, just for the record, and I've cited this before, under the present comp plan, section 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6C, 3.6G, 3.7C, 5.2, I think it's 5.5B, goal 7.3, 7.7, 7.7C, and I just want to read one section in particular, if you don't mind.
Sorry, I have a lot of areas flagged in the comp plan, because this is what we review when we review. Legislation. On page 7.4, I'm going to read just the last sentence of the paragraph. Tours are offered and farm products are sold. In the future, there may be potential for farm experience vacations or farm-based bed and breakfast, two vacation concepts that are growing in popularity nationally and internationally. This is from 2003. All of my comments, all of the above, I should note for the record, after the first Riverhead article came out, Dawn Thomas spent a half hour with Alec Lewis, and I spent 45 minutes. The most recent opinion piece that avers to statements I made regarding environmental review, those I did not make. What I did state was that the present zoning that is in our proposed draft is already receiving area. So when I was asked the question by Alec Lewis, well, don't you have to do a generic environmental impact statement because of the sending and receiving areas, my response was, no, you do not. It's already a receiving area in the code. Next, when he asked me, I said, well, I don't know. Really, if there are changes in the management space in the management space, if there are changes in the management space, if there are changes in the management space, I said, yeah, they may have, but I didn't review them. And I can tell you town staff did not rely on them. And if you have any other questions regarding the secret review for this proposed legislation, please go to the planners. That's their ballywick, not mine. So the most recent comments you saw recited kind of were worded and made a vermin that I made different comments than what I actually did. So that's it. Emory, I stand by your work, Dawn Thomas' work, the entire planning department. You guys have been doing an amazing job, and the goal in the long term is to preserve farmland, and that's what we're doing. Absolutely correct. Okay, we have two people on. I have one more to come up to the microphone right now first.
Hi there. It has nothing to do with what you guys are talking about. That's refreshing. I just wanted to remind. Everybody in the town of Riverhood that this Monday is Bryan Simonson's fifth year anniversary since his end of watch. We will be going to Queens for Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. at the Holy Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill, and the NYPD will also be airing at live stream. So I would invite you all to watch the mass. I don't know if we'll be doing any more masses in Queens after this. Queens after this may be the 10 year, but it is a lot on Leanne and Linda and the whole family. So I invite you all to participate. Watch. Think about him. Melissa, for those who don't know, Detective Simonson was a detective with the New York City Police Department. He was a detective in the 102. A resident. Grew up in Jamesport. Actually, Tim and Jim were on the board when we renamed South Jamesport Avenue Bryan Simonson way. He was a detective. He was promoted after his death to detective grade one, but he was a detective in the 102 squad. Spent his whole career on the 102 squad and was unfortunately killed in the last year. He was crowned aambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambambamb
important to kind of bring it down to what is all about our town. And he was all about our town. So if we could just remember him. Absolutely. Thank you for the update. I actually will be in attendance at the service on Monday. Very good. Very good. Great family. Yeah. And the work that's been done in his memory with money that's been raised for foundations and different things is incredible. It goes, it speaks volumes of what a person. I think I read the sign Marshalls for the parade this year as well. Yes. Leanne Simonson is widow, Brian's widow and his mother, Linda Simonson, are the grand Marshalls for the James port parade this year, which is taking place on March 30th in James port. So I hope everybody can come and share their day with them. Appreciate it. Okay. We have somebody online. I think we have a question. You're on. Can you hear us? Yes. Thank you. Ron Hariri of Ackerbock. And first of all, I want to thank Denise Civilletti, an award-winning journalist and Alec Lewis of Riverhead Local for their insightful interpretation and provision of the black and white space in the space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space the most prolific donors to Riverhead's Republican Party, namely Joe Petruccelli, is copied on those emails, including specifically an email setting up a meeting with Messrs. Hubbard and Rothwell. And I asked the question because not only to, not only has the developer in question provided donations to both of you, Mr. Hubbard, Supervisor Hubbard, and Mr. Rothwell, Mr. Petruccelli continues to seem
to have a favorite status in our town. So what is the explanation for why he continues to be copied and involved in transactions involving a different developer?
You'd have to ask Mr. Petruccelli, I would assume. I have no idea.
Thank you. Maybe we will be asking those questions and I hope that the Councilor Civiletti will get to those questions. I have another question and it's really addressed, I think, to the County Attorney. We previously discussed the county's litigation in Supreme Court involving Canal House. I recently read that it is a matter that has been settled. So Mr. Howard, could you tell me what fines, if any, the town recovered against the defendant in that case, which just happened to be represented by Anthony Colombo? Mr. Harriot, so the matter was marked settled. It's pending our submitting a final stipulation of settlement. I expect that that stipulation of settlement will be signed by the defendant and it should be included in the February 21st town board meeting for it to be approved by the town board. But it hasn't been. I mean, it's actually been listed as settled already. Yeah, Justice Riley, just because we had only a few, my opinion, So can you tell us why? because we had only a few, my opinion, my opinion, my opinion. minor details to work out before we believed we had an agreement. He marked it settled subject to restoration by letter if we, for whatever reason, break down on the negotiations. So what is the agreement as to fines, if any? The fines will, there will be fines. I'm not gonna say right now because we did go back and forth on it quite a bit, Mr. Colombo and myself. So the stipulation of settlement will clearly lay out what the fines are. And I expect that that'll be together with the resolution at the next town board meeting. And just to clarify, I know that you've been involved in code enforcement and overseeing that responsibility. It's fair to say as alleged in your own papers that this defendant operated an illegal Airbnb. That's your allegation. In fact, you sent a detective, a realtor, a police officer, a Riverhead police detective to the love shack there, aside from a multitude of other irregularities
and violations of zoning code and building codes. It's fair to say that the fines on that type of stuff going on for years would be many thousands of dollars. Yeah, Mr. Harre, without putting a number on it, I'll say it's gonna be several thousand dollars. Thank you. Thank you. We have anybody else online? Yes? Okay. ! Really? Good afternoon, Mike Foley, Reeves Park. Can you hear me okay? Yes, Mike. I want to talk about the controversy that I believe, Tim, you put to bed by putting things, as far as pre-submissions, back open to the public. And certainly there's not a whole lot that you can do other than disclose the things that are being disclosed now to revisit the past. But I want to correct the record, and I want to throw something out here that probably Ken and Ann Marie are the only two that know. Maybe they should. I've had a handful of conversations with Ken about the agriculture issue on putting this agritourism hotel up and about the problem I had with any catering or weddings that came out of it. And me and Ken had a good back and forth. I don't think we agree on everything. But certainly we had a good back and forth. And then Ann Marie apparently had a conversation with Ken. And Ann Marie sent me. A detailed email talking about the changes that were being contemplated. And also making some changes as a direct result, I believe, of Ken's conversation with Ann Marie about my concerns. You know, I think most people in the room know that I am a strong advocate for the historic Sound Avenue corridor. Certainly Joanne and I bumped heads on one occasion. And I was very thankful to her on another. She did a great job on the Baiting Hollow fog venue. And I feel she damaged our ability to protect by giving the Cider House what was ultimately ruled on. But that's in a rearview mirror. We're looking forward now. And I look at what Ann Marie, the time that Ann Marie gave me, and the language that changed as a direct result of my interaction with Ken and Ann Marie. And I'm here to tell you, even though it might not have been public. I was given all due consideration from them. And I had been in the past as well. Me and Ken have been actively involved in the weed issue. And in a couple other things. Ken, I forget what they were. But certainly you've always answered my calls. And we've always had friendly and I think productive conversations that I ended up disagreeing with you on a few things. But they happened nonetheless. And Ann Marie, I did feel that the language that she. That she edited or changed. Went away a distance in making the agritourism possibility in order to save 70% of the land a possibility. At the public hearing, certainly I intend to attend it. And say we really do need to tighten up the language to make sure that there are no wedding receptions or those kind of events there. Because Catering Hall should not be on Sound Avenue, period. We just need to go back to some of the planning board back and forth between me and Joanne to make that plain. But the point I'm trying to make is that it wasn't just developers that had access to them. Anybody that had an idea had the ability to go before the planning board. And some of the ideas were zany and never got pen to paper. And some of them were good. And I guess pen got to paper. But I guess. What I want to say is that we are going to have a public hearing on this. I'm hopeful that we can tighten up the language so that there will not be weddings or catering events on any of these 100 watt plus properties. That they do go along the way of having agritourism. You know, obviously they're going to be nice. There'll be spas. There'll be pools. There'll be all that. But it will not be within the site of Sound Avenue. Or any of the roads contiguous with these properties. That is in the code. I'm concerned about the bluffs. We haven't discussed the bluffs and clearing all those things. And I'm sure that'll be something that comes up. But I want that. I don't know Tom Hughes. And because of the company he keeps, I take him that he's a guy, a well-meaning guy, because certainly I have high regard for Kathy McGraw. But I want to tell you. With 100 percent certitude. I believe in the integrity and honesty of Ann Marie Prudente, Dawn Thomas and Tim Hubbard. I believe they're all beyond reproach. And to insinuate that a thousand dollar check would turn Tim around. The guy that's been in here for generations has been in law enforcement for 35 years. And is now serving the people here. What differences do we see in the last month from what we have been subjected to. For the last. Four years with the last supervisor. I think that speaks for itself. And I want you to consider that going forward. Thank you. Mike, do you have a twin brother that would like to comment too? I don't. But you know my wife. You met her once. And she has asked me to read this for you. In light of the supervisor's notifying of the extra time I was allotted. She yields back her time to the supervisor. Thank you. Mike, thank you for the comments. Much appreciated. And we'll talk soon, I'm sure. I do appreciate, Mike, your comments and our conversations have directly changed some of the language in our legislation that's been put forth because of your help and assistance. So I thank you very much. Well, and I think it's important that the people understand that, Ken. That it's not just a developer. It's if people reach out. And, you know, certainly I'm on vacation. I consider this critical business. I consider the town's business with the common good. I consider the town's business with the conference and everything else to be possibly the most consequential next three or four years in the history of this town that will shape its direction, its economy, and its rural appearance for the next fifty years. That's why I take the time to do this when I'm on vacation. And I am very, very thankful that I've got Tim in the center seat here. I really am. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. Here's Kathy. We got a conference call. Hi, Kathy. We're done? Okay. All right. Nobody else from the public wanting to speak? Okay. I just want to add one thing to what Mike just said. He mentioned, I don't care that he mentioned me, but he mentioned Dawn and Anne-Marie, and I 100% agree with that. But I also want to add Matt Charter to that group also because the work that has been done on all these projects and our planning department, Greg Berman and Heather Trojanowski, they're incredible, and they do a fantastic job, and I really appreciate it. And our good workers will be portrayed as good workers by this town board. So we appreciate what you do. And if we have nobody else coming up to speak and we have nobody online, I would like to make a motion to adjourn the town board meeting. Do I have a second? I second. Second. Third. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Everybody have a great weekend. I hope your Super Bowl team wins. And those of you who are betters, I hope you win some money. Have a great weekend. Take care, everybody. Hi, Gwen.
Have a great weekend.