Full Transcript
Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you.
Okay, Councilman Rothwell, do we have somebody for the Oh, I know we have somebody for the invocation. Once again, we are honored to have Kathy Bredze from the Riverhead Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain. Thank you for joining us this evening. Thank you for extending the invitation. Most gracious God, our creator, may your spirit dwell among us on this evening as we gather to focus on issues that affect our community of Riverhead. We give great thanks for all of the volunteer organizations that help make this town a great place to live and work. We ask your blessings upon this meeting as our spring season leaves us for the abundance of the summer here on Eastern Long Island. May our leaders work together to deal with the tough issues in good grace as they seek compromise for the good of the town of Riverhead. May we celebrate the joys of our town as we work on the issues to make this community even better for the generations to come. This we pray in your everlasting name. Oh God, amen. Amen. Thank you, Kathy. Okay, we have a couple announcements. Actually, we're going to do that after I'm going to turn it over to Kathy. We're going to turn it over to Councilwoman Merrifield, and we're going to recognize our Youth Court seniors. All right. Thank you, Supervisor Hubbard. I'd like to first just follow up with the invocation and say this is a great opportunity to celebrate the great young people in our community and show them off to the whole town. I'm the liaison to Youth Court, and I'd like to honor them tonight. But first, I'd like to let everybody know exactly what Youth Court is. Youth Court is a voluntary, alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system for first-time offenders who are under the age of 20 years old, who have committed a violation or a misdemeanor crime. Actual cases are referred from the Suffolk County Probation and Riverhead Justice Court to go to trial with our Youth Court. Members serving as the defense attorneys, prosecuting attorney, the judge, the clerk, the bailiff, the four person and jury members. The offender is held accountable for the crimes they have committed by a peer or a court of their peers for a trial and or a sentencing hearing. The sentence they receive is in the form of either Youth Court jury duty, community service, a specialized assignment such as a written or verbal apology, an essay, educational classes or counseling sessions. Youth Court members learn to be objective as they have to deal with many different personalities that are being, not only do they hear from the respondent, but the respondent's parents, brothers, sisters, arresting police officer and or a store owner. The town of Riverhead is grateful to acknowledge the graduating seniors here with us this evening for taking the courtroom roles and working with the defendants that have committed the crimes in our community. Each senior here has displayed outstanding leadership skills and is a positive role model for their peers and for our community. Each senior is dedicated and committed to public service and it's commendable. And the town board with the supervisor, Supervisor Hubbard and the entire town board and all the residents of Riverhead town, we are here to make the public aware of Youth Court and your public service and that you are vital members of our community. We are here to celebrate you as was just said in the invocation. So with that, I'd like to acknowledge, we ask you to come on up. First, I'd also like to mention that one of the women, Gabrielle Baffi, has been in Youth Court for six years and almost every other woman that is here tonight was there for four years, community service to our town. Thank you very much, ladies. We appreciate you. That's Catherine Grace Blandiardo, Gabrielle Baffi, Lorna Carrera, Giovanna Costa, Giselle Flores, Samantha Morthor. I think I got everybody right. Please step forward, ladies. With everybody. Giselle Flores. Samantha Morthor. Please step forward, ladies. With everybody. Come up. [transcription gap] Do you have a question? Yeah. Giselle? That's the next one. I was speaking to the ladies at the youth court presentation. Many of them are going on to become attorneys. One is going to be a pilot, and one is going to be a surgeon someday. So we'd like to celebrate all of them.
Thank you very much. Congratulations. Thank you. Yay. Yay.
Just as she was saying. Thank you.
Okay, under announcements, we have Saturday, May 24th, is the run for Briggs 5K, 830 a.m. It's a one-mile fun run, and that's at Berman Boulevard up in EpCal in Calverton. Monday, May 26th, is Memorial Day. The parade, the Memorial Day parade, will start at Osborne Avenue, Osborne and Pulaski at 9 o'clock, proceed south on Osborne to the World War I monument on the corner of Court and West Main Streets, and then it continues on to the St. John's Cemetery, I believe, and the Riverhead Cemetery. The parade will end at the World War II monument and All Wars monument, the corner of Pulaski Street and Osborne. Calverton National Cemetery on Monday will be holding their annual gravesite flag decoration, beginning at 9.30 a.m., and their ceremony will be at 1 p.m. in the assembly area at the end of Princeton Boulevard. And Councilman Rothwell, do you want to mention what we have going on up at EpCal on Friday? Yes, so on Friday at 2.30 at Veterans Memorial Park, we are having a formal announcement and a recognition for 18 more trees that were purchased by INSUR. We have announced that 29,500 headstones have been headstones, so 29,500 headstones have been headstones. We have announced that 29,500 headstones have been headstones, so 29,500 headstones have been headstones. We have announced that 29,500 headstones have been headstones, so 29,500 headstones have been headstones. We have announced that 29,500 headstones have been headstones, so 29,500 headstones have been headstones. to join us for the service there. Excellent. Looking forward to it. Okay, Clerk Wooten, do we have any correspondence and reports? Yes, since the last meeting we had one letter from the Heart of the Riverhead Civic Association in reference to the Long Island Science Center. That could be part of the package on the agenda on the web. That's the only correspondence that came in since the last meeting. On the reports, we have the Town Clerk monthly report for April at $15,378.50. We have the Tax Receiver monthly utility report for the month of April, $332,294.05. We received the Tax Receiver total tax collection as of May 8th, $110,506,422.83. And then the total tax collection as of May 14th, at $114,777,454.72. And that concludes our correspondence and reports. Okay, thank you. We're now up to the item of public hearing. And the first public hearing we have on for tonight, we have three altogether. The first one is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and is now 6.17. And this will be the public hearing regarding the National Grid Special Permit. And I will turn that over to... Planner Greg Bergman. Thank you, Supervisor. For the record, Greg Bergman, Senior Planner with the Riverhead Planning Department. We have a special permit application before the Town Board currently seeking approval to perform improvements at the existing National Grid facility located at 8 Mill Road in Riverhead. The improvements consist of demolishing existing buildings and certain utility structures, constructing a new access driveway in Apron on Mill Road, and creating trailer parking spaces for a total of 24, compressed natural gas trucks, as well as installing related compressed natural gas distribution and collection equipment. The purpose of these improvements is to supplement the existing National Grid supply during the coldest days during the winter months when there's not enough existing supply in the system. They bring trucks in from out of state that are full of natural gas. They essentially inject it into the system and use it to ensure that Riverhead residents have adequate natural gas supply. The property is located within the Peconic River Community Zoning Use District, and a special permit is required from the Town Board for utility and municipal structures within any zoning district. Pursuant to secrets and unlisted action, this Town Board, by Resolution Number 25-418, dated May 8, 2025, assumed they classified the action and issued a negative declaration. The property is encumbered by several easements. We did go over this at the work session regarding there's a right-of-way on the southern end of the property, as well as approximately a 5,000-square-foot easement for LIPA to install and maintain infrastructure relating to electrical distribution. There are some minor amendments that need to be made to the site plan, specifically regarding the exterior lighting, which is proposed at a noncompliant height and a noncompliant color temperature. That will be revised in a future plan. The buildings that need to be demolished. One of them has an existing sanitary system, which will need to be abandoned in accordance with Suffolk County Department of Health Services regulations. We did refer this out to involved agencies. We got comments back from the fire marshal. He had some comments regarding emergency access. Right now, the gate is currently controlled by an RFID card. Emergency departments, be it police or fire, ambulance, will need some type of emergency access, and that can be accomplished any number of ways. They just need to consult with the fire marshal. The proposed driveway and apron will require the relocation of existing town-owned fire hydrant, which is located on the east side of Mill Road. The applicant is currently consulting with the Riverhead Water District to facilitate those improvements. We got comments back from the highway superintendent. He recently repaved that section of Mill Road just north of West Main Street. He's just asking that in relation to the road opening permit, any areas of Mill Road be restored fully curb-to-curb. And this property is located within the New York City area. It's located in the New York State DEC Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers area. However, due to the nature of the use, because it is a utility provider, there is no DEC permit that is required for the proposed improvements. That's it. Pretty straightforward. We do have members representing the application here. If the board has any further questions, if not, we can open it to the public. It's pretty straightforward. It's going to just be a few days over the winter when it's really, really cold. Hopefully, we don't need it at all. Hopefully, we have a nice, mild winter. But just in case, it's a backup. It's a backup system. And I think it's a good setup that they have up there and a good location for that. Board, do you have any questions? No. Anybody from the public? Any concerns, questions? Okay, not seeing anybody. Justin, do we have anybody online? Okay. Not seeing anybody. I will close this public hearing and keep it open for seven days for written comment to May 30th. Okay. Motion to close this public hearing? So moved. Seconded. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay. Our second public hearing on for tonight is scheduled for 6 p.m. It is now 622. And this is a public hearing regarding acquisition of 111 East Main Street. Councilman Kern, would you like to? Yes. I would like to address this. I'd like to make a motion to cancel the public hearing. Seconded. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay. The second public hearing requiring the acquisition of 111 East Main Street is canceled. For anybody who's not familiar with that, it's the building, the old Sweezy's building with where the Science Center is going in. We've come to terms and the Science Center has gotten a nice rendering and a nice set of plans and money ready. And they're going to go ahead and start as soon as we get them their building permit. They go ahead and start working on the building. And hopefully it will be open before the end of the year for sure. So that was good news. All right. Last public hearing we have is scheduled for 6.05. It is now 623. And this is a public hearing regarding the acquisition of 127 East Main Street. And I will turn that over to Councilor Howard and ask Councilor Eisler and CDA Director Dawn Thomas to come up to the microphone, please. Thank you. Councilor. Good evening. Supervisor. Members of the Board. My name is Frank Eisler. I'm a member of the firm of Smith Finkelstein Lumberg Eisler and Jakabowski. Special Counsel handling this condemnation proceeding for the town. This is a hearing pursuant to eminent domain law 201. To determine the provide an opportunity for the town. And. And an opportunity for the community and the board to evaluate the need to acquire the leasehold that we will that's been noticed for this hearing. Before I go further, I will place for the public to if they're interested in seeing a survey of the property, there's also a public outline of the hearing. Frank. I'll go back to the microphone. They can't hear you. Okay. What has been placed on the banister there is a survey of the property where the leased property is located. That is the subject of this eminent domain hearing. And a outline of the purposes of the acquisition. And the public is entitled to see those as part of this hearing process. And the town clerk has a copy for the record as well. The purpose of this hearing is to determine the to hear and determine the need for and the location of this particular acquisition. The acquisition before you is to acquire a leasehold interest that SNR bar 25 corporation has in 127 east mainstream. Which is a building that is owned by the town of Riverhead. And the leasehold area is in the easterly ground floor portion of the building. Comprised of approximately 2200 square feet. I will now turn over the presentation to Dawn Thomas who is the Riverhead community development administrator. And she will be presenting the presentation. And I will also be presenting the presentation to the community development administrator who is going to explain in more detail what the need for this acquisition is in conjunction with the overall town square project. Good evening. Members of the board. And the public. As many of you are aware 127 east main street is one of the three properties that the town square has. And it is a property that is owned by the town square. And it is one of the three properties acquired by the town of Riverhead in 2021. For the purpose of creating the Riverhead town square project. Town square project is an urban renewal project. Designated by the community. Through several years of public input and engagement. To recreate. The heart of main street from a series of old. Vacant and blighted buildings that blocked views of the river. Into a vibrant public space that connects main street to the iconic river. The project components include. An adaptive playground. A splash pad. And public event space for large and small events of all kinds. The project is intended to boost tourism and to provide an amazing riverfront space for our residents. The project has benefited from funding through New York State. Downtown revitalization initiative. New York State empire state development. New York State parks. Suffolk county. And has also received the assistance of the U.S. Army corps of engineers. The project also involves a potential public tour. And a partnership. That will activate the east side of the town square with a new hotel. Whose first floor will provide retail space. Food and beverage offerings. Flanking the town square's public space. And providing needed hotel rooms for all of the east end. As we learned recently. The west side of the town square will be flanked by the long island science center. These public and private projects are planned and designed. As a heart transplant for east main street. Which has long worked for meaningful revitalization. Two of the projects that will be part of the project. Are planned and designed. For the town square. The first is the town square. The second is the town square. The third is the town square. The fourth is the town square. The fifth is the town square. And the sixth is the town square. The sixth is the town square. The middle is full of full-time staff. To head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head 2022 to create the first phase of the town square which currently exists the subject building 127 East Main Street is the future location for the hotel with retail food and beverage lining the town square for activation and on the drawing that you see above you can see the Riverfront portion of the town square with the adaptive playground the main portion of the town square which connects to Main Street and the proposed hotel space which is on the east side of that property the east side where that hotel is is exactly where 127 East Main Street is currently located and will eventually be demolished when the three town square properties were acquired by the town the purchase was subject to the continuing leasehold of crafted in the 127 East Main Street building the remaining buildings were vacant vacant as the town square project was refined through public engagement it became clear in 2021 that the 127 East Main Street building would need to be removed which requires the condemnation of the leasehold interest of crafted because the town already owns the property we have been working with crafted to find a new location for the business it's an important part of our Main Street for the past probably four years we've looked at several different properties there were a number of different properties considered considered and some still being considered by the owners and we are consulting with HUD which is near um Federal Housing Urban Development to investigate the possibility of acquiring funding through CDBG Community Development Block Grant to assist in relocation I think it's fair to say we've been working closely with the owners of crafted to make all this work out so craft can maintain its presence on Main Street hopefully we'll have good news on this front within the next few weeks and so this is just another step in our town square redevelopment project this is necessary and important to move it forward and again we're working with the owners of crafted to find them a new location so that they can continue to be part of our Main Street landscape thank you oh yeah so I just want to make this one sheet that you have up on the screen part of the record and also I would just want the public to be aware that this is part of our downtown reactivation plan which was done through a the second series of public engagements on this project completed in October of 2022 it is on the town's website and or available through my office via email thank you welcome uh unless the board has any questions of either myself or Dawn we could open up the hearing to anyone in the public who wishes to be heard um or have any suggestions or objections to the condemnation and then after that's done I'll step back up okay I just want to add I see the owners of crafted in the audience and I know they've been working diligently to find a new location I know that we have worked with them myself Dawn Councilman Kern we have worked with uh possible location a possible tenant or an owner of a building and hopefully we're very close to making that happen and uh by a streak of good luck we may not actually have to do a condemnation there's still time left if we could you know try to make this work out and as long and if it does in a timely fashion we will be able to stop the condemnation and actually let this process flow naturally where they can move into a different location and hit the ground running again so I just want the public to be aware of that that's what's happening and just for the record before we turn it over to the public for comment I just want the record to reflect that this board has adopted a resolution of 2025-263 in March of this year that assumed lead agency under sequa and made a determination that the acquisition of this hold will not be expected to result in any significant environmental impact and uh so the secret aspect has been complied with and now I'll sit down for the public to speak okay do we have anybody from the public who would like to comment
John McAuliffe from Roanoke Landing um I drove by the area on my way here just to test my own instincts about what was going on and partially looking at the picture I want you to imagine that instead of a five-story apartment and condominium or hotel building that you stay at the current two-story level whether it's the building or a replacement building and imagine what the difference is for the town square when it's flanked by at both ends by two stories that is thanks to your good decision on the Science Center the Science Center on the West and some other space two-story on the east as opposed to another five-story building closing in the space that has been obtained through public funds and a lot of effort and a lot of vision on the part of this and preceding boards I it probably is hopeless to say it but I think that there's a obviously the technical question of whether you're going to condemn the lease I think the issue is whether you protect the space protect the vista you and stop the movement towards putting in a five-story building as you look at the current space if you look down Main Street East Main Street you'll see another five-story building it's far enough away that it doesn't impose on on the space another building is going in which I assume is is at that level but I think to put in a five-story building between the two-story building and the art center or however those buildings are rearranged and the town square is a mistake and I hope that you can reconsider the design and not you know whatever you do about the eminent domain I think is not so much the issue is how you decide to use that space so anyway that's that's my substantive as a view of of wanting to protect what I think you have have really achieved in beginning to open up the downtown area to the Peconic River and there is also a procedural question that I have as as I sent the letter last night and so you've had it during the day I think governance in a small town is always complicated by decision-making having consequences for economic interests in the town favorable or unfavorable consequences that's part of the natural process of democracy of weighing out those interests but I think it's also very important given the amount of resources that go into political parties and campaigns with an interest in trying to achieve certain goals that it will be very useful to have a !
everybody on the board is is affected by that donation but in a certain level it would be nice to have people be able to recuse themselves and vote in a completely disinterested manner about these kinds of questions but I don't know whether you are going to do it I don't know whether the local or the news review or someone else is going to do it but I think it'd be very useful to have on the table exactly how much has been put in into earning friendship and favor in what is a natural political way by making contributions from the head yourself she interests so the record I think she's portion of the long science center will go well above two stories in terms of having a planetary built in everything I think she'll complement each other very well and to save that one story doesn't block the system you're clear leave room story you can't see the rivet from from Main Street either so whether it's one or whether it's four or whether it's five that has nothing to do with the Vista next up hi Laura Jen Smith I just you know I had been up here a couple of months ago I guess it was to ask about the qualified and held eligible hearing because I just to make clear to the public that this this you have a dedicated a master developer you talked that the hotel is going there that this is all a done deal you know that's very disingenuous for this board since you have not held the qualified and eligible hearing you appointed a master developer I think close to four years ago and still have not held that qualified and eligible hearing yet you're moving forward with the condemnation of its paying tenant within this building when you still don't have a master developer for the property yet so I think you're putting the cart before the horse here we're doing that prior to having the qualified and eligible hearing so I just think that's a good point I think that's a good point I think that's a good point think this is being done out of sequence and it really is not good for the public to kind of listen to this and you have your town planner saying well this is where the hotel is going but that's a concept by this master developer who has not been deemed them you know qualified and eligible yet so I just wanted to put that out there so people are clear about that and part of the reason that you didn't even put in the RFP out for this because you said that this would be done very quickly and yet yet this is four years later. And I just also wanted to comment quickly on something John had said about campaign contributions. I believe in our code of ethics. Eric, maybe you can confirm this. But I believe in our code of ethics. Any of the board, even if they receive campaign contributions, can vote on it. They're not required to recuse themselves. But within any campaign cycle, if they receive $1,000 contribution or more, they are required to publicly disclose that at the meeting before voting in our code of ethics, correct? Yes. So pursuant to 113-4B1F of the Riverhead Town Code, a town officer that receives $1,000 or more during a certain cycle is required to disclose that. Now, pursuant to subsection 3 of section B of that chapter, an elected official isn't required. They're required to recuse themselves, but they do need to disclose whatever the conflict is prior to voting. So just so that the board is aware, so if anybody's received $1,000 from any of these entities. That would be across the board. So any application that's considered by the town, whether we're talking about the town square or any other project. Scott's point, any of these things. Just so that the board is aware that they need to disclose that. The board's aware. Thank you, Ms. Smith. We've been aware of that. Yeah. I would just also note that under general municipal law, the town square property is urban renewal property. So you are not required to RFP the property. We can select a person and they have to go through a qualified and eligible process. Approximately four years ago, we did authorize the town attorney's office to commence negotiations with a developer for the town square property. Those negotiations have been quite lengthy. However, I will say I think we're very close to being done. And consistent with general municipal law, we will hold the appropriate qualified and eligible hearing for the proposed developer. And then just I think the redevelopment plan for the town square always contemplated demolishing 127. So I would take exception to Ms. Jen Smith's comments that contemplating this M.N.A. and M.N.A. domain proceeding is putting the cart before the horse. I think this would always need to be done and condemn that leasehold in order to move forward with the project overall. That's correct. Yes. Thank you for your opinion. I'd just like to address the comment relating to the hotel. So in 2022, when we did the second public engagement process, which resulted in the downtown activation plan, we did that in conjunction with a market study from the city. And that was from a company called Street Sense. And that market study recommended the construction of a hotel on the town square as the best highest and best use of the property to generate the most economic activity. So although the drawing shows a hotel, that was long before the master developer designation was done. But it did, the drawings do reflect that hotel because it was recommended by the market specialists. Correct. I just didn't have a clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear we were always in the project and then we slowly actually got pushed out. I keep hearing everybody say that we automatically knew we were getting bought out. That's incorrect. Actually, before I even continue, thank you Tim, thank you Dawn, thank you. You guys have been essential to getting this project moving forward and as do I. I want the same thing for everybody. To hear that it was spoken about that it was automatic when I bought this lease from Shelly Gordon in 2017? No, 2018. There was no talk of a town square. So the town keeps saying that there's, it's been in the start I mean, I think, can we talk about this? That it was from the beginning. I was at every single meeting, again, I was with Dawn, I was with half this board and most of you guys. And I think it's a miscommunication to the town. That it's, we were just in the dark. We were just playing against the grind of things. We're not playing nice in the playground. That's one thing I want to speak on. Which is, again, not true. But again, Dawn, thank you. You've been nothing but phenomenal. I'm not going to ever take Tim as well. I hate doing these things. I hate talking on microphones, but I'll do it anyway. Also the Emma domain. I see you guys got rid of the science centers. No one's doing it. You're going to go and get Emma domained, right? Correct. So how did we get out of that conversation, you know, when it comes to, you know, not like we're included in that? A science center? Because the science center, we were next, like the part of the town square. But they got, they're good now. But why are we still getting the same treatment? But we're still, and again, you said we're working on it. Until you have that deal, we have the option of stopping this process. So it's, we're just kind of like forcing everybody's hands here now. You know, it's been a while and people have known about this for a while. But what's the why? And we've worked very hard in making this happen. And hopefully with the grace of God, it does happen. But if it doesn't, we have to have that option for a multi-million dollar project that's going in downtown. So my next question is, so beginning of the project, the hotel was going up. There was going to be retail and restaurant in the front, bar, beverage, whatever it may be. Right. And we were in it. Now you're still everything we saw today says that there's going to be a bar, beverage, restaurant, but doesn't include Kraft anymore. Why is that? It doesn't, I'm sorry? It doesn't include Kraft anymore. Because it used to include Kraft. That was everything I was on the board with you too, Tim. Same thing. Sean, you were offered space by Mr. Pettiselli to put your place in there. You turned that down. I have not spoke to that man in two and a half years. That's when he offered it to you and you never got back to him and said yay or nay. I had to beg him? That was an offer made to you, Sean. Don't be disingenuous. I'm not, I'm not, you keep using this word disingenuous. This is being disingenuous. You don't know what happened. I know that the offer was made to you, was it not? It was not. Joe Pettiselli said, I will put you in the hotel. I got told that I was not allowed to be in there because they have a hotel coming in that they're going to have their own retail and things of that nature. Okay. That's incorrect. That's incorrect. Show me. I don't know. I show you, I can tell you the conversations that were had. So you got to come with him, not with that prime space on the front corner of it. Yeah. And all of a sudden it was off the plane. I'm going to put a grease trap in for you and everything. Right. Yeah. Did I get a lease agreement? You just said right, yes. No, I'm saying, he said, these are words on the lease agreement. I can't just sign on. I'm just going to jump in here because this is really an issue between Sean and a negotiation with who may be deemed qualified and eligible to redevelop the building. It doesn't have any impact on the overall plan, which always contemplates demolishing 127 East Main Street. It wasn't always. In order to demolish 127 East Main Street, whether you have a deal, whether you have a contract with the qualified and eligible sponsor or not, we need to condemn that leasehold. That's what this proceeding is about. Well, I totally understand. And that's, that's, that was always going to happen. This, this wasn't always, well, Eric, it, it, it wasn't going to happen if you agreed to terms to terminate your lease early. That's, that's the only way that this wouldn't be happening since that hasn't happened. And we're prepared to move forward with a qualified and eligible sponsor hearing designation and development of the project. We need to demolish 127 East Main Street. In order to do that, we need to condemn the leasehold that you have and have you move out by a date certain so that we can proceed with the project. Now, what does that date? That's, that's what this proceeding is for. Well, this is to move forward on it, I'm assuming. This is to allow us to file a proceeding in Supreme Court that gets us in order from a judge that directs you to quit the leasehold by a date certain. Once that happens, it vests your leasehold title in us. We have full control of the building. You're moved out by a date certain. The demolition can go forward. That's what this proceeding is about. I mean, to me personally, that sounds actually like, because I thought we all had a very good relationship for the most part. I mean, honestly, I just met you. I've known you for a while, but I've known you for a while. It's like, it's like, it's like, I feel like it's happening very fast without the communication. We're not going to continue to try and relocate you. I think Ms. Thomas has been quite clear. Yes. That the vision for, you know, the downtown land, landscape going forward contemplates having crafted in a place somewhere on Main Street. So toward that end, you know, however, this eminent domain proceeding goes on from here, I think that's always the town's intention is to still try to help you relocate to another place. Which is fine, but I just don't understand why we got pushed out of the project from the start. But that's a conversation between you and the qualified and eligible sponsor that's going to be proposed. There's going to be another restaurant there where we just were. We could have figured that out at some point. You know, that's, that's my gripe with this. You know. Because I was supposed to be pushed to the Science Center, and then I was getting pushed to this building, this building, and that's just like, I got to do all the legwork, and I just get pushed out now. You know? It's not really pushing you. It's trying to locate another. It's eminent domain. It's pushing me out. It was trying to locate another place for you to go. Right. In order to avoid. Don't want to help me out with that. Yes, I get that. In order to avoid having to do this proceeding that we're doing right now. But now we're doing that proceeding. That notwithstanding, we're still going to try and help you find a place to go. But then. If I, so say that, say the landlord says, you know what? We're good. We don't want that. Then what I could do, I just get pushed away. What? It's the same thing. But what, but what landlord? I don't know. It's a landlord that works on Main Street. He has plenty of properties. I don't know if he's going to, I got a lease the other day. It's ridiculous. Well, I, you know. I mean, it's not your job to figure out lease agreements, but I'm just, I'm stating that you're saying you're, we're still working on things. Where do I stand when it comes to, we'd stop the, the, the proceeding of the eminent domain. And I'm keep working to, I just don't want to get sitting on the street with all my stuff and the sheriff picks it all up. That's what, that's what I'm looking for. Well, we're hoping to avoid that. Okay. Me too. Trust me. You know, that's, that's not really the purpose of this proceeding. This proceeding is focused on the fact that we need to condemn that leasehold in order to be able to demolish the building and proceed with the redevelopment of the town square. I fully, I understand where you guys are coming from. I'm all about the project, but I'm the, me and Rob are the one that lose in this scenario because we don't know what's going to happen. We don't know what's going to happen. You know, like we invested a lot of money downtown between Kachina 25 and Crafted. And now we're just like, we were going to build another spot. No way, no way until this gets rectified. No way. You know, one thing that I would point out is that just because we proceed with the eminent domain proceeding, that still contemplates you receiving some kind of compensation for the balance of your leasehold. Okay. Now that's not something that we determine here today. That's something that gets, yeah, that's something that gets, that's something that gets either settled or litigated down, down the road once the eminent proceeding, eminent domain proceeding is before judge. All right. So whatever investment you have, that's going to be compensated, whatever, you know, whatever, uh, contributing factors or, you know, uh, intangible, uh, investments you've made in downtown. Those are all arguments that you'll get to make in the context of that proceeding. Right. So no matter what, that's already happened. That's it. Well, it's, it's, it's something that needs to happen in order for the town square project. I'm all about the project. We just have to like somehow come to an agreement where it comes to like make sense. Cause it's like, I'm, I feel like I'm getting pushed to the curb without, without speaking for all five of the town board members. I think that they'd be very happy to find you another location to go to on main street. That'd be great. I appreciate it. Thank you guys for your time. Appreciate it.
John McAuliffe again from rolling woods. Two small points. One is my, my college memory of eminent domain is that it is for public good, not for private 60s. I'm questioning your college days, your memory, right? Well, this is, this is a legitimate question. I would accept that, um, at, it shows up at higher levels of office than my own. But again, my question is eminent domain inherently is for public good, not for private profit. And that's where this whole process becomes very complicated in terms of your private public formula. I think that I would also say, I'd urge you to go down and stand in front of the theater and look and imagine you're right. Two stories directly in front of it blocks the view of the river. But if you're on the other side of the street or you're experiencing the town square, the difference of a five foot, five story building sitting there versus a two story building is, is the Vista question is the feel. And I just urge all members of the board to take a walk down there before you finalize this. Thank you. I will just say that this is certainly an overall public benefit to every single merchant and retailer downtown. It is a necessity to build the town square because it becomes a central activation point and it's the key success to all revitalization. Downtown. So it's absolutely for the public. We have any particular project. Do we have anybody else who would like to comment please? I have one on one online. Okay. Go ahead with the one online.
Good afternoon. This is Ron Hariri of Aquabog. I'd like to reiterate my continuing objection to this reckless board proceeding with a condemnation process to benefit an unvetted master developer that also just happens to be one of Mr. Hubbard. And the rest of the Republicans on the town board biggest donors over years and years. There is no evidence whatsoever of Mr. Petrocelli's financial ability or qualifications. In fact, the only evidence before the town of Riverhead is the desperate financial condition of Mr. Petrocelli's businesses that required decades of ID. A. Benefits. There was never a request for proposals. There's never any solicitation of interest by other qualified developers. And it's been three years since Dawn Thomas and the rest of her cohorts have been purportedly negotiating a master developer agreement with this individual. I agree with Mr. McAuliffe that this is not a condemnation to benefit the public. It's a condemnation to benefit a member of Riverhead's longstanding friends and family network. All of you who have solicited and accepted funds from this developer should be disqualified. And I will note. I will note that the. I will note that despite Ms. Thomas's continuing efforts to obstruct responses to foils regarding this purported master developer and the Town Square project, we just received a foil, someone from, I imagine, Mr. Howard's office, that included an email from Mr. Petrocelli's own lawyer referring to sending the master developer. And the master developer to the town. Is this another situation like the last situation with the agritourism scam where you have a developer writing his own agreements? Perhaps you could clarify this, Mr. Howard. The email in question I have is actually provided from your office in response to a foil that was provided yesterday. It is from Eric. What? Eric. [transcription gap] it says dear Ann Marie and dawn the master developer agreement was forwarded to you as requested my question is is this developer writing his own deals for you without seeing what was attached sure I can't I can't say well I understand that mr. Harry you said that what I can't say is Ann Marie Prudente put in a substantial amount of time writing the agreement and the resolution that this board previously adopted authorized my office to negotiate with a proposed master developer which sounds like that is exactly what the email you have in your possession addresses it actually perhaps you could provide clarification because if you remember we learned in connection with the average course this has nothing to do with that great way actually it's sent by the same way there's a resolution that authorizes the agreement and the board has to write it down and then it's clear so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so a developer agreement that's been negotiated for the past three years. And isn't that a signal that something's wrong with this process? And it reminds me of the other master developer on the railroad project that also never had a master developer agreement. And that deal was canned as this deal should be canned. So I'm looking forward to your clarification because there's sure a lot of questions here. And again, I want to remind this board that you serve the public of this town, the taxpayers of this town, and not one of your family and friends, developers, and your biggest donors. Thank you. Okay, so just to clarify, when the agreement is ready to be presented to the board to be voted upon, that will be in the context of the qualified and eligible hearing, at which the proposed master developer will be. And that agreement will be required to establish his financial wherewithal, which I think addresses all of Mr. Harari's concerns that he just raised. Well, I'm looking forward to that. Excuse me. I'm talking. Just wait a second. The agreement will be filed and disclosed to the public well in advance of that public hearing. So, you know, any comment that's going to come of that will happen at that qualified and eligible hearing. Thank you, Council. Thank you, Council. I am really looking forward. To what kind of gymnastics this board will pursue to justify this project with a master developer that needed 30 years and millions of tax benefits to continue to exist with this other hotel in downtown Riverhead. Let's see what happens. Thank you. Just to address one thing. Only one thing at this point in time that Mr. Harari said, because as oft when he speaks, he does not speak the truth. And what he said before about my taking donations and Mr. Petrucelli being the highest donator to me, absolutely incorrect. I ask you all to go on the New York State Board of Elections website, where every donation, every penny that I've taken in my campaign is there. And you will. See that I received a $500 check from Mr. Petrucelli. And if that's enough to buy Tim Hubbard, I got a bridge to sell Mr. Harari. Okay. Just so that you're understanding that what he says is incorrect. And I feel the need to correct that. And he is far from my biggest campaign donator. So when he said stuff, he gets his 15 minutes of fame on the TV. It's a shame that you guys all now we're questioning. Oh, my God, is it right what he said? It's not. And I just gave you the answer. Thank you. I just gave you full head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear head clear Is there one online? Maybe? Maybe. All right. Let's give it a shot.
He's saying no. Nobody online. Okay. Go ahead, Counselor. There being no one else that would like to be heard, I would recommend to the board that you actually close the hearing tonight, and that will start the process of the eminent domain next steps, including you have 90 days to make a determination of whether to go forward or not with the acquisition. And if we close the hearing tonight, that will start the clock to do that, and then we'll meet again and discuss resolutions as the next steps. Okay. Sure. Did you understand that? Come on up. Yeah. Come on up. Mr. Eisen, just quickly, in terms of those next steps, it's filing a petition in Supreme Court, correct? Well, there's going to be first the board has to adopt a resolution making a determination that the acquisition is in the public interest and needs to go forward. Once that's adopted, that would be the next step in terms of, you know, asking the court to grant judgment of condemnation that would terminate the lease in this building. And, of course, it would then require the town to pay just compensation, as you indicated earlier, for the value of the balance of that leasehold interest. But, yes, first the board will make a determination based on what it's heard tonight. And, assuming the board then decides to go forward, the next step would be an application to the court. And then, in the context of that judicial proceeding, there'll be a determination from a judge as to whether the board's action constitutes a proper municipal purpose? It would only address that issue if somebody, the property owner, actually challenged that. But it's certainly an issue that would be adjudicated if it were raised. But the issue that's most commonly adjudicated is what compensation should be paid to the leaseholder, in this case, or property owner, if it's a fee title, as just compensation for the acquisition. So, and of course, the leaseholder here certainly can consult with his own counsel to get guidance as to what his rights are, what should acquire, what should occur next for him. But from the municipal side, the next step is the resolution deciding to go forward or not, based on what you've heard today, and the public purpose of the acquisition. And then that would then trigger the next steps, which would include filing in the court, making an offer of compensation to the property owner that's rights are being acquired. So, I would suggest you close the hearing tonight. Correct. Move forward.
Another minute, just. Yeah, go ahead. So, it's, the understanding, I mean, obviously 90 days is very short. I would request this board to maybe extend that, you know, filing, just because, again, things are in the works. Like Tim, we've talked about it. You know, like Eric knows, too. Like, things are in the works. 90 days is, you know. That could be, and we have the option to do that. Yeah, well, I'm saying, but he keeps saying close it now to start the 90 days. It's on the clock today. Yeah, we are going to do that, but we want, you have 90 days, and should we get something that's really close to come into fruition, which I'm very hopeful we can, that can, Mr. Eisler, that can be extended, correct? Those 90 days? And we can withdraw that action anytime. The 90 days is the time period you have to act, but even if you were to adopt a resolution to go forward, that doesn't preclude some resolution that might be beneficial to the property owner, leaseholder. You can always stop the process at any point. We do have to make that determination within 90 days of closing this hearing. Okay. But it doesn't preclude. Just like if you're. Just like if you, even if we were to file in the court system until some judgment is actually entered. Right. Putting title to this lease in the town, the town can negotiate anything it wishes. Okay. Thank you. With that being said, I'm not going to hand it over to time. I do believe that it should, there should be a hold off for just a little bit, just because there's things in the works. Currently. But if I'm put on a 90 day thing that I'm going to drag this through court for a year, we're all going to lose. It's not a win win situation. One of us is going to win. The other one's going to win or we're going to lose and lose. It's the same thing. You know, it's going to hold off on the project. It's going to hold off. I mean, I got to court. You're going to have to go to court. It's not. I just want to make sure we hold off on the 90 days. That's what, that's my request. Obviously you guys are the board. You can do whatever you'd like. But I mean, it's, it's again, it's not to say that this, this project, yes, was in the works. But for us to have to move abruptly is detrimental. I'll sell everything. I don't care. I'll leave. I don't care. And I don't want that whatsoever. The last thing I want to do is leave the town that I literally have worked in for the last 20 years. We don't want that either. And I appreciate that, Tim. And I, I, you know, I have nothing but respect for you. You know that. Actually this whole entire board. I mean, honestly, I think there's only two people I don't know that well, but I mean, that's fine. So I've actually never met you. I'm sorry. Well, not new. I talked to you at the last meeting. But again, I just want this to be. Not. Not so cookie cutter. You know, I'm not. I'm well on the play ball. I don't care. Like, I know. I get it now. It's. We're done. But I'd like to be more trans. Not. I should say transparent. That's a bad term. I'd like to be more on the same page when it comes to like, you know, what are we going to do to hear this? Again, I have respect for that gentleman. I don't know him from a hole in the wall. But for me to say 90 days makes me want to go burn the place down. Would I ever do that? Of course not. Obviously. But, you know, I just want this all to work out. So. That's my piece. Thank you, Sean. Thank you. Okay. At this point in time, I'd like to make a motion to close the public hearing and start the process of the 90 days. All in favor? Again. So. Somebody move it. Sorry. So moved. Second. [transcription gap] Okay. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay. Okay.
Thank you. Okay. That concludes our public hearings for tonight. We are now going to move on to our resolutions for the evening. And at this point in time, do we have any comments on resolutions? Any comments on resolutions? Any comments on resolutions? Any headings?
That was at the recommendation of council, correct? Correct. That was at the recommendation of council, Council Eisler. Yeah, well, he has an interest, right? And he has a conclusion. He has the interest in the town. But that's not the same as the board. He has the interest in his town. We hired him. We'll play that one out. At any rate, items 39 and 40 having to do with the Scotts Point Island Water Park. It's pointless probably to say this, but I would hope that you would not go ahead and approving these things that their ability to move the fine down from 100,000 to 50,000 has never been fully explained and the consequences of a major go-kart park. I'm not sure it's been thoroughly examined. But in any case, as I raised before, I would hope that the board would approve the plan. I would hope that you would also be forthcoming about contributions from Scott and the family in terms of affecting the action of the board. Thank you. Thank you, John. Anybody else for comments on resolutions? Anybody online? One maybe. Okay. Sir, come on up in the meantime. Who? I had a gentleman. I don't think you are. No? No. Nobody online? Okay. At this point in time, we'll move on to the resolutions. Okay. We'll start with resolution number one, which is resolution 421. Water District Capital Project number 82507, budget adoption for well 4-1 capacity increase. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 422. Authorizes the supervisor to execute agreement with Todd O'Connell, architect, PC, for ambulance district building renovation. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 423. Capital Project 12506, ambulance district new building capital reserve fund balance So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 424. Authorizes highway superintendent expenditures 2025-2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 425. Sets hours for town beaches. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 426. Sets hours for town beach parking lots. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 427. Ratifies a salary increase for a senior office assistant. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Hearn? I was going to say Heather you deserve it. I'm glad it's happening. Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 428. Ratifies the appointment of a water treatment plant operator to be. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Congratulations Brian. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 429. Hearn? Yes. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Congratulations Brian. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 430. Setting terms and conditions of employment for deputy sewer district superintendent. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 432. Appoints a seasonal water treatment plant operator to be so moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 433. Appoints a fire marshal. One. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Welcome aboard. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 434. Appoints a maintenance mechanic to so moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Seconded. That's what it says. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 435. Appoints a maintenance mechanic to so moved. Seconded. Yes. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 436. Sorry. Appoints member to the Town of Riverhead Hispanic Development, Empowerment, and Education Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Absolutely yes. Thank you, Dr. O. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 437. Ratifies the resignation of an automotive equipment operator. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 438. Accepts the retirement of a maintenance mechanic three. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Enjoy your retirement. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Thank you, Christopher, for all your years of service. You did a great job for us, and enjoy your retirement. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 439. Accepts the retirement of a maintenance mechanic four. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Enjoy your retirement, Ziggy. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Enjoy your retirement. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Best of luck to you, Ziggy, and thank you for all your years of service with us also. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 440. Extends the bid for electric motor repair and replacement, including emergencies. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 441. Authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice to bidders for 2025 annual construction contract. So moved. Second. Second. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 442. Authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice to bidders for removal and disposal of sludge cake and grit screen waste. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 443. Authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice to bidders for corrosion control chemicals. P04. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 444. Authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice to bidders for 2025 annual procurement contract. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 445. Approved special event, Chapter 255, application for Church of the Harvest, East End Church Unity Day. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 446. Approved special event, Chapter 255, application for Main Street Agency and Associates, LLC. Alive on 24th. Resolution 934-2020. Yes. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. I have to say I saw a map today of it being put together of how the Alive on 25 is going to fair out this year. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 447. Yes. Resolution 934-2020. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Yes. Waski. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. I have to say I saw a map today of it being put together of how the Alive on 25 is going to fare out this year. I think everybody's going to be pleasantly surprised. The resolution is adopted. Resolution 447. Amends resolution 934-2024 for Racetrack, not Streets, 2025 Fall Motorsports Racing Series at EpCal. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Murrayfield? I abstain. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Just write that down. Okay. Resolution 448. Amends resolution 935-2024 Racetrack, not Street, 2025 Summer Motorsports Racing Series at EpCal. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? I abstain. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 449. Amends resolution 969-2024 East End Arts Mosaic Festival Addition to Location of Event. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 450. Authorizes designated alcohol service vendors to serve alcohol at the Mosaic Community Street Painting Festival. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 451. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. américano
américano
yes murrayfield yes kern yes rothwell yes just want to point out uh our fire marshal handles andrew smith has worked really hard on this the next couple of resolutions so thank you very much vote yes hovered yes resolution is adopted resolution 452 adopts a local law to amend chapter 231 of the riverhead town code titled fire prevention section 24 thereof titled assistance to authorized agencies reimbursement of expenses so moved second vote please américans so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved [transcription gap] Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 454. Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Fire Prevention Article 14 Flammable and Combustible Liquids. So moved. Seconded. Both please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 455. Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled Fire Prevention Section 25 thereof titled Outdoor Fires. So moved. Seconded. Both please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 456. Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Fire Prevention Section 66 thereof titled Penalties for Offenses Notice of Violation. So moved. Seconded. Both please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 457. Assesses cost of labor and material for previously authorized remedial actions at premises known as 12 Longview Drive, Riverhead, New York, Suffolk County Tax Map No. 600-14-2-12. So moved. Seconded. Both please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. I just want to say this has taken six months to do. The neighbor called and thanked the board the other day for all the efforts to get this done. So yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 458. That's going to be me. Riverhead Town Board supports the development of a YMCA Recreation Facility at the 4th and 5th Streets of the Riverhead Town. Yes. Waskey? Yes. Waskey? Yes. It is about time. Absolutely. Yes. Merrifield? Same here. Absolutely. Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. This is the first step in trying to get the authority to the state to allow us to enter into a lease with an agency from outside of the town or a sale. So yes. Absolutely. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 459. Issues responses to comments on conditional negative declaration CND. For the site plan application of Island Water Park DBA Scotts Point. Site plan amendments 5835 Middle Country Road Calverton, New York. Suffolk County tax map number 600-135-1-7.34. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? No. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 462. Grants preliminary approval for the site plan amendment application of Island Water Park doing business as Scotts Point 5835 Middle Country Road Calverton, New York. Suffolk County tax map number 0600-135-1-7.34. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? No. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 461. Pay's bill. So moved. We're missing them. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Bills are paid. 462. Authorized !
The county authorizes town clerk to publish and post notice to amend Chapter 301, Zoning and Land Development, Part 3, Supplementary Use Regulations, Article... Help, it's Roman numeral. 50, it looks like, what, 50, what is that Eric? 62? 62. 62. We'll go with LII 11C, I think that's 62. I don't think so. Cannabis 301-283.20, location and number of permitted retail and on-site consumption establishments and 301-283.25 when effective. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Um, um, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. [transcription gap] moved second vote please was key yes very few yes sir I want to say yes it says signature of accounting staff who's there's no signature here on this one it just says L dot are you aware of this one I had a discussion with the building inspector the chief building inspector on this it looks like it's a proposal to make changes to the renewal fees on demolition permits although mostly they don't go over a year to begin with so I don't believe it has a financial impact on this heard that before but okay Susan yeah this isn't to affect the fees on demolition permits it's to address an issue it's time where where someone someone would come to justice court and need to demolish a non-compliant shed and so they'd go and they'd get the demolition permit come back to court say they got their demo permit case we get disposed of and then they just never do the demolition so this puts a time time frame on that demolition permit requires them to complete it within a certain amount of time where it becomes abandoned they have to renew it thank you no yes Rothwell yes Hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 464 authorized how to publish a post public notice to consider a local law to amend chapter 269 of the Riverhead Town Code titled shopping carts so moved seconded vote please Waski yes Merrifield yes Kern yeah I want to thank Richie Downs for really buttoning a butting button this up a little bit better than it was before so yes Rothwell yes Hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 465 authorized supervisor to execute license agreement with you know Tony McDonough yes yes [transcription gap] yes yes yes ! yes forgive him Antoine yes okay that's the end of our resolutions now we're gonna open it up for comments from the public on any matter comments from the public on any matter
John there for a second Lord Jen Smith speaking on behalf of president of the greater James Port Civic Association so I would just like to read a letter into the record and then I have a copy for you so dear Riverhead town board members the greater James Port Civic Association has been diligent in asking for a hamlet study the last study was done in the 1990s and was overseen by the Riverhead Planning Department and committees formed in the hamlet the Civic Association thought the comprehensive plan would incorporate a hamlet study but instead the comprehensive plan states it is recommended that the town work with residents in several hammered hamlet areas such as aqua bog James Port Calverton and Polish town to develop a hamlet study with design guidelines or a pattern book for new development once developed pattern book pattern books or design guidelines should be adopted into the town code the Civic Association has asked a supervisor and the town board members numerous times about getting the hamlet study done and when the response and when the response was there wasn't enough money we asked if the unused sharpers Hill budget allocated could be used on May 6 supervisor Hubbard responded to the civics recent requests about a hamlet study saying I spoke with our planners and since the comprehensive plan studied the James Port area we appeal there is not an immediate need to do a hamlet study the funds from sharper Hill were used to complete the sanitary system at Veterans Memorial Park I also spoke with Nick this is still from supervisor Hubbard I also spoke with no Levine who did our comprehensive plan he indicated that the ballpark figure would be about a hundred and twenty thousand dollars for the hamlet study the comprehensive plan recommended the hamlet study and the civics have been requesting this hamlet study now we are being told there is no immediate need a ride on the roads east of County Road 105 in the residential and commercial areas shows the changes that have taken place in our area and the need to revisit the 1990s plan the area east of County Road 105 is defined by the unique character of its hamlet and vistas the goals of the hamlet study should be to formulate plans for the future for the future of the hamlet in order to help foster their existing character and demands of development the Jamesport Civic Association would like this town board to follow the advice of the comprehensive plan and its residents to allocate the necessary funds to make a hamlet study a priority and this is just sincerely from our executive board so all right Laura yeah um just to answer you a little bit on that um I am liaison to the landmark Reservation um Commission and we have been discussing that along with uh Richard wines because the funding is is really not available for it there are a group of the committee members that are working together to go around take photos make notes of having some kind of book put together so that there is something in the meantime that can kind of be used as a tool until we are able to to fund it further down the road more like a pattern book because I know the book exists already right there's a pattern there's a book of of architectural designs uh for historic buildings that was created many years ago and I think Richard was involved in it is that the kind of thing you're referring to for the hamlet I can't answer to to that I'm not aware of the the prior book but the the idea is to um actually have visuals of you know what the community feels that a barn actually looks like because a barn somewhere else could look totally different than um the integrity of you know aquabog Jamesport we want there to be something in in place so that we have something to go to you know base the aesthetics around because I don't want you to see the previous book that that they did for that the town has it was done by I believe it was done by the same group I don't know if this is just an update of that book it's it's it's extensive it's it's a terrific book um but it is not the same as a hamlet study I know it's not but I'm just letting you know that if it's not that nothing is being done about it there is something being done and I appreciate the Civic for coming out with your your letter tonight to you know address it but so I'm also just kind of curious I know that that we've talked about the Veterans Park and and the ice rink and the and the bathrooms that are over there I'm just curious for the sanitary and for the bathrooms in there what was the total overall budget uh spent by the town to complete that I don't have that figure off the top of my my head Ken I mean it's a project do you have that figure I'm I wouldn't state a dollar amount we'll certainly get to you and I could I could respond to you but I would like it to be accurate and certain I'd appreciate that yeah sure all right so I mean I know I know it's priorities are priorities and and I you know really urge you to um consider this a priority so thank you but I will just clarify is that when you say the ice rink just so you know the ice rink was built with not a single dollar of taxpayer money it was 3.2 million dollars of raised funds so the ice string of what funds I didn't hear you I'm sorry raised you know privately raised funds okay and donated funds so that that is a 3.2 million dollar structure that was donated and given to the town of Riverhead the only money that we spend on it on a yearly basis is to help the cost of electricity and we are certain that oh you know the first few years they're in their their growing series and and the contract simply reads that if you know once they begin to show a profit that cost will go down significantly and potentially in years to come we may benefit financially from the ice rink but just like clarify I've seen your statements on on some of the media we never spent a dollar on that structure it was a given gift of 3.2 million dollars to this town Riverhead and we own that structure and so that's ours and that's a pretty amazing gift but we do supplement it because there was not a need for extra parking at the time the ball fields had been asking that's not true from but let me finish the recreation department had always had on their list to create bathrooms where they've had porta potties there for whatever 20 years and they had been asking for bathrooms to be developed as well as a conception stand over by the ball fields as well as lights and that was a priority that was the town had requested for almost 20 years that yet the ice rink where the ice rink is located there was a sanitary system put in there was water put in there was the parking lot was extension things that things that were on priorities listed by the recreation department and the recreation that's ready for for years they've come in and sat here and none of those priorities were addressed prior to these things for the for the ice rink and you're not you're not mentioning until they came into office Laura and then we worked on that with the county and it took us years to get permission from the county to grant us the um uh permits to in order to install that sanitary system when I came in office they said it's never going to happen and we worked tirelessly with with multiple administrations within the county to get that approved so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so that long. So I'm proud. It's not just for the ice rink. It's for everybody. And community benefit funds were also used to complete all of those projects? I believe so, yes. And the other thing is I know the ice rink has been there for, it is managed by a private entity and that's been for over a year, right? So have they given their profit and loss margins to the town so that we can see? And how does the public access that? Well, as Ken mentioned earlier, they're losing money right now, but it expected, the business plan expected that and it expects to lose less and less each year until they break even and then start turning a profit. And they're talking from what we understand from the sports study we had done, this is probably a minimum of a five-year business plan. When you have to buy a $300,000 chiller, it takes a number of years to pay it off, but then that chiller's there for years to come. That wasn't my question. My question is, is there profit and loss, their statements, are they accessible to the members of the town? How do we see them? We have those. We have the 2024 and I believe all of the 2025 financial, the financials for ending 2023 and ending 2024. So if you want to foil that, you can, yeah. Okay. Do you have something you want to pass up for the record or not? Yes, sorry, yeah. We have anybody else who would like to comment from the public?
John McAuliffe, Rolling Woods. I bet you're glad I was gone for six weeks. At any rate, I wanted to follow up on some things we were talking about. I've been coming to board meetings for, I don't know, six or seven years and have heard a lot of hearings. And at the end of every hearing, the supervisor announced, that the record would remain open for, I don't know, a week, ten days, whatever it was. And it was done so regularly, I thought either that was a legal requirement or a convention that was simply built into the nature of hearings. So I was a little startled, as I said before, that all of a sudden the record was not going to remain open on the eminent domain question. You said, well, Mr. Eisler is the town attorney. Well, Mr. Eisler was also the town attorney for EPCOW. And I'm not sure that the town got its interests represented. I don't know if its interests were represented in this instance. Finally, the contributions question. We heard about the $1,000 requirement. I think that that's not all that matters. I presume that nobody did receive a contribution from the town attorney. I don't know if it was a contribution from the town attorney. I don't know if it was a contribution from the town attorney. I don't know if it was a contribution from either source about Scott's Point or about the Petrocelli project that reached $1,000 level. But I think getting as a normal course of events record of what is on the table in terms of contributions related to an item coming before the board would be a very helpful public service. And I think that's a very important point. I think that's a very important point. I think that's a very important point. I think that's a very important point. I think that's a very important point. I do have a clear clear clear could make it available. It is, you're correct, it is available if you can dig down deeply enough into the county records, but then you have to know destinations and you have to know who might have an interest when it isn't obvious by the name of the donor or by a corporate name. So that I think it would be very helpful to the whole procedure of transparency if just as the normal course of things, either you or the News Review or the local simply published related to every significant financially relevant piece of legislation, what has been donated by people who have an interest in the action. You know what, I'm getting fed up to hear this over and over again. I'm actually insulted because there have been articles that have been out by Riverhead local. I'm not going to tell you exactly what everybody has received in terms of donations. I have not received a donation from Joe Petruccelli or anybody over at Scotts Point. I am here for the people of this town and I'm working very hard for each and every one of you and to have somebody keep coming up here and insinuating that I am doing this because somebody is paying me on the side is just the most insulting thing. It's not. But there's a lot of money that goes to individuals. It's directed at the total process. When there's not just money that goes to individuals but money that goes to county committees and town committees and affects the general atmosphere there is a sense and also the reports you're talking about are done maybe once every cycle there's not a regular notification related to particular pieces of legislation. It sounds like John you need to address the state regarding the election law because every one of us is finally going to be voting. us is following the election law precisely. I'm going beyond the election law. You should take it to the state level. We don't know exactly what we're allowed to do. You try to make it like we're not, but I'm telling you right now, we do. I don't doubt that you're meeting the legal requirements. What I'm asking for is going beyond the legal requirements that give transparency about what goes into decision-making. If we dig deep enough, maybe we'll find out who you donate to. It's perfectly visible, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Well, so are we. That's the point. But I'm not sitting here. Technically, Mr. McCullough, if you have donated to every Republican and Democrat candidate, because when somebody makes any contribution to any candidate for the state, the state matches those funds and pays more out to both candidates to run for office. So your taxpayer dollars are, in fact, being used for your state senators and state assemblymen and governor. So just want you to know that you are, in fact, in a roundabout way, donating to all candidates. And that's an important reform that's happened. How is that important? One may say that it would be nicer if it went even further, and that there were limits, substantial limits on individual contributions. John, I don't particularly disagree with you on that, but that's not what the law is. We work within the confines of the law. Right. I'm just saying for the purposes of transparency that going further in the law would be beneficial. That's all. I put my head down quite comfortably at the end of the day. Anybody else? We have two. Okay. Come on up. We have two online also. Okay.
Members of the Honorable Riverhead Town Board, Supervisor, Council Members. Can you state your name and have a look at these? I was going to do it, but I'll do it now anyway. Kevin Shea, Bading Hollow. My name is Kevin Shea, and I'm resident of Bading Hollow. I appreciate this opportunity to address you today. I would like to believe we can collectively make informed decisions that prevent potential challenges and ensure the continued prosperity and quality of life for not some, but all Riverhead. Residents, thank you. I have a disclaimer. The following arguments that I propose and the questions proposed regarding the Earth Satellite Project are presented for constructive criticism, which might enable you as a lead agency over the project to make additional considerations for the short-term and long-term benefit of your constituents. As you and some may be aware, I am currently running for the town. I am a council member, so my words may lead one to believe my intent may be to gain attention at your expense. I want to assure you in part, by some it may be true, but with utmost respect, for your years of service trying to make a good place and a good life, my prose here is entirely void of unduly accusations or allegations in any political rhetoric. My sole intent here is to foster a focus on identifying and preventing common, repeated problems that may arise. I challenge you to consider wise and forward-thinking choices for the benefit of Riverhead community. Sadly, I don't know you all, though I read about you in the news, so I don't know if this is on death years, but you deserve this respect. So, on June 3rd, if I'm correct, the town board, the lead agency for the Calverton Satellite Earth Station, is expected to vote on a resolution. On a special permit to continue construction for this project for in-range communication on behalf of TerraConnect, made operational by a licensed contract with Starlink, a subsidiary by SpaceX owned by Elon Musk. I mentioned that one fast and recently, and we'll turn to this, but not today. My focus today and tonight will be on upholding our town code. You know this part, and I'm just saying this part for the benefit of others that may not be aware. According to your planning department staffing report, the developer began constructing, the developer of the Earth Satellite Project, started building this project located at EPCAL in Calverton, within the planned industrial park zone use district. This project was started without a building permit issued by the planning board, nor the town board. The entity is now seeking a special use permit, a permit that supersedes the existing zoning code, so as long as it complies with special conditions that you provide. With this approval, the developer can continue and complete construction. So it includes 20 of the satellite Earth Station antennas, gravel fencing, and utilities were constructed, in quotes, without the benefit of the required town approvals. I am not going to go into details on this, but I do want to say that, as I said, this is a project that is being completed. I am not going to go into details on this, but I do want to say that, as I said, this is a project that is being completed. I add, without the benefit of our approval. But again, that's not necessarily the code. After being exposed, the proposed action was to consider this project as an unlisted action. The Riverhead Planning Department stated that at a glance of the plans and the certifications, the proposed action is not anticipated to result in significant negative environmental impacts. The staff says, finds that the coordinated review is optional and even added, not recommended. As the lead agency, you are going to make the wise decision and it shouldn't be taken lightly. As the lead agency, okay, now, my argument is not about stalling or preventing the pursuit of what I consider an admirable project on many fronts. It can provide high-speed internet where none existed. It provides competitive options for others. It provides low latency, which usually means the less delay, the more time. It provides competitive options for others. It provides low latency, which usually means the less delay, the more time. I have no clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear to stand here and accuse or imply any planning board town board member supervisor or town lawyer of any alleged wrongdoing or negligence regarding the project i'm only here to argue that moving forward our town board as the leading agency to this project should consider us and the rule of law and not repeat the pattern of letting developers step over us by building without the benefit of the required town approvals without many words we have seen this before the controversy of riverhead cider house baiting hollow vineyard scott's point speaking for myself i believe riverhead has its ample controversies over mixed blend of prosperity and versus poverty here efficiency versus government waste development with benefits versus overdeveloped one with no benefits just actions versus alleged corruption preservation versus resource exploitation lean a lean budget versus exceeding the tax cap transparency versus closed ordeals alleged please don't let me think that i i don't know what i'm talking about with that so i'm just mr shea i'm going to ask you to wrap it up because you get three minutes i've given you six already kind tonight it won't happen in the future we're gonna we're gonna curtail and i'm not saying i'm saying it's just for you but those are our rules i just failed to remind everybody tonight at the beginning of the meeting so uh i was being gracious tonight but it's three minutes so when you write something know that when you come to the podium in the future i will i'm so sorry i thought it was always before oh wait may i continue then uh i'd rather you wrapped it right up you got it okay thanks again sir uh do we need another controversy do you don't need to answer it today but if you accept the permit without a coordinated review and if anything goes wrong with the project you were to blame lawyers in our dime will need to fix that that has happened before um if you accept the special uh the permit and even with a coordinated review and you and you don't charge an excessive penalty for building without a permit you're going to be blamed for creating a fertile ground for code violating developers that's happened before if you expect if you accept the permit with or with out the coordinated review and you don't have the support of our constituents you may be blamed for poor representation you your re-election counts on it uh that this can happen so uh these are other possibilities you want to stop me yeah just wrap it up okay thanks bro uh okay so these are some of the possible scenarios i have more to come in the coming days and i will have more considerations arguments and even considerations on you before june 3rd and thereafter with and their last paragraph uh we the ones that are paying us salaries to count strong to make this a good place are asking you to make a wise decision an ounce of prevention and due diligence should be used to avoid another local controversy again i thank you the planning department the town the town clerk administration for your service and your ears i thank the public for lending your ears conclusion at you thank you thank you all right all right any other public comments we have two online let's take those next so [transcription gap] so ! [transcription gap] abges abges correct Mr. Hubbard's statements. I'd like to refer to an article in Riverhead Local. And thank you, Alec Lewis. I actually have a wonderful picture of your well-thought head. And it's from April 22, when Mr. Petrucelli was selected as a master developer with no vetting, no evidence of his financial ability. Alec wrote, Petrucelli companies, and I'm quoting, have regularly contributed to the campaigns of political candidates in Riverhead, most often Republicans. In the most recent election, Petrucelli companies gave money to every Republican town board candidate on the ballot and to the town Republican committee. And by the way, as long as we're talking about campaign contributions, Mr. Hubbard, could you advise us how much money, you took from the alleged Ponzi scheme developer now allegedly under investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice, according to Huntington News sources, that being Greg DeRosa and G2D Development, who's had two projects in Riverhead that have sailed through, including the boarded up entry to our town. And I'm curious, Mr. Hubbard, if you could tell us how much money you took from the
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I'm curious, Mr. Hubbard, if you could tell us how much money you took from the this must be the maybe person. I'm sorry? I kept saying maybe. Maybe this is maybe. Is this a maybe one, Justin, or? It's a real person. Somebody's there? Yeah. I don't know. I don't know if it's really there. Has it popped up in the light? No. Wait a second. I saw. [transcription gap] Sorry, I apologize. Colleen O'Brien, Aqibot. I'm just here to speak to a few of the things that Laura Jen Smith had asked the boards. I'm looking at the Peconic Rink budget versus actual for 2024. I don't have the audited financials yet, but I have requested them. This is showing that, and I've got to get this right because I don't want to misquote, they had a total revenue in 2024 of $1,183,4374. Out of that, payroll expenses were $703,259.48 or 46 cents, excuse me. And then there was also paid out of this, they operated at a loss, but there was also a management fee of approximately $75,000. So it's a lot of, I guess I consider it personally. I'm a tax payer. I'm a tax payer. A little bit of town welfare. It's frustrating to see that we're paying electric bills there. In 2024, the electric bills were $155,700. In 2025, the budget for us to pay for their electric bills is $161,617. You guys broke the cap majorly last year. Colleen O'Brien, Aqibot. And beyond that, we're doing, I understand we do it for the kids, but you also have to do and take care of the taxpayers. I mean, we gave the IDA discount rent of, what, $400 a month. We pay their utilities. They utilize our town clerk's office and our town attorney's office for their foils, and we are not compensated for that. And I'll quote what I was told the reason why, because the town clerk's office has historically helped coordinate with the IDA on foil requests, and there's no requirement to be specifically authorized by the IDA to do so. But I also would assume from that comment, and Mr. Wooten can correct me if I'm wrong, that there's no compensation to the town from the IDA, like they're not compensating us for the utilities. So I guess what I'm saying to you is budget time is going to be... It's going to be coming really quickly, and you guys really, really have to consider the taxpayers in this town. You know, there's a lot of young families, and I will thank you for what you did bringing the Science Center, and that was wonderful, and I'm glad you were able to work with Larry, but you guys have got to start being a little bit more responsible and transparent to the taxpayers. So thank you very much for your service. Thank you. Anybody else in the audience? Anybody else online? One thing I'll say with respect to the IDA is we have recently had conversations with the IDA director and the chair of their board. They will be moving their foil processing to their own separate website. Who's this? IDA. IDA, yeah. Okay. So my office will no longer be coordinating their foils, and the town clerk's office will be no longer coordinating their foils. This is some cleanup. This is some cleanup that needed to be done with some of the connections with the IDA dating back to when it was started in the 80s, and that's one thing we've been focusing on in the town attorney's office this year. Okay. Councilman, did you have a before we start to CDA? I think you mentioned the fun run for Saturday, but just so that everybody knows, Deshaun Briggs, after the one-mile fun run is a 5K race. It's a really great event this Saturday. It's going to be up on the 10,000-foot. It's going to be up on the 10,000-foot runway. Those that don't know, Deshaun lost his life serving his country. He was killed in action. And so he's a true definition of a hero here that grew up and raised in Riverhead. He's got a great family. It's really a great event. So even if you don't run, come out, join them. They've got great vendors up there. Lots of things happening. Food, bagpipes, fire department draping flag. And we even have an incredible flyby set up by the military base from Gorbeski Airport. So it's just a great. It's a fun day. So please come on down and support the Deshaun Briggs Foundation. Thanks. So I was trying to lure people down here for a one-mile fun run, and then rope them into the 5K. Okay, well, it's a good idea. You might have scared some people away now. Myself. All right. At this point in time, we're going to go to a CDA meeting. I make a motion to close the town board meeting and open up the CDA meeting. So moved. Seconded. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Okay. Town board meeting is closed. And the CDA meeting will now open. Good evening. Good evening. Happily, this will be less than three minutes. We have no resolutions on the agenda, just comments from the public on CDA matters only. Okay. We're open for comments on CDA matters only at this point in time. Anybody in the audience? Anybody online? Negative. Negative. Okay. You're very truthful in your statement. I'll make a motion. We wait three minutes and one second. Okay. So we need a motion to close the meeting. So moved. Second. Merrifield. Close. Yes. Oh, a motion and a second. You got the motion. Yes. Waski, rather. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. I don't know. I'd like to kind of keep it open for a little bit. No. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Yes. Okay. Therefore, the meeting is closed and hope you have a wonderful evening. Okay. Thank you. Before I say goodnight to everybody, to all the New York sports fans out there, and four minutes ago, the Knicks just started. So this is big news for us Knicks fans, and I know there are many around. Hockey's in the middle of their playoffs. I know we have a great hockey fan out in the audience right now, and one up here, too, for that matter. Unfortunately, his Islanders aren't there, but, you know. In the meantime, everybody. Everybody have a great Memorial Day weekend, and enjoy. Be safe, and we'll see you next week. Supervisor, the Islanders have a first-round draft pick. Be careful with your words. Well, that's true. That's the good thing about a bad season, right? Yeah. [transcription gap] Yeah. [transcription gap]