Full Transcript

Good afternoon everybody. Today is Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. We're here for a town board meeting. And if we could all please rise for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you everybody. Councilman Rothwell, do we have somebody here for the invocation? I do know we have somebody. We do, Supervisor. We are honored once again to be in the presence of Pastor Montoro from the Community Baptist Church. So if you'd like to come forward and lead in our invocation. Thank you to the town board for just the opportunity. And let's go to the Lord. I'll pick up the mic a little bit. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we just come before you today and Lord, we are asking for your wisdom and Lord, just for your direction for our town. We pray that you would just guide us. Just guide the town council with health, with the wisdom that they need to make the decisions that would be the best for the whole community. We do pray just for our community with the Christmas season coming up that Lord, there are many that are in need. There are many that are looking for hope. And I pray that during this time they would, we could reach out to one another and share the truth and hope that only comes from you. We pray now just for your grace and your help. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. We would just like to invite the town to one of our annual Christmas events. We would just like to invite the town to one of our annual Christmas events. the original pipe organ there at the church building that we get going. So it's going to be a carol sing and then hot chocolate Christmas cookies after a course of message from God's word. And so we would just want to invite the town for a Christmas, very special Christmas event. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Pastor. Okay, under announcements, I have several here. Friday, December 5th, this Friday, Rivet Fire Department is having a community blood drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and that's at their main headquarters here right on Roanoke Avenue. Saturday, December 6th, get ready for this. Joe, you want to go on this? Okay. Go ahead. The Rivet Holiday Extravaganza will be taking over Town Hall Campus right here on our property. A collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Lions, BIDMA, East End Arts, Townscape, and WLNG with Bill Evans, will live broadcast along with music groups. The events start at 3 o'clock with free hot chocolate and a community bonfire and shopping with the Merry Market. East End Arts will have two community art projects. 3.30 p.m. is a puppet show and craft. 4.30 p.m. is the Holiday Parade, which will start on Ostrander Avenue and continue west on Main Street. It's the opposite direction that we usually do with our parades. So we're starting on Ostrander, we're going west up to Griffin, and then Griffin up to Railroad, I believe, where it will end. Okay.

Yes. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the parade. Photos will be available with Santa and Mrs. Claus along with other characters, so bring the whole family. The tree lighting on 2nd Street is going to be approximately at 5.30 p.m. That's on this side of the building. And the events end at 8 o'clock. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 42 degrees too, so we're not sure what we're going to have, but it will be chilly, so be prepared. And come on out. This is a great event put together. A lot of people worked very hard on this, and I think it's going to be hugely successful. And thank you, Joanne, for all your participation and help with this. Thank you, Supervisor. Also on Saturday, December 6th, the Suffolk Theater will have a double feature, a 3 p.m. showing of Elf, and then later in the evening at 8 o'clock, it will be a Christmas movie called Violent Night. Tickets available online at the Suffolk Theater. Also Saturday, December 6th, the Suffolk County Historical Society is having a special holiday event, their annual Wooden Wonderland and Artisanal Gift Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And Sunday, December 7th, Halleckville is having an open house, holidays at Halleck. And that's from noon to 7 p.m. So I don't want to hear anybody saying they're bored. There's nothing to do. There's a lot of stuff to do. So just put on your winter coat and come on out and have some fun. All right. Next up, we have a very important and a milestone, a huge milestone for the town of Riverhead. And this will be for honoring the First Baptist Church on their 100th year anniversary. So I would ask Pastor Coverdale and his folks. to come on up. And the town board, we're going to present you with a proclamation. Congratulate you.

On 100 years that the First Baptist Church has been here. Okay. Put on my reading glasses here. Welcome, by the way. Coverdale, how are you? Good. Thank you. Come on up. Folks, come on up. Hi, Betty. How are you? Good, good, good, good. The proclamation reads as follows. Whereas it is both fitting and proper that the supervisor and town board join with residents of Riverhead in paying tribute to the First Baptist Church and recognizing a milestone, 100-year anniversary. Whereas the First Baptist Church was incorporated in 1925 by its founder, Reverend William C. Harris, who was determined to establish a church. It was not only a strong foundation of faith and commitment upon which the church could minister to all who would come within its reach and provide both education and spiritual growth to its parishioners. Whereas the First Baptist Church provides a warm and inclusive environment where individuals and families can connect, grow, and make a positive impact. The First Baptist Church offers a variety of programs and events for all ages, designed to nurture parishioners, andissä on their spiritual journey and strengthen connection with others, including intellectual and social experiences. And, whereas for 44 years, since Reverend Charles A. Coverdale has been pastor, the church has been devoted to supporting and improving the Riverhead community through outreach programs for the youth and families of our community. The First Baptist Church has also been active in the missions field in support of projects locally, domestically, and abroad, all in their endeavor to spread hope through the Christian principles of faith. Let it be known, on this anniversary, we celebrate this milestone 100-year anniversary of the First Baptist Church and recognize it as a community pillar where faith and community come together and all are welcome with open hearts and doors. Now, therefore, I, Timothy C. Hubbard, supervisor of the town of Riverhead, together with the entire town board, do hereby set aside this day in celebration of the First Baptist Church of Riverhead's 100th anniversary and ask that the great citizens of the town of Riverhead join together in celebration and acknowledging all staff and volunteers for their devotion and immeasurable impact on the Riverhead community. Pastor Coverdale, congratulations. Congratulations.

So, in the work that the First Baptist Church has done, I read it, but the things, the outreach, all the things you've been involved in in the town for our community over the years has been phenomenal. And we really appreciate everything you've done. You've helped so many people and people in need, people that when they come, sometimes we don't always show up at the pew, but sometimes we need that pew and we have to show up and you give us guidance and assistance and help. And it's very important for the community that that's there. and you've done a fantastic job for 44 years. So best of luck to everybody and to another 100 years. Yes. Yay.

Is this the first one? Is this the Reverend Harrison? No. OK. How are you? Good. Thank you. Happy holidays. How are you? How are you doing? Good. Good to see you. Oh yes I did, I did, thank you very much. I did, thank you. We need to stand next to the supervisor. Good. That's a good thing. Can you come out this way? They want everybody. Betty, you can't be seen.

Get Betty in the soapbox. Great. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Hide her away to the seat.

This type of things, the things that we do as a town board, I'm going to miss this one of the most because we have so many great people in the town that need to be recognized. And we need to bring them forward and let everybody, let them share their story with everybody. So congratulations to the First Baptist Church and many more. Thank you very much for all your service. You're very welcome. Thank you, Reverend. Okay. On the correspondence, we have any correspondence, Clerk Wooten? Yes, we received three letters. One letter from Mark Krosalewski in reference to the Vale Levitt and two letters, one from Michael Demion and one from the Riverhead Homeowners Alliance in reference to the short-term rental discussion at the last meeting. And that's all we have, correspondence. Thank you. Thank you, Judge. Okay. Reports and no reports for this meeting. Okay. Very good. Well, that brings us up to public hearings. And our first public hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. It is now 2.15. And that will be a public hearing regarding CDBG 2024 slash 2025 proposed budget modification. And that will be with CDA Director Dawn Thomas. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. So this is a budget modification request per HUD regulations where the CDBG funding, which stands for Community Development Block Grant funding, comes from. We are required to have a budget modification hearing when we seek to change the direction of the spending of that funding, which comes to us through the County of Suffolk. I'm sorry. I just ran down the stairs. Community Development Block Grant funds can only be spent in certain low to moderate income areas or for projects involving individualized and non-individualized individuals. So we are required to have a budget modification hearing and plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea some of the money can be spent for park and pedestrian improvements the other money we spend on public service groups which you had a public hearing on recently public service groups looking for additional funding in this case we had funding directed to additional lighting and cameras on the town hall and it turned out that the jazz loft which is a project the board has advanced required additional funding because they are in the downtown area they qualify as a low moderate income group and so we worked towards modifying the budget to direct additional funding toward them and so this is the public hearing if anybody wants to comment okay I just have one question if I can sorry um just because it was a new item this week so this week we cleaned up the dumpster corral which was behind diggers in the main parking lot was quite move it up and down the street and we had to move it up and down the street and we had to move it up and down the street and we had to move it up and down the street and it was a little bit of a one of the considerations would be and I didn't have a chance even speak to other board members about it would be a better camera system up there so I just want to like are we taking away any funding from potential cameras other places does that you know I mean just right because that's gonna be a project we're also looking forward to yeah we need a better video surveillance of that site so luckily for us Community Development Block Grant funding is available annually we get approximately two hundred thousand dollars annually and we use it as we as we go it needs to be spent quickly and efficiently which we do our audits with County are very good at doing that and so yes we can spend it on cameras and indeed we have been spending it on cameras in the past and so that's a project that could happen it would be in the next round of funding if that's what we wanted to do we just we work with chip and John for pricing and location primary choices for location and you know that's how he had come up with that original group but we have those we have cameras currently here and we also have lighting we were going to switch out the lighting to LED and so we thought if we could spend it and they were you know working on that we if we could spend it quickly in a project that was in need of funding then that would be a good suggestion so if I can just comment I mean to me having the camera where they'd go through the whole thing and then the !

Local Local Local Local should be on that list too all of those eventually more significant cameras down there you're you know i hadn't heard about the dump we have cameras there are cameras down there but they're not specifically assisting code enforcement with enforcement so we need to reposition them are great uh they do a lot of the work on their own and save the taxpayers tons of money we work with them all the time and so if there's some project that they have as a priority that the board wants to pursue then you know of course we're game to work with them okay thank you okay thanks yep anybody from the public like to comment on this

i just want to be quickly educated how is this money going to be spent as low to moderate incomes what just on lighting or cameras or what yes so we can spend it on a variety of things relating to it's most our best concern is that we're going to be spending a lot of money on the cost of the public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public public low-demand income area is downtown. And so sidewalks, parking, and pedestrian improvements are a focus area for community development block grant funds as are public service groups. So you'll see the board is looking to provide funding to some of our soup kitchens, some of our food pantries. There are youth projects, things like that. They're really dedicated to economic development and economic benefit for those areas that have less income and resources to provide them or to be provided to them. Okay. Someone here? Sure. All right. Basically, what I saw, what really moved me the other day is the new location of the Arts Council. What I saw was very profound. I saw a person. Okay. Going there for at least three hours. They have a van and the person is, or he could operate in a wheelchair. But they spend their time there, I guess, participating or actually either participating in preaching music or art or even doing it. I was wondering if you could go into that area because there are so many people who don't have the... You know, like we have. You know what I mean? So that would be something if you could spend some money to improve that area. And I'm worried about the Arts Council. Is it ever going to move back? I like it there, by the way, because the old building is not accessible. So these are the things to work on. But this would be something great if we could have more people who don't have what we have, the site or the health. Okay. And if they're, you know what I mean, as far as that goes. So maybe you guys could look into that. I think the Board, I don't know if you want me to address any of those comments, but certainly you guys are, there's lots to say about what's going on with East End Arts if you want to discuss that now or... Well, they're temporarily housed here and... They need a better place because it's not handicap accessible there. Right. We're building them a wonderful facility. They, I believe it will be handicap accessible when it's all said and done. Part of that... Because they have to, those buildings have to be moved and raised and everything else. So I'm sure new guidelines make us adhere to all the disability requirements. Yeah. As a part of that project, it's a flood mitigation project to lift the buildings out of the flood plain. And in part of doing that, as the Supervisor mentioned, that will all be moved to East End Arts. And in part of that, as the Supervisor mentioned, that will all become handicap accessible. So... Just for the record, since this is a public hearing, that was, the gentleman speaking was Warren McKnight of Riverhead. Thank you, Vanna. Would you like an R with that? Okay. Do we have anybody else who would like to comment from the audience? Nobody online? Okay. This public hearing is now adjourned. Thank you. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. Thank you, Vanna. is scheduled for 2 10 p.m. it's 2 25 it's a public hearing to amend chapter 231 article 1 fire prevention and councillor Howard Thank You supervisor this is a pretty straightforward amendment it incorporates the codes developed by the National Fire Protection Association and in my conversations with the fire marshal's office they asked that this be incorporated because this the NFPA is far more specific and detailed in the standards that they require for various systems and constructions it it uh and it allows it allows the fire marshal's office to apply standards that are developed by the NFPA more quickly whereas it typically takes a longer amount of time for the state fire code to integrate and enact different standards this this uh there's a provision in here that says it won't be construed to invalidate any other applicable federal state or local law the more restrictive standard will typically apply um and I just puts puts puts forth that the fire marshals will have the authority to enforce these standards and codes and the penalties will be be consistent with penalties otherwise set forth in chapter 231 which is uh it ranges from 250 dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars and I also have fire Marshall Liam Keating here if there's any questions with respect to the more technical aspects of this

all right what chapter was that really the lines will show it's at 251 or 230. so the yeah the chapter is 251 and 231 is the number of days that's required to apply the the number of days that's required to apply the the number of days that's required to apply the the number of days that's required to apply the fixed December 12th. 12-12 it will be open for written comment and we'll close it up here today. The third public hearing we have is scheduled for 2-15. It is 2-27 and this will be to amend Chapter 289 Article 2, Vehicles, Traffic and Parking. And again that will be with Councillor Howard. All right. Thank you. This one also straightforward. This was a recommendation from our Traffic Safety Committee. It directs that a stop sign be placed at the intersection of Old Stone Road and Timber Drive. The stop sign will be on both sides of Timber Drive, north and south. So there's already stop signs on Old Stone Road. So it'll effectively become a four-way stop now. So there was multiple residents that came to the Traffic Safety meeting as well as representatives from the Riverhead School District, Transportation, and Transportation. So there was multiple residents that came to the Traffic Safety meeting as well as representatives from the Riverhead School District, Transportation, and Transportation. So there was multiple residents that came to the Traffic Safety meeting as well as representatives from the Riverhead School District, Transportation, and transportation division and spoke out, you know, that they're just looking to protect the kids in the neighborhood and those that are gathering on the side. So it was a number of residents came and spoke in the necessity of it. So and they did take a vote and it was approved, you know, of support from the Traffic Safety Committee. Okay. Board, any comments? Yes. Public, any comments? And nobody online. Okay. Well, we will close this public hearing but keep it open for written comment also to till December 12th. Okay, moving on, we're going to open it up to comments on the resolutions. Comments on any resolutions for today's board meeting. We have anybody from the public who wishes to comment on any resolution? We have anybody online? We do not. It's a quiet day in Riverhead, huh? It's very quiet today. Okay. So, we're going to open it up to comments on the resolutions. Comments on any resolutions for this public meeting. We will close this public hearing. We will close this public hearing. We will Okay. Clerk Wooten, let's move on to the resolutions. Okay. Okay, resolution number one, which is resolution 946. Authorizes the removal of fixed assets. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Ann Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number, if I get back to it, 948. Ratifies sewer district budget transfer. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number, if I get back to it, 948. Ratifies sewer district budget transfer. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. You guys are too fast for me. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 949. Resolution to amend no net nitrogen fund and set new fund rate for Riverhead and Calverton sewer district. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 951. Reappoints a temporary office assistant to the tax receiver's office. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskie? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Hearn? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution 638. No net nitrogen fund and set new fund for Riverhead and Calverton sewer district. So moved. Seconded. Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 952. Ratifies the appointment of a call-in recreation aide to the Recreation Department. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 953. Approve salary increase for a custodial worker. Is it three? Yeah, three. Three. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 954. Accepts the retirement of John Apicello from his position. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske? Best of luck to you, John. Thank you for all of your years here at the town. I wish you and your family all the best. Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Congratulations on your retirement. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yeah. And thank you always for going outside the scope of the highway department, helping all the other departments in the town and coordinating things. Done a great job. We'll miss you. Best of luck in your retirement. Yes. And Hubbard? Same thing, John. Tremendous job. Thank you for your years of service and enjoy retirement like it's supposed to be. I vote yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 955. Ratifies the resignation of an automotive equipment operator. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 956. Authorizing the carryover of vacation time. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? I wasn't aware we got vacation, but I'll vote yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 957. So moved. Resolution number 958. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 958. So moved. Seconded. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Thank you. Kevin McKillop from Riverhead Beverage. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 960. Authorized the supervisor to accept donation from Riverhead Beverage for the PAL soccer program. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Thank you. Kern? Yes. Thank you, Riverhead Beverage. Rothwell? Yes. Thanks. And Hubbard? Yes. Thank you, Kevin McKillop from Riverhead Beverage. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 960. Authorized the submission of grant application to Suffolk County for program year 2026 community development block grant funding. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. This is a lot of great programs. So many people did apply. I wish there was more funding for everybody, but we're trying to stay local here in Riverhead Town. So thank you all of these nonprofit programs for their work. I vote yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 961. Authorizes shotgun hunting for deer on town property at Enterprise Park at Calverton Suffolk County tax map number 06001351 7.33 et al. and 1751 Sound Avenue, Calverton Suffolk County tax map number 06001351 7.33 et al. and 1751 Sound Avenue, Calverton Suffolk County tax map number 0661.2 from January 4, 2026 to January 31, 2026 sunrise to sunset so moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 962. Authorizes extension of time to remit real property taxes for senior citizens receiving exemption. The tax reduction for qualified senior citizens. Pursuant to real property tax law, RPTL 467, the enhanced star qualified seniors meeting the income criteria pursuant to RPTL section 425 or credit pursuant to RPTL 606. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 963. Authorizes shotgun hunting for deer on town property at Enterprise Park at Calverton Suffolk and the !

Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 965. Authorizes the chief of police to execute an agreement with Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 966. Authorizes the Riverhead Police Department to apply for a grant. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 967. Extends bid non pro tonque for well and pump service for Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Rothwell? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Yes. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Hubbard? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 968. Approve Special Event Chapter 255 application for Duck Pond Gathering, rooted SpringFest on May 16, 2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? It's just the beginning of ski season. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 969. Approved special event chapter 255 application for duck pond gathering the village vibe October 24, 2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. A lot happening at the duck ponds. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 970. Accepts donations from a committee organized for the purpose of scheduling and hosting events to display, promote, and celebrate the 250th anniversary of America and authorize the financial administrator to establish accounting controls. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 971. Approved special event chapter 255 application for duck pond gathering the village vibe October 24, 2026. Approved special event chapter 255 application for duck pond gathering the village vibe October 24, 2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 972. Pay bills. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Murrayfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Judge Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local Local from one party and three from the other party. And will the people speak? Right now it's for, you know, once in a while we would get a Democrat on or two Democrats on. I hope in the future, I suggest a way we could do this. I was a committee man and a head of the conservative party. And I think the only way we could get democracy in this town is for the committees, Republican committees and the Democratic committees. If you are our town leaders, you know, you're very good people. If you could suggest to them that they seek out into the community. We have so many Hispanic people here who are citizens. We get them to participate. And of course, I miss Butch Langhorne. And Harriet Gilliam. We need the African American community in there. And I'll just mention it to, if he's in the audience here, the Reverend Supervisor-Elect Halpern, if he could extend that, my words, to the Democratic Committee. Because it bothers me when I see lack of diversity. And democracy is, you got to participate. And everybody has to feel involved. And I hope this will happen future in Riverhead. Thank you. Thank you, Warren. Can't disagree more. So, Warren, I'm just going to make a comment on a lot of the town committees. This diversity on the town, the committee is number one. Number two, I'll speak for myself. I'm an American. So, I reach out to all Americans. Period. I don't believe in that party stuff. When it comes, I was elected as an American to serve the people of Riverhead. I don't, regardless of Democrat, Republican, or whatever they are. Warren Pagelman. Well, how I became a conservative committee man and headed a conservative party was quite a surprise to me. I opened my mail one day. And I was informed I was a committee person. So, maybe if you could find a particular good citizens in this town of Hispanic and, of course, African American and Hispanic. I mean, more Hispanic peoples have reached out to me over the years, strangers and friends. Stop me on the street because, you know, I'm old. Do you need help? Do you need help here? Or I'm driving on an expressway. My gas cap is off. Some Hispanic guys hunk, you know. They're great people. And the same thing, I mean, Reverend Coverdale, the African American community, we got to reach out, you know, and find different ways. We got to improve it. You know, I'm with you. I'm with you, Bob, on that. You know, and I am too. But we got to, you got to stir the interest in them. You know, how I got stirred is because I was surprised. You know what I mean? But there's other ways to do it. I hope the committees succeed in this endeavor. Thank you. Robert R. Warren, I'll also let you know we do have the Hispanic Development Empowering and Education Committee here for the town. And they do a lot of great community work and assisting a lot of people that are Hispanic or Latinos in our community. So there are definitely avenues in which we continuously try to reach out to the community. Robert R. Great. Thank you. Do we have any other comments from the public on any matter? We have one from the community. Do you want to go up to the mic? Do you want to go up to the mic? Mm-hmm. You got to go up to the mic. State your name again, ma'am, on the microphone, please. Duane Zabrowski. Duane. River Road. Since my October 7th appearance, I've had some interesting correspondence with town personnel manager Ashley Striplin-Teo, the Department of Labor, and several regional and statewide CEOs. I've had a lot of great conversations with CSEA officials, among others. I'm going to share some of that correspondence with you now, beginning with my October 24th letter to Carlos Speight, CSEA Regional Labor Relations Representative. Please advise if I have improperly directed my complaint regarding misconduct by CSEA members of the Riverhead Town Highway Department. What would you tell your daughter, wife, sister, or mother to do? Judge Fe曲o would plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea his staff and Ms. Striplin-Teo and her staff, as well as the town supervisor and four council persons are inexplicably dismissive of my complaint. It was not until my October 7th appearance before the Riverhead Town Board that Ms. Striplin-Teo formally acknowledged my correspondence in writing dated October 10th. It is an absurd document. As far as I am concerned, like the highway superintendent et al., Ms. Striplin-Teo's negligent management of my complaint has determined her credibility and thus her assurances are meaningless. I remain as of this writing without the identifications I require. I remain committed to obtaining said identifications in order that I may be assured that CSEA members guilty of misconduct be appropriately consequenced, future misconduct mitigated, and the CSEA member who intervened or was not involved in the misconduct be appropriately consequenced. I am on my behalf be commended as well as protected from recrimination by rogue CSEA members. As I emphasized at the October 7th Town Board meeting, the CSEA members who abused me and subsequently mismanaged my complaint know not only my identity but also where I live. I have yet to have any official, municipal, or union justify this appalling ongoing deprivation of transparency. Those with nothing to hide, hide nothing. So, as you know, neither the Riverhead Town Highway Department nor the Riverhead Town Municipality is a private entity. Although my original complaint and subsequent complaints in writing technically constitute a FOIL, right Eric Howard, that has been disregarded, I will be filing an additional FOIL with the town clerk, Mr. Wooten, in order to obtain the transparency to which I, like any other resident, am entitled. It is clear to me and to my legal counsel that I am entitled to file an additional FOIL with the town clerk, Mr. Wooten, in order to obtain the transparency to which I, like any other resident, am entitled. It is clear to me and to my legal counsel that the process for filing complaints with the town and review of said complaints is insufficient at best and disgraceful at worst. A neighboring town highway superintendent was appalled after viewing my last appearance before you and described a much different process for a similar complaint in his township. There is no justification for how I have been treated by Ryan Nameless and his suspected foreman, Bucket Man, names I have been reduced to using by the utter lack of transparency. From my plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea plea Now the good news. As I understand it, and my attorney Mr. Arnoff agrees, it is I, the taxpayer and the voter, who constitutes the employer to whom Ms. Sullivan is so deferential. Fish stinks from it. Unsurprisingly, it appears that incompetent management and poor leadership are not limited to the Highway Department. I think it is a terrible shame that you have allowed Ryan Nameless and Bucket Man to be the ugly poster children for the Highway Department at the considerable expense of those hardworking department members who conduct themselves properly and professionally. Thank you for your time again. We have anybody else on? Nobody online? Okay, Warren, it's you. I get asked to get more surveys from all the different people and all different things. Perhaps the CSEA and other people can send out surveys to the Riverhead public in general on how was their experience with dealing with town employees. I have never had any problem, but I was good friends with G.O. Woodson, the other guy. He does a great job. Thank you. He does his job well and everything else. But if you can get a consensus from other people, if this nice lady is an exception to the rule or if it's not. So the best way to do it is, I mean, not the best way, I don't know, I'm just an old man. But to send out surveys, maybe you can get some substance and reality and merit. Also, I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a lawyer. Otherwise, I would love to get my office fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed and fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed So I apologized to him. So we all have to have feelings about everybody else. Now what was the big deal? If she's hurt, the person that she was hurt against can't go over there and say, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you are upset. And whether I'm right or wrong, I'll make sure it never happens again. Right? I shouldn't speak to her. You know, really.

Do we have anybody else? Nobody online? Okay. That ends our town board meeting. And at this point in time, I would like to ask for a motion to close the town board meeting. So moved. Seconded. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Remember those announcements I made earlier this weekend, December 6th? All the stuff that's going on, the holiday extravaganza, right here on Town Hall property. Everybody enjoy your week. Stay healthy. Stay away from the flu bug.