Summary AI
The board passed roughly 90 resolutions and voted 4-1 to affirm prior authorization to pursue acquisition—potentially through eminent domain—of the Long Island Science Center building at 111 East Main Street, over strong public objection; Supervisor Halpin cast the dissenting vote.
Key actions
- The board voted 4-1 to affirm prior authorization for the town attorney to negotiate and execute agreements to acquire 111 East Main Street (the Long Island Science Center building), with Supervisor Halpin voting no and stating he preferred tabling the matter.
- A public hearing would be required before any eminent domain proceeding can formally advance, according to a board member's clarification during public comment.
- The board approved a bond authorization resolution related to the Wading River Highway Garage, subject to a permissive referendum.
- The board approved a resolution calling for a public hearing on a water main extension in the Riverhead Water District at a property in Aquebogue.
- The board adopted local law amendments to town code chapters covering building standards, vehicle and parking regulations, and fire prevention tenancy permits.
- The town authorized a professional services agreement with a former judge to serve as an administrative law judge, filling a gap in adjudicating stop-school-bus violations.
- The board authorized support for Suffolk County's application for state Environmental Bond Act funding to preserve land known as Venezia Square in Wading River as open space.
- A resolution was untabled and adopted authorizing the supervisor to execute a non-binding project scope letter to PSE&G for redevelopment of the former Perkins building at 1129 West Main Street.
- The board reappointed five members to the Anti-Bias Task Force and made multiple appointments to the Parking District Advisory Committee and other advisory bodies.
- Scott Vance of the Highway Department was recognized as 2026 Employee of the Year for daily litter collection throughout the town.
- The board ratified a name change for the Inclusion Task Force Advisory Committee to the Town of Riverhead Disability Advisory Committee.
Money
- Total tax collection as of March 19, 2026 was reported at $108,934,564.04.
- Several residents criticized a tax bill increase they linked to a legal settlement on a golf course property assessment covering years 2008–2015, with one resident citing a roughly 160 percent increase on their bill.
- A board member noted the nonprofit status of 111 East Main Street results in roughly $1,313 in annual taxes versus an estimated $47,000 if it were a commercial property.
Auto-generated from an unofficial, machine-made transcript. It may misstate names, figures, or votes. Verify against the agenda and the full transcript below.
Full Transcript
Thank you.
Yeah, that'll give him. You got legal. They put on notice. That's right. It's great. Yeah, you know, pretty soon we'll get all the, you know, Jerry, you're not doing anything Sunday mornings anymore. I'm free time. So what are we praying for?
Lottery wins, I hear. Nothing, nothing in particular. I think peace. I think I heard someone say peace. I think peace is good. Amen. Yeah, peace is always good, right? So let us pray. Good and gracious, most holy God, we give you thanks for this season of new life, of growing things, for the bounty and beauty that surrounds us, oh God, we are grateful. We're grateful. We're grateful for the men and women of our riverhead, for the many who give so much, for those who protect us and keep us safe, and those who come to our rescue when we're in trouble, for the healthcare workers, and for good neighbors who look after one another. Gracious one, we do pray for peace. Peace in our schools. Peace in our families and community. Most of all, oh God, we pray. We pray for peace in our world. An end to the conflict in Ukraine and to the war in the Middle East. Guide our leaders, oh God, in ways of peace. Bless the leaders in this room and guide them too, oh God, in ways that don't disappoint, but that truly are good for all of us here in Riverhead. Continue to bless our town, oh God. May we prosper and live well. Bless us one and all. In your great name we pray. Amen. Thank you very much, Pastor. Best wishes. Absolutely. Okay. Have a wonderful meeting. Thank you, sir. There's close to 100 resolutions if you want to stick around. Okay. That would be great. Yeah. Half the crowd, too. So our announcements today, as Councilman Rothwell said, we have a lot of resolutions, so we want to get through them. This Saturday and Sunday. It's off Race Track, not Street, Spring Fleeing at Epco. We also have May 1st is coming up. We celebrate our 250th birthday as America. We have the Great American Bash at the Suffolk Theater at 8 p.m. Tickets are available. And our Water Department will be doing their Flushing of the Water Mains, which is an annual event that everyone gets excited about, April 12th through the 25th in the evenings. And we also want to say a special thanks to Ken Testa for fixing the pilings in the East Creek. We're going to be doing a lot of the construction work in the East Creek Marina, or the East Creek area, so they can be open by April 15th. So we're excited about that, our engineering. And does anyone else have another announcement that they would like to make? I do. And I think that Justin is going to help me out with putting something on the screen. Oh, there it is. So Saturday, April 25th, we are proud to announce that we will have the town-wide cleanup day throughout Riverhead, Wading River to Laurel, sponsored by the Anti-Litter Committee. Comments, comments, comments. So thank you all so much. the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. and you will be given gloves and garbage bag and a safety vest pickers to go around and do your part to help beautify the town of Riverhead so bring the family out all are welcome and I hope to see you there that day anyone else all right I believe that ends our announcements and at this time we would like to celebrate our certificate of recognition for our employee of the year 2025 Scott Vance and I know that Mike's Leske would like to come forward and say something I believe is what he's asked so if you guys want to come on down we're all going up they said so have our highway department come sure I think you can speak right in front if you want but let's do this let's bring you guys you guys will come down here I think there's a microphone everywhere might okay yeah you come down here so you're on camera for that you guys could see ahead stuff you could talk he is dirthead if you guys want to tell everybody can hear you and see that would be fantastic
first of all I just want to thank everybody for recognizing Scott Vance especially the labor management committee quite incidentally the town Round-wide cleanup is April 25th, Saturday, and I'm very proud to put this individual in for what he does. His cleanup day is basically every day. The highway department, we have many duties there, plowing, patching, mowing. We used to try to have people from time to time jab papers, pick up debris. Today, Scott, by himself, 95% of the year, four out of the five days during the week, picks up litter. And he just doesn't fill up a bag. He fills up three to five yards of litter every single day he goes out. We have a small dumpster at work. Beginning of the day, it's empty, and at the end of the day, it is overflowing. It's not just pieces of paper. It's not just paper here and there. He's called the shop. Can you bring a machine down? I want to drag this tire out of the woods. There's this refrigerator here. He goes way above and beyond. I can't thank the board, the town, the committee to recognize his efforts. It's a dirty job, and he does it with all his heart and his passion, and I definitely want to recognize that. It's not just litter. I can't imagine the story. Sometimes there's things in the shop. Where did this box or whatever come from? Well, Scott found that on the road. I think two or three wallets he's found immediately. He brings them to the office. I bring them to PD. Yeah, it's just amazing what he does. He helps keep this town very clean. I want to thank him for that. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Your certificate of recognition just states what Mike said, and that is that you have constantly demonstrated. You have exceptional skills and strong commitment to the highway department and the Riverhead community, and we are thankful for that. And so I am honored and humbled as well as the rest of the town board to congratulate you and bestow the award of employee upon the year for 2025. Thank you so much for all you've done for us.
Well deserved. You're a really great neighbor.
Oh thank you.
Thank you for everything you do, sir. Congratulations.
I'd just like to ask our town clerk at that. We're so thankful for Scott, but do we have any, our correspondence and our reports, please. We did. We received three letters this past cycle. One was from Jeff Sabo in reference to the Suffolk County Water Authority and an invitation to them to meet with the Greater Calvitan Civic Association for a public dialogue. A letter from Jamie Nerota from reference to littering, which is apropos for not only the award we just gave out, but also in recognition of what's coming up on April 25th. A letter from John McAuliffe in reference to No King's Day and its correlation with St. Paddy's Day. All those letters can be read on the agenda on the website. On the report, receiver taxes total tax collection as of March 19th, 2026 was $108,934,564.04. And that completes the correspondence and the reports. Thank you so much, Clerk Wooten. And at this time, we'd just like to welcome and open up for comments on resolutions only. So the resolutions that are in our packet, we have quite many today. And so with that, we'll be back in a minute. Thank you. we will be holding once again to our time limit for that so if you're in the room and you'd like to speak on a resolution just make your way over to the podium please state your name and your bird where you are and where you're from and then also just be ready and online just let us know hi my name is Lucy you want to just pull the mic down a little bit I'm a shorty my name is Lucy Barnes and I'm here to speak on behalf of the Long Island Science Center and I'm a board member of the Long Island Science Center and additionally I've been working on the master plan for Riverhead Town Square since about 2019 um I did the first visions for the for the town square design and which ultimately started off the process of getting all the grants which we're so lucky to have now so I first started working you know on the design for the town square and became very interested in in how important the Science Center would be as part of this project so I wanted to start off by thanking you all for your support of the town square and the Long Island Science Center but with that in mind I'm here to say that the Long Island Science Center really needs your help the Long Island Science Center needs buy-in from the town or else this cannot happen and I would really hope today that we could take a look at the work that we've done so far we're ready to build we have previous approving approvals we have funding on place to do this project we have a great design we have great community support we have a wonderful concept for the Science Centre as an economic catalyst for downtown Riverhead. And we've done all of this and raised the grants and financial capital to build this project. However, we're called here today because of claims of lack of sufficient progress. In my hand, I have over 90 pages of progress documents and plans and permit applications, correspondence with the town, correspondence with the building department, and coordination with the design team. Months and months and months of work, phone calls, meetings, not just within our project, but also meeting with the town square engineers and designers, and also with Joe Petrucelli, who's also our general contractor. And we've submitted all these documents digitally to the town for record. And we've done a lot of work. We would also love it if you guys could take a look. I know it's quite boring and deep, but this is real solid work here. Months and months and months of work. We're about to be submitting our final permit application to the Riverhead town. Obviously, we have to work in step the whole time with the design process for the town square. But we've been in touch with them, and we're working exactly in step with them. And this is just a quick snapshot of the progress that absolutely showcases sufficient progress on this project. And I would really appreciate you looking it over, because we have proof here. We have funding in place. Our schedule is currently aligning completely with the town square project, and we're ready to start this project. But we know that this can't happen without working with the town and working as partners. And we're really excited. We're excited. We're excited to see this project coming to downtown. I know that a lot of the community is as well. And we'll... Male Speaker 2. You see, I'm going to have to stop you. Female Speaker 1. Okay. All right. Male Speaker 2. You can circle back if you'd like to. Female Speaker 1. But thank you so much. Male Speaker 2. You're welcome. Female Speaker 1. Okay. I have this for you. Thank you. Male Speaker 2. Hi. Good afternoon. I've been retained as the construction manager for the Long Island Science Center located at 111 East Main Street in Riverhead. I want to first and foremost start off by thanking the board of this town. I had to call the board of directors of the Long Island Science Center and they all expressed their sincere gratitude to be working with this town and their passion to bring the Long Island Science Center to Main Street Riverhead. I'm here to address some of the concerns raised by the town as my position as construction manager. I want to start off by saying that your concerns are valid, but so are the responses by the Long Island Science Center. One of the items that were brought up is in regards to structural infrastructure. So the city is worried that this project will not align with the town square project i myself have had calls with the town civil engineer and the project civil engineer next door to the town's project i've aligned our project to their project and the schedules align we will have the same delivery date if the town is looking to give this building to another developer the delivery of that speculative development is years away and will never align with the town square project working with the long island science center is the path to shared success both with the science center and with the town's project the storm drainage drainage there's reports of sewage out of the building into the real lot i have confirmed that the toilets are capped there is no toilets this is not sewage we did scope this area and we found a storm water basin that is broken damaged by others the science center did not cause this but the science center is not abandoning this issue the science center is not abandoning this issue the science center is not abandoning this issue the science center is putting together a plan for submission waiting for building permits to mitigate this issue this does require feedback from the town square project and coordination with the town assistance on schedule the town's concerns about no activity are reasonable from an outside perspective we understand the board just presented over 90 pages of correspondence showing positive progress i've witnessed hundreds of emails proposals contracts engineers consultant contractors 116 000 new roof that was just put on the building we hope showing the town this positive progress they will gain the support of the town board this is critical the town has needed what needed for approval approval of the site the civil the building permit the inspections this project does not move forward without the town's support and the long island science center knows that we have the financing we have the team we need the town the long island science Center is here asking you for your help please and thank you very much for your time
very online hi Cindy Clifford I'm here as a concerned and interested resident in the town of Riverhead first I'd like to clear up some mischaracterizations that have been made regarding the Science Center first yes it was listed for sale early on but it was done at the prompting of a town official who encouraged selling the property with the caveat of a leaseback clause second the Science Center didn't replace a roof without permits it was a not a replacement but a repair for which permits are not required and given the times that other businesses have made famously reconfigured and expansions without proper or any permits but ultimately were forgiven that seems like a rather weightless grievance so third the continuous reference to the building's deterioration as though it's a strong wind away from a pile of rubble as referenced by Mr Lipsky it ignores the assessment by Ralph Pacifico the licensed professional engineer that the building is structurally sound fourth there has been no communication from the team and the delays rest entirely on the shoulders of the board Ms Barnes brought that up fifth that anyone believes that residents do not want the Science Center downtown in truth it's my belief that the of residents do and certainly a million times more than another five-story apartment building shadowing Main Street it is true that residents do not want our tax dollars wasted or frittered away so it's very disappointing to hear a proposal of again bankrolling outside council this time to pursue eminent domain at its purchase and again 11 months ago the Science Center has been heralded as the jewel of the downtown revitalization as a main attraction as a foot traffic magnet finally pulling visitors west from the Aquarium and the ! as a bankable and marketable asset where is the town support now the Science Center has gotten money from the state the county but not its hometown yet Riverhead is granting funds to other groups and organizations that all have something good to offer certainly there are more people with kids than there are hockey players around yet the town spent who knows how much on a hockey rink paying to install parking lots build bathrooms and even committing to paying its utility bills for years to come our town provides space to East End Arts and until recently retained ownership but handed over management to a nonprofit at the Vail-Levitt what makes one nonprofit more deserving than another why not a partnership why not work together to get this to the finish line defined the necessary steps agree on what needs to be done and on time frame supervisor Halpin's already gotten the team to commit to providing updates at every work session it's not like the rest of the downtown construction is going to be done real soon the way I see it we have some time before you sign the contracts and bankroll a legal team, would it be that unreasonable to set a deadline six or eight months from now? What is the rush? Why not at least consider giving the Science Center time to expand their board, secure more funding, and follow through with whatever they need to do to completion? Thank you. Thank you very much. I think we have three online, so we're going to pull up the first one, and somebody else makes their way in the room here. So don't forget all those wonderful announcements while we're pulling up our Zoom, all the great stuff that's going on in our town this week. You can check out two of our websites. Mr. McCullough, if you could wait, I believe we're pulling up a... There you go. Given my slow movement. Thank you very much. Ms. O'Brien, you are with us. If you can hear us, then you can speak. Okay. Thank you.
Ms. O'Brien, I'm not sure if you can hear us. We cannot hear you, though. Can you hear me? We can now. Thank you very much. Oh, thank you. Sorry about that. That's okay. I guess I'm technologically challenged. I'm speaking in regards to the Science Center. I, like many, support it. I'm going to ask some tough questions to all you board members if you vote for this, and an affirmative action to proceed, because these questions need to be answered to the board members. Will the money come from to acquire the building? Will we have to take out a ban? Another bound anticipation note. The initial acquisition cost of buildings to build the town square was $4,917,642.54. The demolition and improvement costs were $1,077,542.03. We still have an outstanding ban of $2,000. Okay. Excuse me. Of $2,625,127 East Main that I assume will be paid off when the closing with Mr. Pettiselli's company happens, if it happens and when. Do we have a date for that closing? Do you have a pro forma budget for the costs associated with the acquisition, including legal fees, abstract costs, architects, et cetera? What are your plans for their property? More apartments? Condos? If it is acquired and we proceed with this, will you commit to an open bidding process if your intent is to sell it and not use it for green space for the good of the taxpayers? At this time, can any of you up there tell the taxpayers what the final cost of the town square will be and how much of it will have to be bonded and paid for and borne on the shoulders of the taxpayers? Each and every one of you needs to have a concrete plan. If you have a concrete plan in place before you act, this town has been embarrassed enough by inaction. Don't continue on that path. Thank you. Okay. Mr. McCullough, if you're ready. Thank you for your comments, Ms. O'Brien. John McCullough, Frohn Oak Landing. I have comments on two resolutions. But. I'll just get through one of them now and I'll come back later with a second. This is also on 327 on the question of the Science Center location on Main Street. And I've read the resolution which says that the town attorney is authorized to negotiate upon town board approval. Is authorized to execute any agreements to effectuate the purchase. Or acquisition of the property. This comes out obviously of a very intense conversation in the work session. I'd hate to be legally on the other side of Ms. Merrifield. She did a very pointed job, a prosecutor's job about the failures of the current planning or process of the Science Center. But my question is. Is that larger discussion going to come up for a public hearing? Or do you think that this language allows you to go ahead to eminent domain? So that's just a specific question. Do you. In the terms of the process, will there be a public hearing to discuss moving into eminent domain on the Science Center space? The second question is whether people have in their back pocket. I'm not sure. I think I think they have in their back pockets or in their imaginations. The alternative. Occupier of the space. Whether I hate to be too suspicious about this, but whether this is now an extended Petro Selly project or you have someone else who would be prepared to go in there was remember an original design that talked about that space as a fourth story building. story building and different kinds of facilities than the Science Center. And I'd be interested in knowing what those discussions, where they are privately or semi-publicly. And finally, if you go ahead and eminent domain it and get the property, I think that you should have a discussion with Mr. Petrucelli about moving his hotel into that space because it would have several virtues. It's still, I would rather not have any hotel in that space, no more five-story buildings. But at least over there, it would not block out the vision of the East End Arts Center spaces, these historic buildings that are now going to be hidden behind the hotel. And moving it slightly to the west would not have as an imposing an effect and minimization of the Suffolk Theater. So if you do get to the point of eminent domain, I think that you should reconsider the Petrucelli Hotel space. At any rate, I'll come back afterwards for my second resolution. Thank you. Thank you, sir. We have one online, and so we'll be taking them. They're up online.
Oh, thank you. by Councilwoman Merrifield's reference to fool me once, fool me twice, don't fool us again. Unfortunately, you didn't butcher it like George W. Bush. But I'd like to give another adage some reference today. It's the town attacking the science center is like the pot calling the kettle black. The town should know full well of the timing difficulties, financing difficulties of proceeding with any project. And I know because I was able to take a look at the CDA's files regarding the Town Square project. And there is at least at least a 10 million dollar deficit in funding for the Town Square project. And I suspect. That deficit is probably substantially more because the analysis of the cost dating back years have probably doubled or tripled. So my question is, with the town consistently breaching the tax cap with a tax hike of seven or nine percent last year, years of going beyond the tax cap and a town's assessor that continues to drop the ball on multiple. [transcription gap] property in order to benefit the project for one of the Riverhead GOP's biggest campaign donors. In my view, that's a quid pro quo. It's outrageous. This entire Town Square project is a joke. You need to abandon it now and use the opportunity to create green space for the taxpayers who are now not to benefit a private developer who's a friend and family member of the Riverhead GOP. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Harari, for your comments. Anyone else online?
Afternoon, Claudette Bianco, Bading Hollow. I'm not going to talk about the Science Center. Which resolution? Resolution, it's related to this, but not exactly. 284 and 285 about the dump truck and upfitting, whatever that means. Yeah. Updating or something. It does have to pertain to the resolution. So it does, right? It does. Okay. Kind of. What resolution? 284, 285. Is there any way the Town could consider a piece of equipment to purchase? And please forgive my ignorance. This is not my field. But I understand that there is a piece of equipment, or maybe it's a truck in and of itself, that follows the trucks that clear the snow. The Town did a phenomenal job. Clearing the snow, especially those two enormous storms. But what happens, and we understand what you're doing, you're widening the roads and you're dumping the snow onto sometimes already clean driveways. There is a piece of equipment that follows the truck that clears the snow in the road that comes out and actually clears people's apron at the end of your driveway. They use them in states really far north where they get much more snow. I have no idea how much it costs. I have no idea about what it's called. But could the Town look into something like that? Because we have more and more senior citizens, and while dump trucks are important and pieces of equipment are, you know, necessary, that would really benefit the residents and the taxpayers enormously. Because I got to tell you, I don't do it anymore. I pay somebody, but my next-door neighbor did it, spent hours, and then the truck came and put a four-foot wall at the end of our driveways. And that something like this, would be money well spent for the taxpayers. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. We have one online? Okay.
Hello there. Can you hear me? You can, yes ma'am. Hi there. It's . There's our logo up there. I just wanted a quick clarification. I'm a resident of a community that's been
[transcription gap]
I just want to make sure we're following I'm sorry. That's all that's all I wanted. Oh, you want to make sure okay So it was misspoken that it said it was clarifying like my miss miss miss statement. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah, it was just a mistake Yes, he'll correct it Yes, thanks so much. Thank you. Thank you. Talk me. Thank you very much Anybody else online? Nope. Are you again? Mr. McCullough Thank you, John McCullough for an oak landing. This is on resolutions 295 301 which have to do with the reappointment of members to the anti-bias task force and it's with no objection to any of those appointments, but with reference to the considerable discussion and Media about the conflict between the former director and The rep the representative of the board to the task force I hope that There is some internal discussion that recognizes first that this whole event has indicated the need for an anti-bias task force that does have independence and some autonomy that in a way, I don't know if it's even correct to say that all committees are essentially creatures of the board, but That's a different legal and governmental issue. What I'm saying is very specific specifically this is not the first institution in which an anti-bias task force kind of entity goes into conflict with the authority of the Body that it's dealing with and that I think that it would probably be very healthy I hope that there would be an extended discussion both amongst you privately and in a work session at least of this history that in which Mr. McLaughlin is part of that discussion and That there be consideration given this history that perhaps miss. Mary field should step aside as being the board liaison Perhaps the supervisor himself could take that role because of the special Sensitivity of this and also that you invite mr. McLaughlin to return to the task force and his role as chairman of it Let me just say since I still have half a minute that going back to my original intervention I hope that you table it wasn't explicit. You should table that resolution Concerning the purchase or at least make Clear what the future process will be before you adopt the resolution. Thank you mr. McCullough Do anyone else online? or anyone else in our room that Would like to speak before we move to resolutions I would like to address the anti-bias task force that has been quite the subject That our our liaison will be staying put I will be interacting with that group and be at their next meeting if Hopefully it's on my schedule and be able to be there I will be reviewing the mission of that group together and we'll be growing from this as a board as a community and And together and so I'm I'm absolutely confident that we can Grow through this and we can represent our town and community together Throughout so I think Riverhead's one of its strengths is is that of out of all the stuff that we do We come together and we figure out a way and with our hiccups and hurdles that we face We're over commerce and so I think that's a time for us to show that on this leadership board and I've had a conversation With councilwoman, Maryfield and I'm confident in that and and so we'll be working together to bring that to to to healing I also like to just address if anybody else has any please just cut me off But I also like to address the Long Island Science Center. I just like to say in our conversation I never discussed about changing or modifying the organization. Oh, no, I'm not changing it. Okay. No, no, no I didn't say that I said we're gonna review the things that just what you and I looked at together So that's what uh that we had gone over and make sure that they're aware of where that group is going So I just gave you the legislation that's your 2021 that says that the town board supersedes any bylaws that were in that particular committee absolutely look forward to that and with the Long Island Science Center I did call them to work session two Thursdays ago and it was for that path to shared success or a path together and and within that and so I've been listening and so you know our taxpayers do deserve answers and that was the reason to bring them there to accountability and with my fellow board members I understand the the passion and the exerting and kind of where you feel like you are I guess I just I just feel like maybe I've been asking the question of myself since those last two meetings you know I wish this would have happened last year the accountability every month in the work sessions from last April when the condemnation was superseded once we find ourselves back in that situation again and so it is a tough situation that we're all put into because of that so understandably just want to make those statements and so I don't know if anybody else does anything if not Mr. Wooten if you'd like to start resolutions ready to start all those resolutions okay we're gonna start with resolution number one which is 268 what a district capital project 8 to 605 national grid hydrant relocation from Mill Road budget adoption so moved second vote please Waski yes Mary few yes Kern yes Rothwell yes Alton yes that motion let me pass motion is adopted motion 269 resolution 269 what a capital what a district capital project 8 to 3 0 3 budget adjustments so what a capital what a district capital project 8 to 3 0 3 budget adjustments so moved second vote please was he yes Maryhead yes Kern yes Rockwell yes Alhead yes resolution is adopted resolution 270 capital project 4 4 0 3 8 downtown alleyway lighting enhancement closure so moved second Oh please Oh ski yes Maryhead yes Kern yes Rockwell yes Ohhead yes sir that resolution is adopted resolution 271 adopts budget adjustment for Town Hall capital project number six two two zero four so moved seconded vote please was key yes very few yes yes yes yes Alpen yes resolution is adopted resolution 272 budget adoption for capital project number seven two six oh six River and roots playground rehabilitation so moved second vote please was key yes very few yes Kern yes yes yes sir resolution is adopted resolution 273 budget adjustment for new sign purchase for East End Arts Council so moved second vote please was key yes yes yes yes yes yes resolution is adopted resolution number 274 budget adjustment for Justice Court 2025 through 2027 2026 jcap grant funds so moved second oh please was key yes very few yes sir yes Rothwell yes open yes resolution is adopted resolution 275 ratifies budget adjustment for 2025 audit of CDA up cow by PKF O'Connor Davies LLP so moved seconded vote please was key yes very few yes turn yes yes yes [transcription gap] sewer improvements so moved second vote please waski yes very good yes turn yes Rothwell yes open yes resolution is adopted resolution 277 proof sewer district requests for change order number two related to contract s 203 dash 213 East Main Street sewer improvements so move second vote please waski yes very field yes turn yes Rothwell yes open sir resolution is adopted resolution 278 accepts donation of ice cream cakes for senior center 2026 so moved second vote please waski yes yes yes yes yes yes yes resolution is adopted resolution 279 accepts donation from Riverhead building supply for PAL so moved second vote please waski yes very few yes yes yes and thank you Rothwell yes and thank you and help me yes and thank you resolution is adopted resolution 280 accepts donation from William J Pomeroy foundation for the purchase of a historic marker so moved second quote please waski yes very few yes turn yes Rothwell yes and thank you open great stuff thank you yes resolution is adopted resolution 281 amends resolution number two zero two three four five six seven eight nine ten nine ten nine ten nine ten twenty-eight two six six nine so moved second vote please waski yes very few yes turn yes Rothwell yes open yes resolution is adopted resolution number 282 authorizes the police department to apply for funding so moved seconded oh please waski yes very few yes turn yes Rothwell yes open yes resolution is adopted resolution 283 [transcription gap] Sets the fees for the 2026 Spring-Summer brochure. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. Resolutions adopted. Resolution 284. Authorizes purchase of Kenworth Tandem Axle Dump Truck. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. Resolutions adopted. Resolution 285. Authorizes purchase of uplift of 2025 Kenworth Dump Truck. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 286. Authorizes purchase of Freightliner Chassis for a mounted sander for Highway Department. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. Seconded. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 287. Authorizes employees to attend International Association of Arson Investigators Conference. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 288. Ratifies the salary adjustment of a senior assessment clerk. So moved. Second. Yes. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 289. Ratifies the reclassification of an automotive equipment operator to heavy equipment operator. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 291. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 292. Yes, sir. Resolution 293. Resolution 294. Yes, sir. Resolution 295. Yes, sir. Resolution 296. Yes, sir. Resolution 297. Yes, sir. And Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution 298. Ratifies the salary adjustment of a senior assessment clerk. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 293. Appoints a call-in recreation leader to the recreation department. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 293. Appoints a call-in recreation leader to the recreation department. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waske. Yes. Yes. And Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 294. Appoints Charles Thomas to the Suffolk County Working Waterfront Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Thanks, Chuck. Halpin? This is a great thing that's happening in our county, yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 295. Reappoints Marjorie Acevedo to the Anti-Bias Task Force. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 296.
Reappoints Roberto Ramos to the Anti-Bias Task Force. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 297. Reappoints Patrice Stokely to the Anti-Bias Task Force. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 298. Reappoints Harley Abrams to the Anti-Bias Task Force. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 299. Reappoints Salim Massoud to the Anti-Bias Task Force. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 300. [transcription gap] Zalicar. Zalicar to the Business Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 303. Reappoints Martin Sinluski to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 304. Ratifies name change of the Occlusion Task Force Advisory Committee to the Town of Riverhead Disability Advisory Committee. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 305. Appoints Joe Oliver to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 306. Reappoints Ike Israel to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 307. Appoints Georgia Malone to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 308. Appoints Peggy Zaneski to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey. Yes. Berryfield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 309. Appoints
Waskey. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Halpin. Yes, sir. Steve Omerl to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 310. Appoint Sean Kenna to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 311. Appoints Connie Lissandro to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Halpin? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 312. Appoint Steve Salato to the Parking District Advisory Committee. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Halpin? Yes. Resolution 312. Is adopted. Resolution 313. Ratifies the resignation of an automotive equipment operator. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 314. Ratifies the resignation of a part-time bilingual office assistant. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. [transcription gap]
Yes, and Alvin. Yes resolution is adopted resolution 317 Ratifies the appointment of a hearing officer and suspension of an employee's so moved second. Oh, please Waski, yes, very field. Yes, Kern. Yes, Rothwell. Yes Open sir resolutions adopted resolution 318 Rattlesnake terminates LOA and ratifies the reappointment of a part-time police officers so moved second. Oh, please Watch me. Yes, very few. Yes, Kern. Yes, Rothwell. Yes I got to be a Tyler Gavin and Ryan's graduation and wish them the best of luck here They're gonna be great on our force. And yes, absolutely resolution is adopted resolution number 319 ratifies authorization for the community development department to apply for a grant so moved second vote, please Waski, yes, very few. Yes, Kern. Yes, well, yes, help it. Yes resolutions adopted resolution 320 authorizes release of a performance bond for Birchwood major subdivision section 3 so moved second vote, please Waski, yes, very few. Yes, Kern. Yes, Rothwell. Yes And help it. Yes, sir resolutions adopted resolution 321 Council's letter of credit posted by Kevin Rempe plumbing and heating Corp for drain layer Drain layer in the town of Riverhead sewer district so moved second vote, please Waski, yes, very few. Yes, Kern. Yes, Rothwell. Yes, open. Yes Resolution is adopted resolution 322 amends Riverhead water district schedule of rates and charges so moved second vote, please Waski, yes, very few. Yes, Kern. Yes, yes, yes Open yes, sir resolutions adopted resolution 323 amends resolution number 2025 dash 209 building division fees so moved second it vote, please Waski, yes, very few. Yes Kern yes, Rothwell. Yes, and help me sir resolutions adopted resolution 324 Raidshead Resolution is adopted. Resolution 326. Amends Resolution 2026-185, adopted on February 18, 2026, Brentwood Legion Ambulance Services, Inc., use of the Pine Barrens credits. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. And Halpin. Yes, sir. That resolution is adopted. Resolution 327. Affirms prior authorization for acquisition of property for general municipal purposes located at 111 East Main Street, Riverhead, New York, Suffolk County. Tax map number 0600-1291-11. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. And I'd just like to make a statement, if I may, regarding this. First and foremost, I support a family-friendly venue on the town square. But unfortunately, the building, 111 East Main Street, is not that. In fact, since 2019, when Suffolk County purchased this, when, I'm sorry, when the Science Center purchased this vacant, blighted, dilapidated building, it never opened up as a Science Center. Since 2019, it has remained just that, vacant and blighted, for six years now. Since 2022, when the town square project began, the town has received over 30 million in grants for a downtown revitalization of Riverhead Town. Through the fantastic work of our Community Development Agency, led by the Director, Dawn Thomas. The town square project has two key components to it. Economic revitalization of our downtown to help our businesses, to help tourism, and in fact, to help our taxpayers. And a second key. The city's development, flood mitigation. The projects are moving. The hotel, the playground, the streetscapes, the East End Art projects. Yet, for six years, 111 East Main Street has done nothing. From 2022 to today, in 2026, the Science Center has presented over five variations of what their plans, what their designs are. But none of it has ever materialized. In fact, it just keeps shrinking. The latest version came last week when it went wrong. It went from 24,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet. Their inaction demonstrates that they are not serious about building the Science Center at this location. Never did they come forward to the Planning Department with site plan. Never did they actually obtain building permits. Never did they submit plans for flood plain plan compliance. They never sought a contract with the town to purchase easements for the drainage that they would need onto the town square. None of that. They've never submitted anything for streetscapes, which is what they're going to have to do on Main Street to get utility lines underground. Flooding and drainage are very important to this town square project, as noted by Jeff Seaman. And I'd like to read what he had to say on that. He, too, has been waiting to review the Science Center plans so their grading and engineering infrastructure can be integrated into the ongoing development of the hotel, the town square park, and the relocation of the East End Arts buildings. Without this information, this is Mr. Seaman, without this information, we lack verifiable flood control. He agrees with me and other members of the town board that it is imperative that action is necessary to meet the CEQA requirements to achieve flood control, which is now at a critical juncture due to the master developer's ongoing site development along the river. Thank you. CARTER CARTER
They didn't have to wait for the Town Square project to make this a wonderful science center. They could have been starting as early as 2019. They showed no proof of actually building. And my position is they have no credibility left with regard to their promise to build. Just last year, in April of 2025, exactly a year ago, they came to the town board when we were about to do the condemnation proceeding then. And they basically begged us to let this go on. We promised 10 times, and I ask everybody to take a look at that work session video. I counted at least 10 times that there were assurances that they would have that building open and built in the summer of 2025. That came and went. And a year later, we had to call them back in here. In April of 26, an entire year later, they were still not open. In fact, the only location that the science center has been, or was open, was at the Tanger Mall. And that was not open. And there's been a position in the town, someone had commented, that the science center is a place where everyone will come, and this would guarantee this will be activated. Well, the science center is located in Tanger, and no one's coming there. That place is only open supposedly by appointment. So that doesn't show any activation to me. And I look at the last six years, not just the last year, the last six years, and I see nothing being done there. I look at, and they offered no explanations last week. They offered no apologies. Just a different plan once again. I do see a big change though. I do see one very big difference this year. Last year they assured us they had the money. This year it became very evident that they don't. Not only is there a mechanics lien on the property now, for $13,500. $13,500. There is also a jump start, I apologize, a jump start grant that is going to expire this June. Those are reimbursement grants. There is no way that that science center is going to spend the money to be reimbursed $1 million by June. Those are huge problems financially for them. I have no confidence that they are going to be able to make that plan on the town square project a reality. As for the taxpayers, I just want everybody to realize that in 2019 that was purchased and became a not for profit organization, that building pays pennies in taxes. If that were a regular commercial property on Main Street, they would have paid from 2019 to 2026, $340,000 to the town of Riverhead in taxes. They don't pay that. It gets to sit vacant and blighted. And just in the year alone in 2026, If they had been a regular commercial building, they would have paid $340,000 to the town of Riverhead in taxes. If they had been a regular commercial business on Main Street, they would have owed the town $47,000.96. In reality, because they are not for profit, they'll pay $1,000. $313. So when people talk about the taxpayers, I want you to realize that that is something to take into consideration. What that vacant, blighted building there at our town square is doing to our tax base. They're in no rush. They're in no rush because they're not paying any taxes. It's supposed to be a science center guaranteed to pull people into the heart of downtown. Yet, as I just said, that's not happening. Because it doesn't even happen over a Tanger. We've given them six years. Last year was the year we were going to say we have to go forward with condemnation. And we gave them an extension then. And we got nothing done, just more changes in the plans. The town has a right to a tax rate. We can't expropriate private property for public use. The public use here is our town square project. That is very important to the town. We can take private property for public use with payment. We don't take it without compensation. With payment, compensation. And we will be compensating a vacant, blighted, dilapidated building. Our town needs our downtown revitalization for all of our commercial enterprises on Main Street and downtown. For all of our taxpayers. We've invested a great deal with regard to grant money that we have received and town money to make this a beautiful town square park that's going to help our tourism, help our tax base, and we can't let this particular individual or board hold that process up any longer. That particular location as Ms. Barnes had said, she was involved in this initially in the project of the town square project. The science center was supposed to be a place maker for activation. It is not that. It has never been that. And I don't think it ever will be on our town square. It will definitely not be that on the town square. I wish them well and I hope you the best because it's a great idea. It's just never materialized. So for that reason, I vote yes. Kurt. I'll try to be brief. Coming up, I also want to thank Jordan Rogrove, the architect who was on last week. I believe a lot of stuff was not heard from what you guys said. I'm really happy to hear that you have restructured the board and that you are moving forward. And I see this as an absolute place maker and all the economic studies I've done, this is a huge one. So for me, this is an absolute yes. I mean, I know that you are voting for this. Excuse me. The Science Center is an absolute yes. This resolution is an absolute no. Thank you. Roswell. So, five years ago, I sat down with Larry Oxman and I was thrilled to see the plans that were initially put forth. I said earlier on, it was like our own Smithsonian Museum coming to Riverhead. It was an absolute asset to the town square and it's what the town square was built and designed around. And I think that's what I was most proud of at the time to create an activation space. That was five years ago. And each year, the communications seemed to slip away. The designs became less and less. And as we sit here today, constant change of designs, no architectural drawings, no engineering drawings, no easement applications, no funding, it seems, available. It is an onset of a new era of safe structure. There's been no building applications filed. It's been off the tax rolls. There's no flood mitigation. And just basically, ultimately, no communications until last week. I believe in the Science Center and I love what they do. I took my children there and it was thrilling for my kids when they were younger. But the building that we're talking about is not the Science Center. It is a dilapidated building downtown. The Science Center has some time ago moved up to the Tanger Mall and that's where it is and that's where it operates out of. And so, I have said that this building downtown is not the Science Center. It is a building that needs a major overhaul. And as an elected official, it's the last thing that we ever want to do is take eminent domain over anybody's independent ownership private property. But there are things that we are obligated to do and that is for the safety of the children that may gather in the town square and around a playground. Unsafe mold coming from the building. Water flowing from the back of the building. We are expending millions of taxpayer dollars to build this town square for these matching grants. And we're not doing our due diligence by not completing the entire project as a whole. And this is essentially half the component, or at least a third of what the town square is. And we are responsible to every business downtown and we've been promising them for five years we've been working on this. And for five years we were telling them hang on, relief is coming. The town square will bring, we will fill the streets, we will fill the restaurants, we will fill the stores. And this component has never come to reality. It's been a pipe dream all along. But that's not what makes me say, oh we should go ahead with condominium. What I'm specifically torn about is the fact that it is an unsafe structure. It needs a complete overhaul. And I don't see that the current science center has the funding to do that. I do wish them the best of luck. I, perhaps in this is condominium that we can get a fair market value for them and perhaps they can utilize that funding to change their business module. I don't want to lose this opportunity. I want to make sure that they have a place in the science center. I hope that they will find a place downtown and become active and perhaps in the smaller schematics of what they have been seem to be more talking about recently in a smaller 4,000 square foot that they can find that appropriate place and still be part of our downtown and part of our revitalization. But it would be a shame and it would be inappropriate for us to build a town square and have this building remain there as dilapidated as an unsafe structure adjacent to a public gathering space. So I have to say that I regrettably but I feel that it is necessary to vote yes on this resolution to move forward for the general safety and welfare of our residents. And Halpin. So just to reiterate when I called the science center here two weeks ago it was to find a path to shared success. I still believe in that. I believe in all of our businesses downtown need a path to shared success. I believe these have been, as I've reiterated about other things, out of tough conversations need to come solutions. We need to sit down I think, I wish we would have tabled this and had them back in on Thursday they are on the work session schedule. Again I asked this board we were at condemnation last year I understand the frustration but anybody could have called them in at any work session throughout that time period and asked them. When I brought them in then it seemed like immediately we moved to this I understand again that there is frustration and things haven't been moving along. So with all of that in mind I went back and I thought about it and I looked at everything. We also are putting a burden back on the taxpayers of our town by having to fund this until we can sell it again and then we are paying outside council looking at a deficit of this year already of our budget and we are trying to make sure that we can pay our employees and lower our tax burden. So with all of those things I'm going to vote no. I do not move to take him in the domain. I would just like to add one thing again and I'm sorry that I would like I think you should supply all those 90 pages that you have to the press so the press is aware of what's gone on I'm also aware that the town when the mold was being remediated the town put a stop work order on that which I could not figure that out so if we caused any damage there that's on us but I would like you to submit all that to the press. Thank you. I would just like to reiterate that we have waited a whole year the Science Center came to us a year ago and begged and said please give us a chance and we did that and it got us nowhere and we can't keep dragging this out. This is bad for our downtown it's a bad look, it's hurting the businesses down there and I know that I read some comments online that there's a fear that there's going to be apartments put on that property and I can assure you that I have not heard of any such plans and I would not support those plans either I promise you that I would like to see something that is family orientated, something great for our town and I think that in time we'll be able to do that and our downtown is going to be vibrant and a place that people are going to want to come and bring their families but how it is now that is not the downtown that I vision for the future so my vote was to support moving forward and giving Riverhead and downtown a chance Resolution is adopted Resolution number 328 Resolution to clarify an action pursuant to SECRA, assume lead agency issue negative declaration and approve funding for Wading River Highway Garage subject to permissive referendum and bond authorization so moved Second vote please Waskie yes Berryfield yes Kern yes Rothwell yes Halpin yes Resolution is adopted Resolution 330 Resolution calling for a public hearing regarding a capital improvement for the extension of facilities of the Riverhead Water District Summer Wind Farm Subdivision for a water main extension at the property known as Suffolk County Tax Map number 600-86-2-8.2 in Ackerbog, New York
So moved Second vote please Waskie yes Kern Rothwell yes Halpin yes Sir Resolution is adopted Resolution 331 Authorizes Town Clerk to publish and post public notice to consider a local law to amend Chapter 273 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Solid Waste Article 5 General Provisions applicable to solid waste for all properties and uses So moved Second vote please Waskie yes Berryfield yes Kern yes Rothwell yes Halpin yes Resolution 332 Authorizes Town Clerk to publish and post notice to consider a local law to amend Chapter 279 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Taxation Article 8 Exemption for the Volunteer Firefighters and Volunteer Ambulance Workers So moved Second vote please Yes Yes sir Resolution is adopted Resolution 333 Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 217 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Buildings Building Construction and Improvements and Housing Standards Article 1 Administration and Enforcement So moved Is that Article I or 1 Eric and that one Article 1 Okay I got it right So moved Seconded vote please Waskie Yes Berryfield Yes Kern Yes Rothwell Yes Halpin Yes sir Resolution is adopted Resolution 334 Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 289 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Vehicle Traffic and Parking Regulations Article 4 Parking Standing and Stopping So moved Seconded vote please Waskie Yes Berryfield Yes Kern Yes Rothwell Yes Halpin Yes sir Resolution is adopted Resolution 336 Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Fire Prevention Seconded vote please Waskie Yes Berryfield Yes Kern Yes Rothwell Yes Halpin Yes sir Resolution is adopted Resolution 336 Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Fire Prevention Article 27 Tenancy Prohibition of the City of Resolution 336 So moved Seconded vote please Waskie Yes Berryfield Yes Kern Yes Rothwell Yes Halpin Yes sir Resolution is adopted Resolution 336 Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 231 of the Riverhead Town Code titled Fire Prevention Article 27 Tenancy Permits So moved Seconded vote please Waskie Yes Berryfield Yes Kern Yes Rothwell Yes Halpin Yes Resolution is adopted Resolution 337 Authorizes the Supervisor to execute a License Agreement with Celtic Quest Inc. 2026 So moved Seconded vote please Waskie Okay I'm going to prove that I'm Irish here and tell you that it's Celtic Okay Celtic Yes Sorry Celtic Quest Yes Berryfield Yes Alan Yes Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes, I think the things were addressed in here from the Jamesport Civic Association. We did raise their fee. It is a less busy part of the month up there, and the additional funds do help out with the recreation department. So I vote yes. It happened. Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 338. Authorizes the supervisor to execute an agreement with seed clam administrator. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Berryfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Alpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 339. Authorize supervisor to execute early voting polling place agreement with Suffolk County Board of Elections for Riverhead Town Hall. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Berryfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Alpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 349. Authorizes supervisor to execute professional services agreement with H2M for sanitary improvements at Town Square splash pad. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Berryfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Alpin? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 341. Authorizes supervisor to execute an agreement with the County of Suffolk Office for the Aging, AAA Transportation Program 2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Berryfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Alpin? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 342. Authorizes the supervisor to execute a short-term runway use agreement for Racetrack Knot Street 2026, Spring Fling at EPCAL. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waske? Yes. Berryfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Ready for Saturday. Yes. Alpin? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 343. Authorize supervisor to sign a professional service agreement with Smalley Engineering PC. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Hothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 344. Authorize supervisor to sign a professional service agreement with Smalley Engineering PC. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Eric, what's this in reference to, the combination? So this was a, so Phil Siegel already represents us on one of the cannabis retail shop cases. Then it has nothing to do with the combination. Or does it? It does not have anything to do with combination. Okay. So. Yes. Hothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 345. Ratifies authorization for supervisor to sign an addendum to consultant professional services agreement with Joan Modern. Modern. I forgot your name, Ron. How do you say it? Modern. You got it right then. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Hothwell? Thanks for helping out, Joan. Yes. And Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution number three, that resolution's adopted. Resolution number 346. Ratifies the authorization for the supervisor to execute an agreement with the County of Suffolk Department of Probation. Stop DWI program 2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Hothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 347. Ratifies the approval of special event chapter 255 application for Clifton Park rental tractor supply season sale. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Hothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 348. Approved special event chapter 255 application for Hallockville Museum Farm Fleece and Fiber Festival. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Houtman? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 349. Approved special event chapter 255 application for Wading River Shore and Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. It's turning out great each year. Kern? Yes. It's a fantastic event. Rothwell? Yes. Absolutely. Awesome. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution number 350. Approved special event chapter 255 application for the Duck Pond Society, Duck Pond Day. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Moore happening in Wading River. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Moore happening in Wading River. Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 351. Yes. Approved special event chapter 255 application for Long Island Antique Power Association, tractor poles and shows. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. To another great event in Riverhead. Rothwell? Yes. And Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 352. Approved special event chapter 255 application for Race Awesome, Jamesport Triathlon, Ski Rink, and the !
Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 354. Approved special event chapter 255 application for the New York Marine Rescue Center, Paddle Battle. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 355. Approved special event chapter 255 application for Foodie Fest. Yes. Reduction LLC Foodie Fest. Is that a 1? Yeah, 1 is number 1. Number 1-2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. That resolution is adopted. Resolution 356. Hays to Bill. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Halton? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Halton? Yes, sir. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 357. Riverhead Highway Barn Bond Authorization Resolution April 2026. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waskey? Yes. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. [transcription gap] table one though somebody's gonna is that word 33 we're doing the table one be higher so 2026 227 would be on the table right now oh it's me rehires and set salaries for recreation person right was that table that was table yeah it was previously 227. so there would be okay there would need to be a motion to untable and then okay i want to untable resolution uh 227 rehires and set salaries for various call and recreation personnel for 2026. so that's a motion to on table is there a second yes vote to untable yes waski yes yes kern yes rothwell yes to one table and helping yes to unstable resolution is untabled i'll make the now it's before the board needs to be moved and seconded before you take action on this 3d rehires and set salaries for various call and recreation personnel for 2026 so move yes second oh please okay let me change that uh waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes and help yes sir that resolution is so i have another resolution to on table which is resolution 254 authorizes a supervisor to execute a non-binding project scope letter to ps e ng for the redevelopment of 1129 west main street riverhead new york known as the perk known as the perkins building so moved seconded i am absolutely vote to untap get the vote on table what resolution is that it was 2026 254 to on table
you made a motion on table it correct yeah yes and denise i just want to make sure jim is good are you ready jim no i i'm ready okay waski yes to run table [transcription gap] Yes. Murrayfield? Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. And Halpin? I just want to know where the funding is going to come for this down the road. Well, it's non-binding, and once we look at the agreement with PSC&G, we'll see where the funding sources are. If they're not there, they're not there, and the project doesn't move forward. Okay. Well, with that in mind, then I vote yes.
Okay, that resolution. We've got to pull this off the floor. Yes, sir. Yes. Okay. That was adopted. We have two off the floor also, right? Yes, sir. 358 will be the Suffolk County application for grant, and 359 would be the professional service agreement for Lori Holtz, I believe. Can you say that again? Yeah. I think 358 will be the resolution for the county application for grant funding, and 359 will be the authorization. And the authorization for the supervisor to enter into agreement with the Honorable Lori Holtz.
Thank you. Do you want me to read the next one? Sure. Do you want to make the motion off the floor? Yes. I make a motion. Okay. I'll call Resolution 358. 358, resolution to support the County of Suffolk application for grant funding under New York State Environmental Bonds. [transcription gap]
Yes. Kern? Yes. Rothwell? Yes. Alpen? Yes. Resolution is off the floor. Again, resolution to support Suffolk County, to support the County of Suffolk application for grant funding under New York State Environmental Bond Act for the preservation as open space of property commonly known and described as Venezia Square, Wading River, New York, Suffolk County tax map number 600-73-1-LOTS 1.4, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, and 1.19. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Wait, you get open comment? Oh, yes. I'm so sorry. Yeah, yeah, I might. That is... Thanks, Eric. Does anybody have a comment online, or if you'd like to come up to the podium, just say your name and your family. After 92. Good afternoon. My name is Donald Miller. I've been a resident in Riverhead for the last 10 years, and I'd like to voice my dissatisfaction with the recent acknowledgement of the $7 million that has been put onto the tax rollout. Well, I'm sorry, sir. This would just be on this resolution that's at hand right now. Oh, I'm sorry. It's not open comment yet. That's okay. Totally understandable, and we'll call you back up in just a second. Thank you. This would just be on the... The resolution's coming off the floor. To support Suffolk County... To support Suffolk County with a letter of support. That is what this comment period is for. Hi. My name is Marjorie Acevedo. I'm on the Open Space Committee, and we did do a letter of support to purchase this property. We think it's very advantageous for the residents of Wading River, and also very advantageous for the beautification of the entranceway into the town of Riverhead. So we do support this resolution. Any other comments online or in the room? Okay. So it'll call for a vote. Washkey? I would just like to say that I was working with legislator Catherine Stark about this property during her time in office, and I'm very happy to see this resolution here before us today. Any kind of land preservation... Farmland preservation... Open space... Is such a good thing for... for the town so um i i thank um catherine stark for putting this in motion and our open space committee and um that's a yes from me okay mary phil i too would like to thank former legislator catherine stark for bringing this forward and helping preserve land and waiting wherever vote yes for me kern yes rothwell so yes i obviously all of us have been in consulting with legislator catherine stark did a phenomenal job because this was really about over the past few years this project has continuously come before uh the planning board and and plans have been you know rendered and it was really taken back from the waiting river residents about another pizzeria or another bank and it just it wasn't being embraced as a development project um i always felt that myself being a business person in waiting wherever that was never my place uh you know just to prevent somebody from developing you know their property in which they own when catherine stark first brought this up about the potential of purchasing the development rights and and had the conversations at the suffolk county farmland preservation committee it was an absolute home run out of the park it immediately was embraced by the residents of waiting river i've gotten countless phone calls i am going to say full disclosure i do own the adjacent property quite ahead of the g You know, an area to gather where they can enter on the bike trail is directly across the street, so I would like to see a crosswalk going across Route 25A where residents can potentially have a little place to park and enter on and off the bike trail and maybe some picnic tables in there, as opposed to just being, it's not really a tree area, it's more of kind of heavy brush and so forth that's in there. And so it has the ability to be a really good entrance way and a nice community spot of gathering and waiting wherever, which there isn't too many of them up there, especially on Route 25A. So if residents were able to arrive at that spot, park their car, hop on the bike trail across the street and utilize it, you can go all the way to Port Jefferson, come all the way back, and then of course we want the bike trail to continue going east as well. And so it really has been a great project, and so I thank everybody moving forward. Again, I did speak to council just because I own the adjacent property, but it's, you know, I gain nothing by it but other than it's a great project for the residents and I stand by supporting the residents of Wading River. So I absolutely vote yes. Councillor Kiley. Love working with the county. Yes, sir. That resolution is adopted. We have one more off the floor. The resolution number 359. Authorizes the town supervisor to execute professional services agreement with the Honorable Laurie M. Holtz. Make a motion to take this off the floor. Second. We need to take this off the floor. Second. We need to take this off the floor. And I think we have any comments on it online or in person? We need to move it off the floor first. I'll move it off the floor. I'm so sorry. I'm like, all right. We just got a vote on it. Yes. To move off the floor. Yes, to take off the floor. Curran? Yes, to off the floor. Rothwell? Yes, and the reason this needs to come off the floor is that there is nobody adjudicating right now. These are for the anybody that goes through a, passes the stop school buses. And so I don't want to have any of these things being discussed or discussed with you. And I think I have a motion to vote on this. And I vote on this motion. There is nobody adjudicating right now. These are for anybody that passes the stop school buses. And so I don't want to see tickets continuously be dismissed because we're not holding them into court. So I never like to take resolutions off the floor. The last one was a timing thing because the county is moving forward. This also becomes a loss of revenue. And I think we have all continuously made comments of support for Judge Hulse to do this. And so I think it's just somehow slipped through the cracks. So we're glad to get this going today. So vote yes to take it off the floor. And help him. Yes. Any comments online? Or anyone in the room would like to speak on this resolution?
Okie dokie. So do you want to go again? Yep. So resolution 2026359 authorizes the town supervisor to execute professional services agreement with the Honorable Lori M. Hulse. So moved. Second. Vote please. Boski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. And that she serves now additionally in her role as a town justice. She will now also be an administrative law judge. That's what this particular resolution is regards to. So yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Do not pass the stop school bus. Yes. And Halpin. Yes. That resolution is adopted. That concludes. I believe unless there's something else coming off the floor. The resolution is adopted. That's one correct. I believe unless there's something else coming off the floor. The resolution is adopted. That's one correct. I believe unless there's something else coming off the floor. To a hundred. So this time we will move into our open comments from the public. If you have an open comment. Again you will have three minutes. And we ask that you adhere to that while we can. And so we do that with one online. So if you just state your name and your Hamlet again. Thank you. My name is Donald Miller. I reside in Riverhead for the last ten years. And I'm expressing my dissatisfaction with the seven million dollar lawsuit that's been put upon the taxpayers. Transparency was not never been here over ten years. I've never heard about this until it appeared as a hundred and sixty percent increase in my tax bill. And then the article in the local news. The other part of it is I'd like to know what transparency will be in the ongoing. Because there still is a pending lawsuit for the assessment of Friar Tuck between 2018. And 2018. 2022. And will we be made aware of that. As we were not made aware of the previous. That's what I have. Thank you. Thank you sir. Thank you for your comments.
Flood at Bianco. Baiting hollow. I too am disappointed that this town board didn't mention one word. That there was a settlement. And that the enormous. Gigantic. Stupendous increase in our taxes. Was coming forth. When you sat here and talked for weeks. About budget. Disingenuous. To be talking about the police budget. And the reason for the increases. About a safe town. Mr. Rothwell. When you knew. All along. This was coming down the pike. And it's my understanding. There are many. Other lawsuits pending. That will also be placed. On our backs. Not one word of it. No transparency. No information. You guys need to do a better job informing the residents and taxpayers of this town. What's coming down the pike. It isn't all roses. And we have to fund those things. And we know that. Whether it's with our town taxes or our state taxes. Or our county. Or our state taxes. Or our state property taxes. But I would ask this board. And the board of assessors. Who just asked me to step into her office at the end of this meeting. And I will do that. To reevaluate. The way you assess property taxes. Whether it's residential or business. Commercial. Because clearly. You're not doing a good job. Thank you. So I'll just follow up. No. Okay. So again. This is from. This is litigation from 2008 to 2015. And I'm not saying that this is a good job. I'm saying that this is a good job. And I'm not saying that this is a good job. I'm saying that this is a good job. And I'm not saying that this is a good job. It's before any of these members. Whoever any of us are the longest serving. No I know. Were ever on the board. Oh we don't do assessments that is elected officials in the assessors office that handles that. Oh these was discussed. So to say that it's disingenuous that it was never discussed. It was discussed. We went over many aspects of the budget last year. And we put out pie charts. And we. broke down all the different values that were included. There were unknown factors of exactly what the dollar amount was going to be, but we knew there were going to be surcharges on the bill. And yes, of course, I stand proud of our police and the job they're doing, but I don't know what that has to do with this. We were very clear, but there was an unknown dollar amount that was going on there. And yes, there are other litigation cases. These are things that this board does not control. I understand that. And so we do our best to inform the public in every way we can, but we're not the decision makers. And unfortunately, I, a resident just as you, I have to bear that tax increase as well when we lose cases like this. And there are others that are before the assessors, where people are going, I'm trying to think of the proper word. Grieving. Challenging. Challenging there. And we may win some, we may lose some. I don't know. I understand. But we do the best when we do get those results. And we try to notify the public of what the impact will be. Well, personally, I don't think you did a good job, because nobody knew about this until we read the article in the Newsday, which thank you, Tara, for doing that. This was on your tax bill that came out last year. So this was discussed six months ago. I understand, but clearly, clearly, the procedures that are used to assess, to assess a commercial property need to be reassessed themselves, because it's not working. If there are so many lawsuits, and I'm not saying they all win, and I don't know the percentage, but clearly if there's a lawsuit, especially one of this magnitude, that's going to come in one year, more than 160% increase for one piece of property. And there are others. And this one's not done. There's other lawsuits. It's pending. Just to evaluate the system and the way you assess it. We don't assess it. Well, the assessors. The Board of Assessors. But don't you control the Board of Assessors and the way they do things? No. Don't you have input in that? They're elected officials. The residents of this town elect the assessed town assessors. Do you have input in that process? Every resident does. You elect your town assessors. Yeah, I'm about to give some. Okay. Thank you, Claudette. I'd just like to add, if I may, also, Ms. Albionco, I ask you to take a look not just at the town taxes, but I ask you to pay attention to the school board. I do. And their budget coming up. I do. And Ms. Seppaletti did a very nice article last year with regard to the Riverhead School District. This particular school district, 141 bank transfers, totaling $127 million, were reviewed and approved by someone other than the treasurer before the transactions took place. None of the 47. None of the 47 budget transfers totaling $12.3 million were approved by the board. So I ask you, when you think about your taxes, don't just think of the town taxes. Again, we're not responsible for the assessor's office, but look at your school taxes and also the library. There is a huge budget increase coming with the library. Those are huge taxes as well. Right, but we get to vote on the library and the school budget. We don't get to vote on the town budget. Well, you do, in a sense, in that you do elect individuals on the board. But I want you to understand, when you pay your town taxes, there are a lot of other taxes that you're paying. But it is not necessarily the town board tax that is increasing so much. It's all of these taxes. Everything goes up every year. And I recognize that. And I just want you to understand that huge increases are coming from other areas. It isn't just the town board. Not as much as the property tax. It's unfair to hold us responsible for events from 2008 to 2015. I'm not holding you responsible. I'm asking you to reassess the process and be more transparent and more upfront, if you know about this coming down the pike, to mention it. Because I did not hear it, and a lot of other people didn't either. Thank you. Claudette, just please make sure that you go and speak to the assessors before you leave. I'm going in there. Because you're going to probably learn a lot from the conversation of how they do their assessment, how they come up with their figures. And I'm the liaison to the assessors. I was a prior board member for the Board of Assessment Review. And I've seen people come in and read their taxes. And the way that they come up with their assessment, it's hard for anybody to grieve them because they are so good at what they do. I'm happy to go in there. I just want to make sure that you do stop. Absolutely. We'll do that. Thank you. And I agree. The assessors, it's a very complicated task, what they do. They do a good job. And when I'm carefully looking over this case, I think it was an unfair decision against us. I think the assessments in which they did were much more accurate than what was found through the court. But it's the decision and what we have to deal with. Yeah. Unfortunately, you know, especially with the golf course, it has a specialized, well-deserved valuation method. And in this instance, although it's a championship-level luxury private golf course, the valuation method that the judge followed is that of a daily fee course, whereby they capitalize the revenue of an average daily fee course, which may not be consistent with this particular layout of a private course that's over 300 acres. And New York State antiquated laws. You know, they're not looking at this stuff and, you know, this is the great deal. You know, the state coming out of Albany, that's, you know, I look at this as they need to look at what's going on, you know, with these public versus private period. A little bit more complicated, but. I'm sorry. Mr. Howard, correct me if I'm wrong, but also, hasn't the courts, haven't they changed their analysis of this through the years, how they did the valuations on the golf course? Wasn't there litigation that changed the valuations versus upstate versus state? Mr. Yes, it can change from time to time, especially with golf courses. They do treat them differently in different areas of the state. And so, you know, it's very difficult for the assessors to land on a correct number here. And another thing that complicated this one was our assessors' belief that there was excess land on this 300-acre site that could be further developed. So that was another aspect of the case that we advocated for, but the judge ultimately didn't accept. Thank you. Changing topics. First of all, I just want to say that there are plenty of people in this town. Mr. Do your name again. Cindy Clifford. I live in Riverhead. I'm speaking as a resident. There are a lot of people in this town who would like to have a committee position, who would like to have a little more input with the town, and it's discouraging to me to see so many names reappointed, particularly a person who doesn't even live here and hasn't lived here in ages. I don't understand. But on top of here. Back in 2003, I was a resident of a town called Riverhead. I was a resident of Riverhead.
This was my first awareness of there being a task force here, and I accepted the invitation to submit an application to join. I was raised to know that no matter how people look or what language they speak or how they choose to live their lives, we're all far more alike than we're different. Yet I was watching civil rights riots and hearing George Wallace spew hate and not being able to understand what's at the root of hating a group of people you don't even know. So how could I not get involved in the Anti-Bias Task Force if we could bring people together, if we could do good, if we could help maybe clear up some of the misunderstandings that lead people to dislike or distrust others who aren't just like them? It's called ethnocentricity. I learned about it in psychology class. It's when people believe their own group is superior. It's the root of a lot of problems historically and of course today. It's weaponizing differences in an effort to cultivate an us versus them environment. Hate and rage are both very addictive emotions. So if you can get one group to hate another or more than another, it can be very galvanizing, albeit counterproductive to a healthy society. You only have to scan the comments and name calling on social media to see the damage. So I get on the Anti-Bias Task Force and after a few years, another member, Michelle Lynch, and I are elected co-chairs. All we want is to engage the community and raise the profile so it doesn't take another horrific event for people to know that the Anti-Bias Task Force exists. We hosted programs on implicit bias to understand we all have biases and how to reduce them. Programs celebrating Martin Luther King's legacy, honoring Holocaust remembrance, offering understanding about the asylum program, which is grossly misunderstood. Monthly events all in an effort to serve our town, to reduce the sometimes enormous gap between cultures and ideally to bring people together. I tell you all this to explain the backstory of the Riverhead Town Anti-Bias Task Force when it was living up to its mission, when the driving force was not optics, but opportunities to better understanding and greater appreciation of others, regardless of their appearances, heritages, or preferences. Shortly after an article where we were ironically criticized for being white, Democrat women, Michelle and I, three other women, and the man were unceremoniously cut. Our replacements pointed to a new, more conservative direction, serving on a group that would now be under the auspices of the town, rather than as it were. The group was originally independent, and it seems the group has now bent even farther in this new direction. Given that the once anti-bias task force is turning its back on or prohibited from speaking up for marginalized groups and communities, I suggest the group consider changing its name as it has changed its mission and purpose. When you live in a town as diverse. Two lines. When you live in a town as diverse as Riverhead, shouldn't you want to build a true sense of community? And when you pledge allegiance to liberty and justice for all, shouldn't you mean it? Thank you. Thank you for your comments. If there's anybody else that, yep, there we go. Is there anybody online? Just so I have a, okay, so we have a queue there. Hi, Alex Lipsky, Lipsky Construction, on behalf of the board of the Long Island Science Center. And Lucy Barnes on behalf of the Long Island Science Center. The board has asked me to speak on their behalf. First and foremost, thank you very much to each member of the board for your comments. We are still open to working with you and making this project successful. We were not aware of the process of adding communication to resolution for that we apologize. We did submit this morning digitally to the clerk's office. And I want to re-incitate that right now. We have all 90 pages printed out. And if I were to offer this to you, would you accept this? That's already been circulated if you're paying with my office. I got it already. Okay. It was circulated this morning. So was it sent out to the board this morning? Absolutely. Thank you very much, clerk, town clerk, sorry. If it was circulated and it was not read or acknowledged, which is what I heard from many of the prepared statements this morning, then we will always differ in opinion. If you will not accept this as written and confirmed documents, then we will always differ in opinion for the people that voted down on this. That's all I have. Is it possible that we could meet again on Thursday after you've all had time to read the proof of what you are saying that is missing? Because it's all here. We have the permits. We have the proof. We have the engineer's reports. And if you speak to your own engineers on the town square and your own architects on the town square, they'll tell you that we've been in constant communication with them and working with them. But it's, you know, it's a pretty dry and boring process. And if you guys had had any questions, you could have asked. And we're really, really happy to answer any questions at any time. I'll come every week and answer questions. But it might be a bit boring. But it's a lot of engineering. It's a lot of numbers right now. It's a lot of calculations. But we've been doing the work. We've been working so hard. And working with over four agencies within the town. And Joe Petrucelli, the people building the town square, we've been working with them every week. So I don't know really how the town board has got the idea that we haven't been. But we have the proof right here. And we'd love to share it with you. This is over five years' worth of work. Over $4 million in funding that has been raised. Again, the funding is there. The team is there. The permits are ready to be submitted in one month. We're working on the final details of that. The only thing in our way is this resolution. Let me ask you this. Does the, this resolu, you can, is there any reason why you can't continue to file your permits? From what I saw from the last resolution, we're just going to keep steaming forward. This does start the, I believe you're hiring an appraiser and an engineer and things to get in our way. But the building is still ours. We're still going to continue from what I understand. Good. Glad to hear that. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. I, the only comment I have to say to that is our loans are delicate. And what the town did today is going to disrupt the financial process. Yeah. I'm real curious about the timing of it for that reason. But thank you. One of our online. I'm not sure if you can hear me. Okay. Oh, thank you. I'm going to cue one of those people up. If anybody else in the room has a comment, if you'd like to come up to the podium, make your way. We'll also, we're going to take Ms. O'Brien right now. Oh, Jim, is that okay? Are you ready for it or do you want to wait? Where's Ms. O'Brien? Hi, can you hear me? If you can wait. Yeah, yeah, we sure can, Colleen. I just wanted to have the people in the room wait. Thanks for allowing me to speak again. I have three issues that I'm going to squeeze it in three minutes. I have three issues. The last one I'm going to save to last because I know there's going to be comments about it. Firstly, I would like to suggest, I do support Alive on 25, and I would like to suggest that the town establish a volunteer police auxiliary unit that would help us do traffic control, crowd control, cut down police costs at these public affairs. Contrary to what Mr. Rothwell says, $17,000 is a lot of money for police, for the young families in this town that are struggling. And I think that's a lot of money for the young families that are struggling to pay their mortgages and pay rent, feed their children. The second issue I'd like to bring up is, you say, Mr. Rothwell, you say that you have no control, you and the board members have no control over the property taxes in this town. I beg to differ with you. That is not what I said. I said we don't control assessments. Okay, let me continue, please. It is 46 years overdue that this town conduct a townwide property reassessment to get an accurate tax base to support our ever-growing budget and to help us avoid future unanticipated tax increases resulting for the payments of overpayments of taxes based on challenged tax abasement. You, as a town board, it's political poison, but it needs to be done. The time is now. The people. And this town deserves to have an accurate tax base. And, Mr. Halpin, you're always talking about the budget. We have a deficit. We need to close it. We need to get the tax base straightened out. No comments, I'm sure. Because it's up to you. It's up to you, Mr. Rothwell. You've probably been on there probably the longest on the board, am I correct? Yes. With Mr. Cohen. Yes, there you go. Lastly, Mr. Rothwell, this is directed. This is directed towards you. Relative to your pet project, the rink, when can the taxpayers expect to stop subsidizing the rink electric bills? Every 160,000 plus pennies will make a difference in closing the pending budget deficit that Mr. Halpin just mentioned. So the pro forma that was put out was an expectation between three to five years that the town is going to have a deficit. And the management would become profitable and that we would phase out having to pay for the electric costs. So you seem to not include the fact that the town received a $2.2 million gift from Pekanakake that cost no funding to the taxpayers. And we do cover a portion of the electric. I've always stood by that because I believe in the project just as well we go out and we cut grass on our baseball. We have a lot of field and we have building and grounds crews that beautify our parks all the time. Amenities in our town do cost money. But this was a plan that was put forth and they're doing a phenomenal job. It's being well received. The kids in our town absolutely love it. And we expect that very shortly they will be turning in a profit and we can slowly conclude having to put in there. In addition, we have solar going on our landfill. That's going to help with the electric costs as well. So there's a lot of things in the works. We're going to have to work to release any type of financial burden. But it is a great project and I stand by it. So thanks for letting me. Can I please respond to that? Like you have 10 seconds just because you're out of time. I'm sorry. Recently, can I address him please? Sure. We recently had a partial collapse at the rink. What's the remaining useful life on it and when it is no longer, viable because it collapses, a total collapse, then what happens? So the project engineering stated that it has a 25-year lifespan and we're only two years into it. So we had a remaining 23 years left and the structure was deemed by an independent engineering company that came in and looked at it. That was under the direction. I believe they reached out to the supervisor and we hired somebody. And there's, it is a strong, sturdy structure. It's just unique of the snow that came down on that particular time that stuck to it. But we're expecting in the next 23 years to have a great structure there at no cost. Again, the building was gifted to the town of Riverhead. Please remember that. I hope that you are correct. Thank you very much. Thank you, Miss O'Brien. All right. We're going to take somebody in the room next. If you could hold our next call, our next Zoom person. Well, one of you pick. There you go. All right. Thank you. John McAuliffe, Roanoke Landing. First, the slight amplification on the letter that I sent on what Mr. Wooten summarized. The point of the letter was discrimination against Irish immigrants being a motive for St. Patrick's Day, linking to the reason that there were two to 300 people in front of Town Hall as part of No Kings Day. Urging that the board. address seriously the OLA legislation and the larger problem of immigration and the treatment of migrants. Which brings me to the question of the Anti-discrimination task force. My experience in NGOs, non-governmental organizations, my understanding of corporate practice is when there is an accusation of racism, conflict in which racism is an issue, that the people who are involved in it step back and that there is an independent assessment made of the accuracy of the charge. That's because racism is one of the deepest problems within our culture and understanding what is and is not racism is not so simple. One of the comments that Ms. Merrifield made was deportation is not discrimination. Now assuming that's an accurate quote, well, that's a talking point for the Trump administration. In fact, if you follow the replacement theory arguments and you follow Stephen Miller's rhetoric, in fact deportation is discrimination and the fact that I'm not, you can have differences of opinion on that, but I think you have to understand why that would register as racist. To other people. And I think, while I understand what you're trying to do, Supervisor, I think that you need to step back a little and create an independent process to evaluate and Mr. McLaughlin should be part of that, not just the liaison. Finally, on the issue of
111, the property. Three of you use the terms eminent domain. There is nothing in the language of the resolution that you adopted that uses the term eminent domain. Is the implication of your adoption of that resolution that you are now going to proceed with eminent domain, or are you going to bring the question of eminent domain for a specific resolution and a public discussion about whether people in the community believe you're making the right move to use eminent domain against this property? Thank you. This would just be a preliminary resolution. As we did with the crafted building, we would have to hold a public hearing before proceeding with eminent domain. Okay, great. Thank you very much.
Dawn Zebrowski, River Road, Calverton. Yes. Thank you. It is ironic and absurd that each time I have come before you, I have willingly provided my name, and yet for months and months, you and Superintendent Zaleski have insisted upon masking the Highway Department's ugly poster children, Bucket Man, and Ryan Nameless. The existential crisis is real and ongoing. Am I boring you, Mr. Rothwell? Nonetheless, I would like to provide you with some of my existential credentials. I celebrated my 59th birthday last Wednesday. Fifty-seven. Fifty-seven of those years, I've been a resident of Riverhead Town, having come to Riverhead as a toddler from Southhold, where old Jewel Lane is named for my potato farmer grandfather, Julia Zebrowski, one of several generations of farmers on both sides. Rest in peace, old Jewel. I'm a product of Riverhead Central School District, beginning kindergarten at Riley Avenue Elementary. I took violin lessons with Jeannie Warner, Jimmy Warner's mom. Some of you may remember Jimmy Warner as the founder of the Jazz Festival. May he rest in peace. When I grew up, I would marry a man who, when not hauling corn and potatoes for other local farmers, would haul nursery stock for Jimmy and his dad, Audie. May Audie also rest in peace. But before that, I would pick peas, cut zuc, tie cauliflower, and pull corn for Lyle Wells, a local farmer remarkably patient with a teenager who struggled to keep pace with a recent Polish immigrant grandmother and her tween granddaughter in the blazing fields. May Lyle also rest in peace. I would play softball in Stotsky Park in the 80s. I probably made the pizza you ordered afterward at the historic Osborne Inn. Ronnie Zelnicki always ordered two onion bar pies, one to be consumed at the bar, the other to be taken home to his mom, Mrs. Zelnicki. May she also rest. Perhaps you have fond memories of prime rib on the special board at the Oakwood Inn. From this venerated establishment, another immigrant, beloved Irish entrepreneur Bridget Reynolds provided the local population delicious, affordable, farm-to-table cuisine decades before it became an expensive trend. When Billy Berezny showed up at the kitchen door with a crate of freshly picked produce destined for the dining room, it was beer o'clock because dusty, sweaty farmers were never subject to a dress code at the Oakwood. May Bridget also rest. My husband and I would go on to operate a commercial freight hauling business in this town explicitly tied to the local farming economy. Our first truck, a well-worn Western Star, was purchased from Tony Donseski. So in addition to paying exorbitant property taxes, we have purchased goods and services, parts and fuel, and employed drivers in this town. We roll our eyes every time Superintendent Zelnicki beats his chest about his 32 years of experience. We have more miles going backward than he has going forward. I have history with and deep affection for this town. Wherever I travel, whether domestically or abroad, I cannot wait to get home to Calverton. So you will forgive my insistence that you have to go to Calverton. I have a lot of work to do. [transcription gap] waiting, sir?
Mr. Hariri, can you hear us? Yes, Ron Hariri of Aquabog. Riverhead is the poorest and among the most taxed towns on all of Long Island and indeed all of New York State. Assessor Tenenbaum's multi-million dollar screw-ups have been the subject of articles in the New York Post including a recent one saying we taxpayers are getting well, I won't use that word. Maybe it's because I'm from Queens also and maybe it's because I enjoyed The Apprentice but why isn't someone who is consistently screwed up who courts have consistently found have misapplied the law still employed? And another point I'd like to address because Councilwoman Merrickfield addressed the financial challenges the Science Center has faced. You have a master developer who failed to provide public assessment of its financials contrary to the town's own rules. So again, I think you attacking the hardworking volunteers of the Science Center desperately trying to raise funds to support something that would benefit the town like the pot calling the kettle black. And another, you know, the other points that I'd like to raise because I've asked for this information and the supervisor indicated you were involved in the collapse of the town hockey rink. Why isn't there a final certificate of occupancy? How is that structure deficient preventing the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy? And I want to compliment Councilman Kern suggesting the submission by the Science Center be presented to the press because I'm sure, I'm sure the next headline in the New York Post and elsewhere will be bankrupt town spends millions of dollars to give away property to major donors. Thank you for your continued interest. Thank you for your comments, Mr. I believe we have somebody. Hi, everybody. John Radigan, Riverhead Councilwoman. You are correct. It is Celtic. Top of the afternoon. Thank you. You know something. Yeah. I'm sorry.
In regards to comments made here by those online about our hockey rink, our taxpayers have the right to question how their tax dollars are spent. I have no issue with that. My issue is when comments are made such as pet project, meaning that, you know, councilman, you're just there every day. In fact, you know, there's a body double of you right now that's getting in, in, you know, Herbie's at the hockey rink.
It's being used by kids of our town, you know, constantly, you know, who wouldn't have anything to do. You know, it's not being used by, you know, country club guys from Southampton. They have their own rink. You know, if you're going to come here and make these charges, be accurate. You know, I know one who makes these charges usually, you know, has Esquire after his name. Please don't betray your education by making comments like that. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Anybody else online? Nope. Nobody else online? Anybody else in the room? All right. If you please make your way around.
Hi, Kimberly Judd, Riverhead. I just wanted to invite the town board to attend the banner installation for the veteran banners. Mr. Councilman Rothwell has been our liaison for a few years now, and it was in the past there would only be three or four of us putting 100 banners up and down before the start of Memorial Day weekend and taking them down on Veterans Day. And this year, Riverhead Rotary is going to be assisting us. So if you don't have anything to do on Saturday, April 18th. At 10 a.m. We're meeting here. Mr. Rothwell is going to open the building so we can get the banners, bring a pair of work gloves. If you have a ladder, that would be great because you have to somebody like me. I'm height impaired. Ken doesn't have to step up too far and join us. We'll have a lot of people there and we'd love to see you. Thank you so much. Kim, you and Tom and Kerry. You guys just. Do a phenomenal job. Marge has joined us. I don't foresee her being on a ladder, but she is a great aspect. You know, help too. But it's a great committee. It's great. Yes, I don't go up on the ladder. Usually I hand the banner to Ken and he screws it up and I record it. So we're going to need a little bit more help this year because when we put up the banners, they'll be going up, as you said, on April 18th for they'll remain there for Memorial Day. So we'll have a little bit more help this weekend. And then a little bit after that, those banners, they're all going to need to come down because we do have a banner program for the 250th anniversary of our nation. So they'll be selling banners to individuals and businesses. So they'll go up for a period of time and then they'll have to come down and we'll need to put our veterans banners back up for Veterans Day coming up. You know, in the November. Do we have new ones this year? I. We have no additional new ones, but the contestant building the grounds is doing great. We've added some brackets over into the Polish Town area. We're going to have some down by the Wading River Duck Ponds. We currently do also have them in Jamesport. And so in addition to Main Street. And you're with Polish Town, correct? So we are with Polish Towns and so we're we're growing. So, you know, what was originally just the Main Street project, we ran out of room on Main Street. And so we'll be reaching out to some of the people who purchase banners that are in Wading River. wherever if they'd like theirs to be moved locally down by the duck ponds. So we're spreading out, and we're doing great. Yeah, we started off with 20 banners the first year, and now we have like 120. Yeah, a little bit more. You combined them all. Great work. We'd love to see you. Absolutely. Thank you for pointing that out. Kim, I'd just like to let everybody know, thank you again for the Half Shell Habitat and everything the Rotary Club does with that. You're fantastic with all your volunteerism in the town. I very much appreciate it. Yes, I have a question, but it's another time I'll ask you. I want to wait for you, too. But just to let everybody know, we're going to have a site visit from SeaTuck. That's going to be interesting in May. Cornell. Cornell Cooperative is going to join us. Great. Thank you again for your work and the Rotary Club's work with helping the town. Thank you. Tim, did you have a question for Councilman Rothwell? I just wanted to know exactly what's involved with these banners. I know they slide on. Is there a drill involved? No, at this point, most of them are just manuals so we don't over-tighten them. There's just a ball at the end of it that unscrews both sides. The banner just slides on evenly. Something I could do. Something you could do. We have one online. If you want to pull that person up online where they're talking, that'd be... And I've seen you on Ladder's painting out on Main Street. Yeah, I know. If you give me one second, we're going to take the person online real fast. Thanks, Marge. Hello, everybody. Can you hear me? This is Jordan Rogoff from DXA. Are you the architect for the Science Center? Are you able to hear me? Yes, we can hear you, sir. Okay. Well, thanks so much. I apologize. I'm traveling today and I missed the earlier opportunity to speak with my team. I just wanted to take a moment to thank the board for the confidence over the past year. I know we got close to where we are today last year and were afforded additional time. And I just wanted to state that that time we have not been sitting on our hands. We have been actively engaging the continuous sites for issues that were brought up such as water mitigation and coordination of stormwater drainage, all of that stuff. This site is quite unique in that it requires a collaboration with no fewer than five other sites. Our studio is also working on East End. And is in the same boat with that project. That before we can file a site plan, we actually need to understand how everything is working on all of these different sites. So I've been a part of a lot of these very large-scale projects like the first phase of the High Line in Manhattan, Prudential Center in New Jersey, and then a project called the Stacks down in Washington, D.C., which is about 12 buildings. It gets very complicated. What seems like it should be something very fast, quick to file. It is far from that. Like understanding all of the grades, all the issues with the other sites, how they're being approached requires a tremendous amount of coordination. So I just want to reiterate that we have been working diligently. And I hope that that package that Lucy and Alex shared, that you take an opportunity to take a look at that and understand just how much we've done and how close we are to really, you know, being able to move forward with that. I also want to state that the smaller footprint that we discussed is really just the phase one, opening the door as quickly as possible. And while it is in alignment with what we said a year ago, we are much, much closer, having done all of the diligence and coordination, and just ask that you give us an opportunity to move this forward. The Long Island Science Center has been a member of the community there for 30 years. And I have no doubt in my mind, doing what I do, that they are the right tenant for this spot. And I really hope for an opportunity to work with you to show you that this is the case. But again, I want to reiterate, we have done a tremendous amount of work. And the $4 million worth of funding is viable. And we hope to continue this project. Thank you for your time. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your comments. Mrs. Sweet, would you like to come up? One more in-house. Currently? They saved the best for last.
Good afternoon. Marjorie Acevedo, Wading River. I'm speaking on behalf of, as a resident, I guess. I want you to know that I've known Dick Amper for over 40 years. I started with Dick Amper as a, I was his travel agent, believe it or not, many years ago. And when I got involved in government, he said to me, make sure you keep a journal. He said, it's the most important thing you'll ever have. Well, I didn't take Dick's advice, but I followed him very closely in his environmental career. Because when he started his environmental career, he came to me. I was working in the Congressional office. And he said to me, I have a problem. He said, they want to build condominiums around Lake Panamoca, and I don't want them. So I said, well, Dick, and I was on an environmental committee at the time, actually, with Fred Thiel. And I said, find an endangered species. Just kidding, I said that. Well, Dick found an endangered species, the tiger salamander. And hence started the career of Dick Amper as our environmental, as Joe Janaskowski, the director of the National Center for Environmental and Environmental Affairs, he called him an environmental terrorist, because he just started the world known as Dick Amper's Pine Barren Society. So I'm going to read an article to you, which I think really this town, and I think all of Suffolk County owes him a tribute for all that he's done for us, and the environmental aspect of Suffolk County. It's an article by Michael Doby, and I really want to read it. I'm going to read it into the record so that we have a copy of it. I think it's important. It's a news day, but I think people might have just glanced over it. Death demands reflection and introspection. And so I found myself thinking quite a bit this past week about the passing of Dick Amper. Dick was 81 when he died Monday, was one of the Long Island's most environmentalists, a man who brought to his work a seemingly boundless energy. His long and admirable record of accomplishment was highlighted by his work to protect and preserve our precious Pine Barrens, and his decade-long tenure as executive director of Long Island Pine Barren Society. Every movement needs a megaphone, and he was a megaphone. For one region's nature, he made quite a
chronicle and champion of environmental causes throughout my career as a journalist. And still Dick had no hesitation in letting me know bluntly if I missed some point or was not passionate enough in my efforts at persuasion. Usually he was right. His loud and relentless advocacy paired well with the efforts of some of his peers in the Clean Water Fight, people like Adrian Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Bob DeLuca of Group for the East End, Kevin McDonald of the Nature Conservancy, and John Turner, co-founder of the Pine Barren Society. They were just as tireless but worked the corners, using nudges instead of elbows. It was an effective partnership, a riff on the good cop, bad cop routine. And our region is much better for it. But there is another perhaps more crucial element to an appreciation of Ampers' life work. His passion should remind us that for all the attention we pay our political leaders and their undeniable importance in setting a tone, making sure things run correctly, and determining our quality of life. Equally vital are the admirable contributions of his work. I am very grateful to him. I think he made quite ahead of the for change that is overdue and make sure the promises are kept. They do what the rest of us cannot or will not or cannot do, even though we would be among the first people to notice the diminishment of the life on Long Island if it were not for these efforts. Their passion in our life's blood and our welfare is enhanced on their work. That certainly was and still is true for Amper and his colleagues in the clean water fight, especially in Suffolk County with its vast, unscrupulous spaces. But it is equally true for a host of other environmental issues for people struggling with substance abuse and addiction, homelessness or mental health issues for our veterans also. In all of these cases. Mark, can I just ask how much more you have? Yes. Just two more little paragraphs. In all of these cases, the work done by advocates is essential. As the story goes, Amper was running a public relations firm in the 80s when some environmentalist asked whether he could help them in their efforts to protect the Pine Barrens from development. He dipped his toes in those waters, then dove in for a lifetime. It is true, as Jean-Pierre Sautere wrote, that a person is nothing else but the sum of their actions. People like Dick Amper and his colleagues are a blazing reminder of the importance of getting involved. They show us every day that the change we need is often within us. I read this only because I think every one of us had an interaction with Dick Amper at one time, whether it be good or bad. And I have to tell you, Dick, when he put his name on the board, he was a great man. When he made a be read because I don't think there was enough acknowledgement about all the great things that I did over the years thank you that said I don't think we have any more open comments during this time and if that's the case I like just have a motion to close our meeting so move oh oh yeah all in favor all right close thank you and have a great day
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