HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB-03/31/1998 9
SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD
MARCH 31, 1998
WORK SESSION
Present: Supervisor Jean W. Cochran, Councilwoman Alice J. Hussie,
Councilman William D. Moore, Justice Louisa P. Evans, councilman John M.
Romanelli, Councilman Brian G. Murphy, Town Clerk Elizabeth A. Neville,
Town Attorney Laury L. Dowd.
9:10 A.M. - The Town Board met with Valerie Scopaz, Town Planner to
discuss the Ground Watershed Protection and Water Supply Management
Strategy. The Planning Board feels that the planning should be conducted
by a separate group. Ms. Scopaz recommends that Suffolk County
Department of Planning for this task. The first part or phase of the
contract is to prepare the factual information or text. The second part
will be to prepare supporting documentation for policies and draft
legislation to implement specific recommendations of the product and
management plan. Justice Louisa Evans questioned the fee, she said that
they had done something similar and were not charged. Supervisor Cochran
said that the Suffolk County Planning Department is now told by the
Legislature that they must recapture some of their expenses. Two
resolutions were added (V. 17. 8 18) requesting the assistance - of the
Suffolk County Planning Dept, entering into and authorizing the Supervisor
to sign the agreement for these services.
9:25 A.M.- The Town Board met with Gerard Goehringer, Chairman of
the
Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Goehringer advised that the Appeals
Board has been very busy and they have been doubling up on meetings and
is finding it necessary to have the Fishers Island member present at more
meetings. The Board discussed the philosophy of Section 242,
Non-Conforming Buildings and Non-Conforming Uses. Edward Forrester,
Building Department Head said they are running. into the homeowners
bulldozing their houses because they want a new house. It is getting into
voluntary verses involuntary destruction. This is' another philosophy issue
that the Town Board will address at their retreat.
9:45 A.M. - The . Town Board met with Tom Maher and Ed Riley of
Dvirka 8 Bartlucci to discuss the Landfill Closure Plan. Unfortunately,
the DEC was not able to attend today. They discussed the southeast
corner of he property for a re-charge basin, near the scalehouse. If
more is needed, there could be a second one near the entrance. The
setback is twenty-five feet off the property line for a re-charge basin.
Johanna Northam asked if this type of washboard closure has ever been
done before, and if so, can we get information on it. Councilwoman Alice
Hussie said 'yes that it has been done upstate New York. A seismic
analysis must be done to provide allowance for earthquakes since Long
Island is near a fault. Swales must be added to provide for drainage.
The Lilco tower will have to be checked out. Mr. Maher asked the
Board about what use they proposed for the plateau. If there is any use
proposed, the cover will be very costly. The Board said that there :will
not be any use of the plateau. It is proposed to put the Ag Bag System
in the old sand pit. The Dec will require a letter confirming the use of
the borrow pit, it will have to pitch to the south. Councilwoman Hussie
said that a lot of the preliminary work has already been done. It was not
clear whether the deadline was July 1st or 15th to present the final
plan to the DEC. Tom Maher asked that meeting be set-up with the
Town representatives and Dec representatives Tony Cava and Melissa
Treers from Albany before finalizing the closure plan with a follow-up
letter confirming everything. Councilwoman Hussie asked Tom Maher
about pipes. Mr. Maher said that they will avoid pipes at all costs.
200 MARCH 31 , 1998
10:40 A.M. to 10:50 A.M. - The Town Board took a short break.
10:55 A.M. - Gary Vegliante of Power Alternatives presented the Board
with a Summary Report on the creation of a municipal- electric utility. The
following Long Island villages have passed referendums for creating their
own electric utilities: Farmingdale, Lynbrook, and Hempstead. These
villages will be contacted to see if they also did gas along with the
electric. Another meeting of at least an hour will be necessary to lay out
the plan on this. The referendum must take place before the
LI PAMI LCO settlement.
11 :00 A.M. - Neboysha Brashich and the Scenic Byways Committee,
together with Ernie Hutton of Hutton 8 Associates and Ken Bowers of
Ferrandino E Associates, Inc. appeared before the Town Board to give an
update report. They have received a $55,000.00 grant from New York
State to develop a scenic byway management plan. This is a pilot program
for which the State is looking to the Town of Southold to develop a model
plan for the entire state. Mr. Hutton presented a scenic corridors map
describing the entire town. The two main roads being Routes 25 and 48
and five local roads: New Suffolk Road, Bayview Road, Soundview
Road, Oregon Road, and Narrow River Road. The public forum is
scheduled for the end of April.
11:55 A.M. - The Board discussed IV For Discussion Items. IV 1 . Grants
will be discussed later on. IV 2. Scavenger Waste Plant employee transfer -
title will be checked with civil service. IV 3. Re-appointment of Landmark
Preservation members (See Resolution No. 19). IV. 4. Amendment of
Section 65-3 of Town Code "Parking At Beaches" to enable marine
recreational facilities to purchase parking permits for biking, fishing, and
kayaking visitors (See Resolution 22.)
12:15 P.M.- 12:30 P.M. - The Board reviewed resolutions to be voted upon
at the regular meeting.
12:30 P.M. - The Board recessed for lunch and will reconvene at 1 :30. P.M.
1 :30 ; P.M. - The Board reconvened and discussed IV 1 . 1998 Grants. (See
Resolution No. 21 .) It was agreed that this will be the last year of this
grants allocation project and letters will be sent together with the checks
so advising the organizations.
2:35 P.M. - On Motion by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Councilwoman
Hussie it was RESOLVED that the Town Board enter into Executive
Session to Litigation, Acquisition of Property, Negotiations, and Leases.
Resolutions Numbers 20 and 24 were added onto the agenda as a result of
discussions held.
3:53 P.M. - The work session was adjourned.
201
REGULAR MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Southold Town Board was held on March
31, 1998, at. the Southold Town Hall, Main Road, Southold, New York.
Supervisor Cochran opened the meeting at 7:30 P.M. with the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
Present: Supervisor Jean W. Cochran
Councilwoman Alice J. Hussie
Justice Louisa P. Evans
Councilman William D. Moore
Councilman John M. Romanelli
Councilman Brian G. Murphy
Town Clerk Elizabeth A. Neville
Town Attorney Laury L. Dowd
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: A motion to approve the audit of bills March 31,
1998?
Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the following bills be and hereby are ordered paid:
General Fund Whole Town bills in the amount of $78,792.12; General Fund
Part Town bills in the amount 'of $2,821 .97; Highway Fund Whole Town bills
in the amount of $3,370.76; Highway Fund Part Town bills in the amount of
$2,297.50; Capital Projects Account bills in the amount of $4,705.00; Ag
Land Development Rights bills in the amount of $117,977.00; Landfill Cap
and Closure bills in the ,amount of $7,604.84; Computer System Upgrade
bills in the amount of $3,649.81; Seaview Trails Capital Fund bills in the
amount of $484.88; Employee Health Benefit Plan bills in the amount of
$26,920.26 Fishers Island Ferry District bills in the amount of $16,832.77;
Refuse and Garbage District bills in the amount of $6,138.99; Southold
Wastewater District bills in the amount of $4,633.70; Fishers Island Sewer
District bills in the amount of $543.34; Southold Agency and Trust bills in
the amount of $8,428.13; Fishers Island Ferry District Agency and Trust
bills in the amount of $136.17.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was. duly ADOPTED.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Approval of minutes of March 17, 1998, Town
Board meeting?
Moved by Councilman Moore, seconded by Councilman Romanelli, it was
RESOLVED that the minutes of March 17, 1999, Town Board meeting, and
the March 18, 1998, Special Town Board meeting be and hereby are
approved.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: To set the date of the next Town Board meeting,
April 14, 1998, at 4:30 P.M.
Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the next meeting of the Southold Town Board will be held
at 4:30 P.M., Thursday, April 14, 1998, at the Southold Town Hall,.
Southold, New York.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
202 MARCH 31 , 1998
I. REPORTS.
1 . Southold Town Police Department Monthly Report for February, 1998.
II . PUBLIC NOTICES.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: In relation to Public Notices I would like to call
your attention to the listing of the Spring Leaf and Brush Cleanup that the
Superintendent of Highways, Mr. Jacobs, provides, and Orient to Truman's
Beach is April 20th, Truman's Beach to Moore's Lane is April 21st,
Moore's Land to South Harbor Lane in Southold is April 22nd, South
Harbor Lane to New Suffolk and Nassau Point to Alvah's Lane in
Cutchogue is April 23rd, Alvah's Lane to Mattituck to - Laurel Lane,
Laurel is April 24th, so that brush and clippings have already been put
out in front of your houses, but please pay attention to the dates. It
makes the job of the Highway Department easier if it is out there the first
time they go through. So, I just want to call your attention to that. There
was several other public notices in relation to the U.S. Corp of Engineers.
1 . Southold Town Superintendent of Highways Notice of Spring Leaf and
Brush Clean-up.,
2. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Notice of
Complete Application of Cove Condominiums Homeowners Association for a
permit to dredge with ten years maintenance and subsequent upland
disposal in Corey Creek, Littel Peconic Bay, Town of Southold, Written
comments to be received by April 14, 1998.
3. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division
of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Notice of Application of Alex
Villani for property aquaculture activity involving the culture of
shellfish on less than a five acre parcel of State underwater land in Long
Island Sound, Mattituck, Southold. Written comments by May 8, 1998.
Ill. COMMUNICATIONS.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: We had a letter from Geri Woodhouse, she is
Executive Director of Retreat, and it was a farewell kind of letter. She is
moving on evidently.
1 . Geri Woodhouse, Executive Director of The Retreat to Supervisor
Cochran.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS. None.
V. RESOLUTIONS.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: As you. know the Town Board has a policy that if
you would like to address the Town Board on any of the printed
resolutions, that you have the opportunity now. If it is something that is
not on as a resolution at the end of meeting there is time to address the
Board on any Town business, that you would like to share with us. At
this time, if there are any questions in relation to any of the resolutions
I certainly will entertain them now.
JOE GOLD: Joe Gold, Cutchogue. I have a questions about the resolutions.
have questions on what the resolutions mean. Resolution 16, authorizing
and directing the Supervisor to execute an agreement with Dennis
Bannon. What does it mean?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: This officer is retiring, and the agreement, I
believe, that we executed was to allow him to receive his payment, his
payout. I believe he has opted to do it over several years rather than one
year, or take it all now, which kind of benefits us in a way, Joe.
JOE GOLD: The other one is resolution 20, purchasing property on Main
Road, and demolishing it.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That is the property here. I shared that with
you, I think, at the last Board meeting on the corner. We would like to
acquire that.
MARCH 31 , 1998 203
JOE GOLD: The house next door here?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Yes. To square off the property. Most people
feel it is a good business move. If in the future the Town Hall has to
expand, and they decide here they would at least have the land to do so.
JOE GOLD: Number 23, 1 was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to
sit in on the Work Session while the report on the municipal electric
studies was being made, and I really envy the Board, because you have an
exciting opportunity here. It sounded to me like a win-win, no risk, can't
lose proposition, and applaud the Board for getting it on the agenda
immediately here.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you. What this will do, Joe, is to start
the process to enable us to get enough information as we can to share with
the community at large. I believe it will go to a referendum, and will be
their decision, but meanwhile we feel it is very important that we can
collect as much data, costs, everything, and this resolution allows . us to
start that process. So I am asking the public at large to, please be patient
until we are able to gather all the information, and we can go in a
direction.
JOE GOLD: The report that was handed out, will there be copies of that
made available to the public?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Yes. It is public information.
JOE GOLD:: One last thing, I would like to applaud Councilperson
Hussie's determination. You have been in on this for more than ten
years, that I know of, and without that determination and persistence it
wouldn't be happening, and the time is now, because of the change in the
regulatory climate, and the change in technology. There is stuff coming
up, the microturbines, and the fuel cells, that are going to make it. a whole
new ball game. I applaud you getting us into it. Thank you.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Anyone else like to address the Town Board?
Mr. Carlin?
FRANK CARLIN: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Number 12,
information center? You talked about it a year ago. What was delay?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Frank, the grant that we got was $25,000, and
we had hopes to be able to put together, and get a bid that would give us
a half way decent building for $25,000. We sent it out twice, and we still
had to cut it down. What we have now, we are working with is that is very
similar to the size that is now there. So, we are hoping that at this
juncture that a bid will come in at the $25,000 mark, and we can get it
built. We would like to have it ready before summer.
FRANK CARLIN: You can't build very much for $25,000.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I know that.
FRANK CARLIN: The one that we have in Laurel there, that was back in
'86, that was 'over $30,000 then.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That was about $35,000.
FRANK CARLIN: $35,000, and the Town Highway put in the cesspools, and
that wasn't included.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: We did some in kind services. We will be doing
some here too probably.
FRANK CARLIN: I mentioned to you a year ago, and you said this
$25,000. It is going to be more than $25,000, and then you got your bids
out, it came back around $40,000.
. 2 O 4 MARCH 31 , 1998
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I did mention it to the Mayor of Greenport,
because they benefit from it more than we do actually, to work some kind
of a partnership. We haven't met with them yet, so I don't really have a
solid response to that, but we are going to do the best we can.
FRANK CARLIN: You will have to go some, though, to get that done
before summer. It is kind of a hard time to start, but late is better than
never. Number 23, number 23 seems to be the lucky number tonight.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: I know you are going to talk to me, Mr. Carlin,
right?
FRANK CARLIN: Well, you are part of the Board. What I wanted to say
is that I remember 1986 we had a referendum on that. It was voted down,
but anyway.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I don't think it ever got to referendum, did it?
FRANK CARLIN: Yes, we did.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: It was not quite 213.
FRANK CARLIN: Two hundred thirty was voted down in 1986. Only thing
I want to say . tonight is, do what you got to do; because when LIPA
takes over we will have a rough time getting your utility company in here.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like
to address the Board on any of the printed resolutions? (No response.)
Number one?
1 .-Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby "modifies
the General Fund Whole Town 1998 budget as follows:
To:
A.1910.4.300.200 Insurance, C.E.
Public Officials $ 708.00
A.1910.4.300.400 Insurance, C.E.
Police Professional 117.00
A.1910.4.300.600 Insurance, C.E.
Umbrella 3,000.00
From:
A.1910.4.300.700 Insurance, C.E.
Deductibles & Small Claims 3,825.00 ..�'
1 .-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
2.-Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby grants
permission to the Southold Town Tree Committee to place advertisements in
The Suffolk Times and The Traveler Watchman to promote their Memorial
Tree Committee Program; said cost not to exceed $750.00.
2.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
3.-Moved by Councilman Moore, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby
authorizes and directs Supervisor Jean W. Cochran to execute a lease
agreement between Sprint Spectrum L.P. of Mahwah, New Jersey and the
Town of Southold for the installation of a 140 foot monopole, removal of old
existing 90 foot lattice tower, and placement of Police .Department's
antennas on the new structure, at Police Department Site, Main Road,
Peconic, at a rental fee, of $2,000.00 per month, for a term of twenty five.
(25) years . with a 3% increase per annum, all in accordance with the
approval of the Town Attorney.
r�,F RCH 31 , 1998 205
3.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
4.-Moved by Councilwoman Hussie. seconded by Councilman Romanelli, it was '
RESOLVED that the Town , Board of the Town of Southold hereby grants
permission to Marilyn Quintana, Receiver of Taxes, Scott Russell,
Assessor, Claire Glew, Senior Assessment Assistant, and John
Sepenoski, Data Processing Equipment Operator to attend a eastern five
town meeting with Suffolk County Treasurer John Cochran, at his
Riverhead Office, to discuss information stored on computers which they
might be able to incorporate into future computer modifications, and
necessary expenses for travel be a legal charge to the Receiver of Taxes,
Assessors, and Data Processing Departments 1998 budgets.
4;-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
5.-Moved by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby, accepts
the resignation of Karen E. McNeil, part-time Clerk Typist in the Town
Clerk's Office, effective March 31, 1998.
5.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
6.-Moved by Councilwoman Hussie, seconded by Justice Evans, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby'
authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to advertise for a part-time Clerk
Typist for the Town Clerk's Office, 17 1/2 hours' per week, at a salary of
$6.82 per hour.
6.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
7.-Moved by Justice Evans, seconded. by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby grants
permission to Deputy Town Clerk Linda J. Cooper to attend a New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation Seminar on new and.
proposed changes for 1998-99 conservation licensing, to be held at' Stony
Brook, N.Y., on Tuesday, April 14, 1998 from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.,
and the necessary expenses for a meal and travel shall be a legal change to
the Town Clerk's 1998 budget.
7.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
8.-Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Justice Evans, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Should hereby waives the
fees for Alarm Permits for the Volunteer Fire Department Station Houses in
Southold Town.
8.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
1,19.-Moved' by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby appoints
the following individuals as part-time Matrons to assist the Southold Town
Police Department, effective immediately, at a salary of $9.76 per hour:
Nancy Carman, and Mary H. Ciupryk.
9.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
206 NhARC:H 31 , 1998
10.-Moved by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby
authorizes Venetia McKeighan, Director of the Southold Town Human
Services Department to coordinate together with various service
organizations, the transportation of town residents to receive medical
treatments at out of town medical facilities within Suffolk and Nassau
Counties,' using a town van.dr.iven by volunteers from the community.
10.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
i
11 .-Moved by Councilwoman Hussie, seconded by Justice Evans, it was
RESOLVED that .the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby accepts
the resignation of Alexander R. Nyilas from the Southold Town Scenic
Byways Advisory Committee,- effective March 31, 1998.
II .-Vote of the , Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli., Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
12.-Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilwoman Hussie, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby
authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to re-advertise. for bids for the
construction of a Tourist Information Booth at S. Wentworth Horton
Memorial Park, New York State Route 25, New York.
12.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman . Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, .Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
13.-Moved by Councilwoman Hussie, seconded by Justice Evans,
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 93-26 was passed by New York State Assembly
on March 2, 1998; and
WHEREAS, one of the purposes of said bill is to add additional members
to the Health Research Science Board, which board will oversee distribution
of taxpayer funding for breast cancer and prostate cancer-related projects;
and
WHEREAS, the intent of said bill is in part to include breast cancer
activists as voting members of said board, now therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold supports the
passage of this bill; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Town of Southold strongly fins that a voting East
End representative should be appointed to the Health Research Science
Board in the event that said bill becomes law.
The Town Clerk is hereby directed to send certified copies of this
resolution to all State and County representatives.
13.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
14.-Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Councilman Moore,
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Town Board of the town of Southold to
preserve prime agricultural soils and to protect the scenic, open space
character of the Town; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Southold has taken actions to clearly define,
delineate and implement this policy of land preservation by acquiring
various parcels through the Farmland and Open Space Programs, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town. of Southold realizes the value of
nurturing and protecting the quality of life for its residents; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby transmit.
to Suffolk County Legislator Michael J. Caracciolo to present to the
Suffolk County Legislature, the Arshamomaque properties and the Dam Pond
property as candidates for open space acquisition ultimately to be acquired-
through the Suffolk County partnership Program.
.14.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,.
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution'was duly ADOPTED.
MARCH 207
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I think this is a very appropriate moment to
announce that the Town of Southold today received a grant in the amount
of $337,500 towards the acquisition of farmland rights. So, this is a nice
piece of change to add to our bond money, and we certainly will continue
purchasing farmland development rights to help preserve our open space.
The ` resolution we just passed in relation to Michael Caracciolo, County
Executive Gaffney, his partnership program for buying land, the first step
is sending a resolution to our County Legislator, Mike Caracciolo, and then
he send a resolution to the Suffolk County Legislature, and then we will be
in the hopper to become a part of the partnership program with County
funding. It is a matching program.
15.-Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilman Murphy,
WHEREAS,there was presented to the Town Board of the Town of
Southold, on the 31st day of March, 1998, "A Local Law in Relation to A
Stop Sign at Willow Pond Lane"; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby sets 5:00
P.M., Tuesday, April 14, 1998, Southold Town Hall, 53095 Main Road,
Southold, New York, as time and place for a public hearing on this Local
.Law, which reads as follows:
A Local Law in Relation to a Stop Sign at Willow Pond Lane
BE IT ENACTED, by the Town Board of the Town of Southold as follows:
I . Chapter 92 (Vehicles E Traffic) of the Code of the Town of Southold is
hereby amended as follows:
1 . Article III, Section 92-30 (Stop intersections with stop signs) is
hereby amended by adding the following:
Stop Direction At Inter- Location
Sign on of Travel section With Hamlet
Willow Pond Lane West Clearview Avenue Southold
II. This Local Law shall take effect upon its filing with the Secretary of
State.
*Underline represents additions.
15.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
16.-Moved by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Councilman Murphy, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby
authorizes and directs Supervisor Jean W. Cochran to execute an agreement
between the Town of Southold and Dennis Bannon, retired Police Officer,
whereby Mr. Bannon is entitled to be compensated in the amount of
$38,666.51 and will receive compensation in biweekly payments all in
accordance with agreement as prepared by the Town Attorney.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I stand corrected. I thought he had opted for
taking it over several years, but the way he is taking it is as if he was
still working, like a legal pay check but he won't be on the job. 1 , stand
corrected.
16.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
17.-Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Justice Evans,
WHEREAS, the Town Board of. the Town of Southold is seeking to adopt
an action strategy to protect and preserve watershed areas of the town in
order to insure pure drinking water for its residents, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board also is seeking to set the parameters for the
future distribution of public water supplies, and
WHEREAS, the Town desires to avail itself of planning assistance from
the Suffolk County Planning Department, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section C-14 of the Suffolk County Charter,
towns may request assistance for such purposes from the Suffolk County
Planning Commission, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby requests
the assistance of the Suffolk County Planning Commission in the provision
of professional planning services to be provided by the Suffolk County'
Planning Department, and be it
208 iV,. RCH 31 , 1998
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board shall provide payment for
said services in accordance with a scope of services to be agreed upon by
the Town of Southold and the Suffolk County Planning Department.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I would just like to take a moment to explain this
a little bit. As you may or may not be. aware, the Suffolk County Water
Authority gave a grant to the Town of Southold in the amount of $75,000
either in money or in kind services. Part of that entire strategy in
relation for planning for Southold is to bring together the Water Authority,,
ourselves, and part of that was also to bring together the Suffolk County
Planning Commission with Steve Jones, and so forth. So, this is putting in
place things that we already are receiving the grant money for.
17.-Vote of the. Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, -Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
18.-Moved by Councilwoman Hussie, seconded by Councilman Romanelli,
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Southold pursuant to Section
C-14 of the Suffolk County Charter has requested the assistant of the
Suffolk County . Planning Department in the provision of professional
planning services to the Town in the pursuit of an action strategy for the
protection of the watershed areas of the town to provide for pure drinking
water for the present and future residents of the town, and
WHEREAS, the Suffolk County Planning Department has agreed to
provide such services to the Town of Southold for' a cost not to exceed
twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) and
WHEREAS,. the Town of Southold can realize significant cost savings to
its taxpayers by availing itself of the Suffolk County Geographical
Information System (GIS) and the current and past work of the County
Planning Department relating to the Peconic Estuary Plan (PEP), the Long
Island Sound Study, and the Special Groundwater Protection Area (SGPA)
Plan, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby agrees
to pay to Suffolk County a sum not to exceed twenty thousand ($20,000.00)
for the provision of professional planning services in accordance with the
attached Scope of..Services (Exhibit "A"), and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold
hereby authorizes and directs .Supervisor Jean W. Cochran to execute said
agreement between the Town of Southold and the Suffolk County Planning
Department, all in accordance with the approval of the Town Attorney.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: Before I vote on this, one thing that I was pleased
to see in this, is we have loaded down our Planning staff with lots of
projects, and by going out of the Town's Planning staff, one, we are not
hiring staff members and employees for the Town, we are reaching out to
existing planners and department that is there, and already has GIS
Systems in place. The second thing, which I liked when I saw the
agreement that was put together was that this includes not only a plan,
which will not just be on the shelf, but the work includes implementing,
and putting it in the legislation, that has to be put in place to execute
the plan, so I was very happy to see that. I am happy to vote, yes, on
that.
18.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman..
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
19.-Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilman Murphy, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby
reappoints the following individuals to the Southold Town Landmark
Preservation Commission, - for a term of two (2) years, effecti,!e April 5,
1998 through April 5, 2000, they to serve without compensation: John C.
Cronin,. Jr.,John B. Greene, Robert G. Kassner and Ralph O.
Williams.
19.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED..
a?�AF.GN 31 1998 209
20.-Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Councilman Romanelli,
WHEREAS, the Town of Southold seeks to acquire a parcel of land
adjacent to Town Hall for the purposes of eventual further, expansion; and
WHEREAS, parcel SCTM No. 1000-61 .-1-5 immediately to the west of
Town Hall is for sale, and
WHEREAS, the owner of the property is prepared to sell the property to
the Town of Southold, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Southold has had the existing structure on that
parcel evaluated by engineers who find that it lacks the structural
integrity to function as a public office building, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Southold seeks to remove the existing structure
so that the site would be available for future use by the town,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to Town law Sections
64 and '220, and subject to a permissive referendum, that the town hereby
commits to purchase the property, located at 52875 Main Road, Southold,
further described in Attachment A, for the sum of $170,000. and
authorize Supervisor Jean W. Cochran to execute the necessary documents;
and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED and determined that after the purchase is complete,
the Town will take the necessary additional steps to demolish the existing
residential building on the site, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to Sections 82 and .90 of the Town
Law that within 10 days from the date of this resolution the Town Clerk
shall post and publish. a notice which shall set forth the date of the
adoption of the resolution, shall contain an abstract of such resolution
concisely setting forth the purpose and effect thereof, shall specify that
this resolutions was adopted subject to a permissive referendum, and shall
publish such notice in the Traveler Watchman, a newspaper published in
Suffolk County having general circulation in the Town of Southold, and in
addition thereto that the Town Clerk shall post or cause to be posted on
the sign board of the Town of Southold, a copy_ of such notice within ten
(10) days after the date of the adoption of this resolution.
Said resolution shall not become effective until 30 days after adoption.
20.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Supervisor Cochran. No:
Councilwoman Hussie.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Just as a word, the purchase of the property on
the corner will be contingent upon the sale of another piece of property
that the Town owns down in Orient. Therefore we are hoping that we will
add to this site, and this facility without any additional cost to the
taxpayer.
21 .-Moved by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Councilman Moore, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby allocates
the following funds under the 1998 Grants Program:
First Night Greenport $500.00
Save the Peconic Bays $500.00
Archaeological Assoc. (Indian Museum) $500.00
.North Fork Womens Resource Center, COOL Project $500.00
North Fork Parish Outreach $1,000.00
North Fork Environmental Council, Inc. $500.00
Opera of the Hamptons $500.00
Community Action of Southold Town, Inc. $500.00
Oysterpond Historical Society $500.00
Fishers Island Peoples Project $500.00
Fishers Island American Legion Post No. 1045 $350.00
Southold American Legion Post No. 803 $3500.00
Greenport 8 Southold Summer School Project $2,500.00
Mattituck American Legion Post No. 861 In Kind Services
21 .-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
JUSTICE EVANS: I am voting, yes, because the total I agree with. I do
not agree with every one on here, but we have them all together, so I am
voting, yes.
210 1.4ARCH 31 , 1998
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: I have to agree with Louisa. I would have liked
a line item veto.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: How long did we work on this today? I think we
spent more time on this than the electric company.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: That is why I said, yes, because we can't do it
that way.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Let's get it out of the way. In fact, the Town
Board has discussed that perhaps we will be retiring this grant program.
think they are pretty strong on this feeling. It has been talked about for
the last several years. This was started, maybe fifteen, twenty years ago,
when Southold Town received very few services in the area of social
services. So, what. the Board at that time came up with was that they would
give them like starting funds. Funds were given to Hospice to start. One
woman wanted to start a home in Greenport for unwed mothers. There were
many different things through the years, which served the community,
filled some of their needs. Technically it is illegal. It is illegal to do
this. The Boards have continued to do this through the years, because the
State has never really brought us down on it. They have never said, you
must not do this anymore, because it was such a nominal amount.. But, it
has gotten so that the requests have grown, and grown, and grown, and
what did it add up today, if we gave everybody what they wanted? It was
in the thousands of dollars.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: $47,.000, 1 think it was.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: And we only had $20,000 in this fund. The first
$5,000 we agreed to give to the Fishers Island Conservancy, who is
involved in a lawsuit with the Navy for dumping their spoils, their dredged
spoils next to Fishers Island in Long Island Sound, and it will effect the
environment on that side, so we certainly are concerned with it. That left
$15,000, and it is doesn't go very far, so this year as the checks go out
they will also receive a letter that says, you know, we regret having to
stop the program, but we can just no longer serve or help as many people
as need it. The last one here, Greenport and Southold Summer School
project is not finalized as yet. It has been added in the total but the Town
Board wants a little bit more information on this particular one before it
is finalized. Greenport School has been having meetings, and they are
looking to do a program in the school this summer. Many times through the
years many of our people in our different townships have said, why we
don't we utilize the schools more? Greenport this summer would like to
utilize the school in providing a program for young people that would not
only keep their social 'and their academic skills up, so that they slid back
through the summer. They feel that many kids are being dumped into
Special Ed, when all they need is perhaps a little bit more encouragement,
and they will allowed to use computers, and Internet, and there will be
some cultural, and there will be some recreational, and so it is going to be
a combination of a program, and the Mayor was attending the same
program, and so I kind of looked at him, and he looked at me, and we felt
we could have the Village and the Town work in partnership, each giving
$2,500 to be able to provide this program to the young. people in that area,
that it certainly would be a worthwhile project, so the Board will be
discussing that further, but they have been kind enough to put it on the
list.
22.- Moved by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Councilman Murphy,
WHEREAS, there has been presented to the Town Board of the Town of
Southold, on the 31 st day of March, 1998, a Local Law, entitled "A Local
Law in Relation to Parking at Beaches"; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of .the Town of Southold hereby set 5:00
P.M., Tuesday, April 14, 1998, Southold Town Hall, 53095 Main Road,
Southold, New York as the time and place for a public hearing upon this
Local Law, which reads as follows:
A Local Law in Relation to Parking At Beaches
BE IT ENACTED, by the Town Board of the Town of Southold as follows:
I . Chapter 65 (Parking at Beaches) Whereby hereby amended as follows:
1 . Section 65.3.D. (1) One Day nonresident permits is amended as
follows:
i,f ARCH 31 , 1998 211
(1) One-day nonresident parking permits may be issued for the
parking of vehicles on the parking areas at. Southold Town
Beach, Norman E. Kiipp Marine Park, and New Suffolk Beach
to any person by the Attendant on duty at such parking areas;
and also shall be sold in books of fifty (50) permits to the
proprietors of the following recreational businesses: Bike
Rentals; Kayak Rentals; and Fishing Stations.
II. This local law shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of
State.
* Underline represents additions.
2.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
23.-Moved by Councilwoman Hussie, seconded by Supervisor Cochran,
WHEREAS, there has been presented to the Town Board of the Town of
Southold., on the 31 st day of March, 1998, a Local Law, entitled "A Local
Law in Relation to Creating A Municipal Electric Utility in the Town of
Southold; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby sets 8:00
P.M., Tuesday, April 28, 1998, Southold Town Hail, 53095 Main Road,
Southold, New York as the time and place for a public hearing upon this
Local Law, which reads as follows:
A Local Law in Relation to the Creation ,of a Municipal
Electric Utility in the Town of Southold
BE IT ENACTED, the Town Board of the Town of Southold as follows:
Section 1; Title, Purpose and Definitions,
1.1(A) . Enactment.
Pursuant to Section 10 of the Home Rule Law, and Section 360
of the General Municipal Law, the Town of Southold, County of
Suffolk and State of New York, hereby enacts 'this local law to
create the Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility.
1.1(B) . Effective Date,
The local law shall take effect on the filing of the approved
Local Law with the Secretary of State of New York, which shall be
within five (5) days after its approval by a simple majority of
the voters by mandatory referendum at an election to be held .to
approve this local law, pursuant to Section 360 of the General
Municipal Law.
1.2. Intent.
WHEREAS the Town of Southold is a Town duly formed under the
laws of the State of New York, and;
WHEREAS the Town Board of the Town of Southold is duly
empowered pursuant to Section 360 of the General Municipal Law of
the State of New York to form a Municipal Electric Utility for the
Town, and;
212 MARCH 31 , 1998
WHEREAS it is essential for the well-being, livelihood and
safety of the residents and businesses of the Town, and of the
other consumers of electric power in the Town, including the Town
itself, and of their families and guests, for the economic climate
of the Town, and for the protection of private and public property
within the Town and the value of that property,. that the supply
and distribution of electricity to the residents, businesses and
other consumers of electric power in the Town, and the Town
itself, be provided in. a reliable manner, and at a fair and
reasonable cost, and;
WHEREAS the Town .Board has determined that the most reliable,
fair, and economical way for the supply of electricity and
electrical service to be provided to the Town of Southold, its
residents and businesses and institutions, is by the creation of
the Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility, the Town. Board of
the Town of Southold hereby. enact this local law for the intent
and purpose of establishing a Municipal Electric Utility pursuant
to Section 360 of the General Municipal Law, and all of the powers
and duties thereunder.
Section 2. ; Equipment::. and Facilities, Maintenance
and Service, and supply
The Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility shall acquire
the necessary equipmentand facilities, and either establish necessary
functions for or procure contracts for the maintenance, service
and billing of the electrical energy system and utility, and a
supply of electricity such as are necessary for the creation of
the Southold Municipal Electric Utility.
The proposed method of constructing, leasing, purchasing, or
acquiring, the equpmwCand facilities for the municipal electric
utility, together with both the maximum and the estimated costs
thereof, the method of furnishing such service, and the method of
obtaining electrical supply shall be as follows:
2.iXkK**ent, and Facilities.
A. The Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility will
obtain by purchase or condemnation the electrical distribution
If,ARCH 31 M8 213
system within the boundaries of the Town currently owned by the
Long Island Lighting Corporation ("Lilco") , and purchase,
condemnation or agreement for. the use of the equipment of the
Fishers Island Electric Company, and will construct such
additional infrastructure as may be needed to separate itself from
the Lilco system.
The Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility also may
construct its own generating facilities to supply electrical
energy to its customers and, in its discretion, may construct new
infrastructure instead of acquiring. Lilco property.
B. The maximum and estimated cost of the items set forth in
subparagraph A. hereof, should be forty-seven million one hundred
thousand dollars ($4711001000) .
C. The cost of the acquisition of the equOmd,facilities,
distribution system and any other costs that are necessary for the
implementation of the Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility
shall be paid by the issuance -of a bond by the Town for the useful
life of the equipment and facilities, and the longest maturity
possible, which is expected to be thirty (30) years.
D. The entire costs of the acquisition, construction,
development, implementation and operation of the Town of Southold
Municipal Electric Utility including the debt service of any
financing that is created in order to pay the costs thereof,
including the long term bond that is described herein, as well as
any other costs of the Southold Municipal Electric Utility, will
be paid in the first instance from the revenues generated by the
Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility, and will not have any
effect on the general budget or real estate taxes of the Town.
2.2. - service and Maintenance of Equipment,
Facilities, and Distribution system.
A. The Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility will
obtain service and maintenance for the infrastructure of the
Municipal Electric Utility, and billing and management services . by
obtaining contracts with suitable and acceptable maintenance,
service and billing companies. The contracts will be supported
wherever possible by a performance bond of an amount acceptable to
the Town.
214 =,IARCH 31 , 1398
B. The Town will also consider and retain the ability
and power to create its own maintenance and -service and billing
department, including the equipment, materials, and supplies
required for that department, in. order to provide service and
maintenance to the Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility if
the Town deems it to be in its best interests to do so.
2.3. Electrical Bupvly,
A. The .Town of Southold Municipal Electric -utility will
obtain its supply of electricity either by contracting with a
utility or supplier, or by generating its own electricity, or a
combination thereof.
3.0. Mandatory Referendum.
This Local Law shall be subject to approval by a mandatory
referendum of the residents of the Town of Southold, to be
conducted at an Election or Special Election pursuant to and as
set forth in Section 360 of the General Municipal Law of the State
of New York, the Election Law and Town Law of the State of New
York.
The Town of Southold Municipal Electric Utility shall be
effective and granted the full powers entitled to it by law on the
date of the approval by a simple majority of the referendum, and
the filing of the Local Law with the Secretary of State of New
York.
Dated: March 31, 1998
Town of Southold
Suffolk County, New York
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: We really should be having a discussion, but I
think I am' going to do a little bit of explanation on this. This ultimately
will go to referendum. We can't do anything at all until you say, yes, go
ahead, but by forming the utility it gives us the opportunity to go out and
solidify the various numbers that were presented in this report. This
report talks about the most expensive possible cost. to us to set up a
municipal company. As soon as we form our own then we can go out, and
actually get bids on how much electricity would cost, actually get bids on
how much it would cost to wheel it, and all those kinds of things. I was
informed this evening, as I came in, that the Suffolk County Legislature
passed the law that says there will be a referendum on the LILCO/LIPA
situation in November, which is a .very good thing to hear. While we are
talking . about all those numbers, you know there you have the promise that
your costs are going to be reduced by 19%. Right now, the worse scenario
here reduces our costs by 30%, which would bring that $.165 down to $.10,
and if we can go with the best possible way it would. bring our costs down
to $.085 a kilowatt hour.
?v�AIPCH 31 , 1998 215
23.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans,. Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
24.-Moved by Supervisor Cochran, seconded by Councilman Murphy, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby appoints
Gregory Yakaboski to the position of Town Attorney, at a salary of
$52,000.00 per annum, effective April 10, 1998, he to hold such office until
the first day of January next succeeding the first biennial town election.
4.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Councilwoman Hussie, Supervisor Cochran.
No: Justice Evans.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That is the end of our prepared resolutions.
Before I call on Town reports I would just like to share a couple of things
with you. This is the ad that is going to appearing in the newspaper, and
it is from the Scenic Byway Committee, and it is, to encourage you to
become involved in their photography contest. What they are looking for are
pictures of what you feel is the worst scene in Southold, and what you
think is the best. I believe they intend to display them at the Legion
Hall, and where people will be able to go in, and view them, and vote on
what they think is the best and the worst, and there will be a prize given.
So, I told them I would tell our audience to, please, go out and take a
couple of snap shots, and send them in. You never know. I think that is
all we have as far as business is concerned. ,,.I will ask anyone in the
audience. that would like to address the Board on any town business, other
than what 'has been conducted tonight. We would be very happy to
entertain your comments.. Mr. Siegmann?
ED SIEGMANN: I just have .a question at the moment. Will there be a
report tonight on the Cablevision problem?
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: I will have something to say about the meeting
that was held in Riverhead. I have something to say, yes.
ED SIEGMANN: I will refrain from talking now, but I may want to say
something after that report is made.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Alice, why don't you give that now?
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: Last Thursday the representative from the
Public Service Commission came down to talk to the Town of Riverhead, and
Riverhead people invited me to go and listen to what was being said. The
Riverhead Cable Committee was meeting. I don't have to go into their
discussion, but I will tell you a few things. Many of-you have gotten these
letters. Many of you have complained to the Public Service Commission, and
have written your letters saying, why has this rate gone up so much, and
all those protests that you had, and you got back a letter like this, which
was very confusing, and until last Thursday I had no idea why it was so
confusing. You just could not understand it, but I would like to tell you
this, number one, if you are having the basic rate, if you are just
concerned about your basic rate, which is the one that gives you what they
call the broadcast stations, NBC, WOR, those from New York, and you
don't like the rate, you complain to the Public Service Commission. The rate
is reviewable by the Public Service Commission only after the fact, and
they are promising to make a decision or a recommendation by May or June.
Actually it says, 180 days, so I think that would probably would be closer
to July 1st. Now, when you get to the Federal government, the FCC,
they are the ones who regulate the Family Cable, that we deal with. They
require only that you have Broadcast Basic on it, the broadcast stations
mean, public access, and education, and everything else is a company
decision. The Federal Communications Commission is the one that is taking
care of all of that. That is all as a result of the 1996 Telecommunications
Act. The franchise, however, which is the thing that I am working on
mostly, can not regulate the rates, and the franchise can not regulate the
programs. That is being taken care of by Assemblywoman Pat Acampora,
who has been working for the last month to try to get all of the involved
parties together to talk about these. rates, and the increases. As I said
once before it really makes me very incensed to think Cablevision only had
21 6 MARCH 31 , 1998
to go to the PSC, and say, we want to put five more channels on, and
therefore we have to raise our rates. They were never asked what those
channels would be. The fact that three of them are income producing
channels never had to be considered, but nevertheless I am continuing to
work on this cable thing, cable franchise. I am going to be putting a few
things together, that I think are important, and I am going to bring it to
the Board so that we can have a united front on this, and then go and
meet them. I am just waiting for Pat Acampora to get her other group
together.
ED SIEGMANN: It appears to me that it looks like each town i§ going to
negotiate on their own. Is that correct?
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: That is pretty much the way it is working.
ED SIEGMANN: I understand Westhampton has already made an agreement.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: Easthampton.
ED SIEGMANN: Easthampton, and the only concession that they got was
to have a senior citizen discount for certain senior citizen. Now, I got a
call from June Marcley from Cablevision, that wanted to know from me, am
I the fellow who .has got his name in the paper fighting this thing, and I
told her I was. She said she would like to talk to me, and find out just
what the people are upset about. I met with her along with a fellow from
the committee in Riverhead, and I gave her nine things that we are upset
with, and not only involving senior citizens, but involving everybody. To
save time I don't want to go through the nine things, that I gave to her,
but appears to me if everybody is going to go out and negotiate on their
own then if some people settle ahead of time, but don't sign, even though
they don't sign, the fact that they settle, whatever they got,you are going
to. be saddled with. They are. not going to give one town more than what
they are going to give another town, and I am afraid now with the one
settlement that they have that the only thing they are going to come along
with is a senior citizen discount, and I think it is wrong, because- there
are a lot of other things that have to be corrected besides that. I feel
that it is a mistake if this is the way it is going to happen. I was hoping
that all of the towns would negotiate with Cablevision together, but if this
is going to happen I am going to appeal to the Board again for what I have
asked before. I think since the other towns have a committee that are
working on this, I think that our Town Board ought to appoint a committee
also, that when we sit down, . or when the meetings are held with
Cablevision that there will be some . input from the public in reference to
what we think is wrong, or what we would like to get. Thank you.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you, Ed. If I may share with you, also,
June Marcley, and the gentleman came in to see me, and also asked for
our complaints (tape change) That those of us that have not settled are
not settling, so I think what you have to do is. .l am kind of waiting to see
where Pat Acampora's direction is. The east end towns have been
working together on this.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: There are a number of things that are
indigenous to each town in some instances. Riverhead, for instance, being
what is called the host town has gotten certain things done like on their
harbor, and the cablevision company has done certain things for them.
They don't have anything in our town for instance, or in any of the others
for that matter either, so obviously the contract has be a little bit
different. The one thing that the five towns have agreed upon is that they
are not going to sign a contract until each of us is satisfied, even though
each of us has a slightly different point of view. One of the things that
am particularly interested in hav;ng happen is that the hook-up fees be
eliminated all together. Right now they have hook-up fee. To bring it to
your house is one thing, but if your house happens to be somewhat remote
you are charged X number of dollars per foot depending on the distance
that they have to bring the wire. I don't see why that has to happen at
all. I would like that out. The senior discount, I think is important to
w
4 v t
pi
s ", ., 1
"A CH 31 , 1998 217
7
have in, and Riverhead is having that. They don't get a franchise fee,
though, because they just have the senior citizen discount, and the senior
citizen discount is for those people, the eligibility is determined by
whether you are on Medicare or Medicaid. That is all 1 am going to say
now. We could have a constant talk about this.
ED SIEGMANN: What I said about the senior citizen discount I don't mean
not to get it. There are lot of other things. I can't understand for the
life of me why under basic cable the only Long Island news channel that we
have is Channel 12, and why they don't put Channel 12 on basic cable,
when they give us news from wherever, but they don't give the people the
news from their own local area. Plus the fact that when basic first came out
you had Channel 9, that gave you all the Mets games. You had Channel
11, that gave all the Yankee games. They took them off, and put them on
paid channels, where you have to pay $11 .00 and change, plus buy a box,
that you pay for every month in order to see the Mets play, or to see
the Yankees play. Those things they took off of basic cable, and then,
they up the price of basic cable, so you got it both ways. The only thing
that disturbs me with this whole thing, we have committees for scenics. We
' have committees for all sorts of things in the town, why the Board is
reluctant to appoint a committee for this problem I don't quite understand,
because I think it is a very serious one for the simple reason many a
person today, that if they want to have the family package for television is
costing them more for that than it does for their electricity. We are
hollering like hell about LIPA and complaining about the cost of
electricity, but nothing is being done about the cost of television, and if
we let it go on within two or three years from now the cost of television is
going to be a damm sight higher than what electric is. So, it has got to
have a stop put to it someplace, and I don't think there is any time like
the present in order to get it started.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: I talked to Cablevision about Channel 12. 1 said
I thought it was very peculiar considering Channel 12 is owned by
Cablevision, why wouldn't they put it on Cablevision? I was told. that,
well, in the case of an emergency there would be news on Channel 12. 1
fail to see people in an emergency sitting there and looking at TV, though.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I gave them the same bit. I said that you
certainly could take your basic programming, and add to it. Where you
have increased the price give them more for the dollar under the basic. Ed,
it's not that we' are reluctant to form a committee. I have been waiting, and
this is about the third time I have said it, to see what Assemblywoman
Acampora, she is developing a task force. This task force will include
representatives of all the east end towns, and then some, because I have
spoken with some of the other Supervisors up island, and they . are
interested also. It may be . a different television service, but they have
the same kind of complaints, so they are interested in coming' on Board
also. I think a larger committee is going to. . not a larger committee, but a
committee that is representative of more towns is going to have more clout
perhaps to make some change.
ED SIEGMANN: Jean, I agree with you. You told me that last time, but
the only thing that I am saying now, since I heard that each town is going
to negotiate on their own, it is an all together different picture. I know
what Pat is doing. I know she is calling a meeting. She is trying to get
everybody in, including the District Attorney, and that would be one phase
of what you would do to fight Cablevision. But, if each town is going to
go out, and negotiate on their own, then it seems to me you have to handle
that part of it in a different .way, than what Pat is handling.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Alice, don't you agree that the way it's set up'
that there are certain things that the town is offered differently to us
than to Riverhead, and those are the things we negotiate. There are two
separate issues. There is one that only can negotiate.
ED SIEGMANN: I agree with you 100%.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank, you. Anyone else like to address the
Board?
218 MARCH 31 , 1998
MELANIE SANFORD: Melanie Sanford., Southold. I came to the work
session this morning, and my concern is really about the daily beach
permits, bicycle permits. That is the only one 1 am concerned about, really
at this point. I was wondering how does the Board plan to distinguish
between local bicycle riders, that want to go down to the beach, and the
visitors that are coming to the town, that would need a permit to go use
the beach facility?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: It's for a car. A lot of people transport their 1
bikes out on their cars, kayakers do the same. They transport the kayak J
on the car, and we are finding that more and more people are coming out,
and what they do is look for road ends, and park, and off they go. We are
. trying to encourage them at $8.00 a day, is what it cost $8.00 and change,
you have to pay New York State sales tax, to encourage them to park in
established parking areas that belong to the town, be it a town beach or
whatever, so it is actually a one day permit for car parking, to .allow
people to use either, or the kayaking, or the bicycle riding, or whatever
they want to do.
MELANIE SANFORD: So, it wouldn't apply to bicycles going to the beach?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: No. You can ride your bike.
MELEANIE SANFORD: Very good. I was wondering because I know that
Scenic Byways spokesperson, Neb, came to the session as well, and the
discussion of bike paths came up, and I wondering was, that initiative, was
that part of the $55,000 grant for scenic byways, or was that part of the
$77,000 grant that the DOT is doing?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: There was . a grant from the ISTEA, what they
call the ISTEA funds, and those funds were used for the bike loops.
think we have four throughout .the town they are working on.
MELANIE SANFORD: ISTEA, what does that stand for?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I knew you were going to ask.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: It's Federal, it's Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act.
MELANIE SANFORD: Are those the ones that are then behind this?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: We got those monies for the bike paths, and the
bike groups. We got a different grant, and somebody help me who it came
from, for the scenic byways. It was State grant. I think it was an EPF,
Environmental Protection Fund, I think, but don't quote me on that second
one, but if you come in we can tell you.
MELANIE SANFORD: Then my concern was kind of aroused because he
mentioned that they are going to be developing maps of all the places where
people were going to be cycling, which would include possibly side streets,
and it's one thing for people in town, I think it's a great thing, but are
these maps going to include neighborhoods, private neighborhoods?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I .think they have tried to establish them where it
is the most scenic, or lovely areas of Southold.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: They will be private neighborhoods.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: One goes down through Bayview. They are
public roads.
MELANIE SANFORD: I know Route 25 and 48 were named, and then there
were five others.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Narrow River Road, Bayview, Oregon, New
Suffolk Avenue, Soundview up Mill Road.
MELANIE SANFORD: The maps are going to be distributed?
idiFiF:(:N 3? , .199$ 219
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: I think you are mixing two things. The bike
path is one thing, and the scenic byways is something else. The map on
the table we are talking about is scenic byways, which is primarily 48 and
25, and just having the public identify the. pretty things. You know, this
is part of that contest, the photography contest, the vistas, the historic
places, things that just kind of make you feel nostalgic. On the other hand
there are some that are absolutely terrible, that you don't want to see
them. They have to be identified, and that is what that map was about. We
are not going to have maps.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: You have mixed two things together.
MELANIE SANFORD: So this body won't be generating maps?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: No, not to my knowledge.
MELANIE SANFORD: Will the DOT be generating any maps?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I don't think so.
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: This is separate from the bike paths.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: In fact you will probably notice all around the
town, that bike signs have gone up, and they are only about this big, and
they have bicycles going around the outer end, and :they are coded to
colors of the ride itself. We had some complaints because people felt it
was signs all over the place. I went out riding the other day, and did my
field trip, and checked, and I don't find them that offensive at all.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: Riding on a bike, or riding in a car?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I was riding in a car, John.
MELANIE SANFORD: I noticed them by Goldsmith's Inlet, and I was
speaking to someone in Mattituck, and he mentioned that he had some on
his street, and they are even in Calves Neck. Are they coming to every
neighborhood, because we are having problems as it is?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Where they are is where they are, I think at this
point. If you don't see one right next to your fence, that is on town
property. I had a complaint. I don't think they are down Founders.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: You have free ride down there. You can go up and
down the road, but you are not guiding down there.
MELANIE SANFORD: So, to date to the best of your knowledge there are
.,no maps that are going to be drafted? The DOT is not going to be doing
any?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Not to my knowledge, It hasn't been brought to
our attention as yet, if they are planning to do maps.
MELANIE SANFORD: And none have been generated to be distribute in
Times Square, or anything like that?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Not to my knowledge. It may end up on the
Internet or .Web site somewhere. Joe?
JOE GOLD: On the question of the employment of the Town Attorney, is
that in addition to, instead of, the existing Town Attorney?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: In place of.
JOE GOLD: Is he going to be the only Town Attorney?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Yes.
JOE GOLD: ' There will be no Assistant Town Attorney?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: No. Anyone else like to address the Town Board?
220 �NfiARCH 31 , 1998
SCOTT HARTFORD: We will start off with who I am, who I work for, and
why I am here. My name is Scott Hartford. My folks owned a house here
in Southold for twenty-eight years. I am a 1995 graduation of North
Carolina State, Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineer, minor in computer
programming. Currently I am employed by the Tram Company as a sales
engineer. They are the largest manufacturer in North America of air
conditioning and heating equipment, worldwide, the company started in
1933. 1 am here regarding the recent mechanical contract awarded for the
new Elementary School in addition to the Junior and Senior High School.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I am only stopping you because we have
absolutely nothing, no jurisdiction, over a school district. You have to
see the School Board.
SCOTT HARTFORD: There were certain legal issues brought up by the
school district, that I am here to inquire about.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: We would not be able to give you any answers.
In fact, it goes so far that as they build the school we have no authority.
We can not issue permits. We are not a part of the plan, the site plan.
SCOTT HARTFORD: Budget money?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: No. .They are their own taxing agency, and as a
school district they do it all, so you are in front of the wrong board. You
have to go to the School Board over here at. Southold.
SCOTT HARTFORD: Do they have bi-weekly meetings?
COUNCILMAN MOORE: It might be tonight. I am not sure.
SCOTT HARTFORD: .They do hold their meetings on Tuesday.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: So, when you leave, do you know where the
school is? Just check it out. I am sorry we can't help you, but we had
some concerns ourself in relation to removing trees, and putting parking
ten feet off the town roads, and all along the length of Oaklawn. There
is going to be some severe changes. Although we can not dictate or tell
them, we did offer our services, and we have had a little input, but they
are on their own.
SCOTT HARTFORD: Thank you. I appreciate your time.
FRANK CARLIN: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Frank Carlin.
Tonight my subject is Scavenger Waste Plana. I remember back. .years back,
when we never had a Scavenger Waste Plant. You could go in the Landfill,
and dump everything there, chemicals, waste and everything. In fact, I
took pictures of that back in '1984. This is one in color, and this is one in
black and white. These are what it looked like then.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That is what we used to call the lagoon, but it
was open dumping.
FRANK CARLIN: We had no scale at that time. They let you drive in,
anybody could dump what they wanted. Around '86 we closed it down,
about 186. Greenport took it over with the contract, right?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Yes. It is on Greenport property, and in five
more years Greenport can opt, we have to give the plan to them, they can
opt whether they want it or not. If they don't want it we have to take it
down if we are not going to use it, and restore the property to it's
original site. It was Federal funding.
FRANK CARLIN: Right, and I believe that plant when it was built it cost
about 2.5 million dollars, right?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I don't recall the figure.
M.-ARCH 1 , 1998 221
FRANK CARLIN: That is what it says here. I got something here I want
to explain to you. I want to explain the history of the Scavenger Waste
Plant. It is very interesting. Pay attention. I am going to explain what
happened from '86 to today. I have a copy here of the Suffolk Times,
dated December 18, 1986. Now, let's review some dates here. What I am
saying is exactly what is in this paper. Ruth Oliva, she was a _member of
the NFEC, made a visit to that plant in 1986. 1 was appalled at the
conditions she told the Board at it's meeting. The odor from the area
affecting the administration building. People have difficulty working. The
building was supposed to have been built. There was a trailer around
$7,000. Was it ever built?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: The trailer was put up there. She had her
office in the facility, Frank, in the plant, and because of the odor, we put
the trailer there for her to have her office.
FRANK CARLIN: They were thinking about a building.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: In place of the building was the trailer that we
did.
FRANK CARLIN: At that time, Frank Murphy, at that time when Mr:
Hubbard was Mayor of Creenport. There was a 30,000 gallon spill at that
time, but then it was determined that there were two spills. It was also
determined that it caused by a defective flow valve. You, Madame
Supervisor, at that time was a Councilwoman.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I don't remember the spill, but I remember
everything else you are talking about.
FRANK CARLIN: Then you are going to remember what I am going to say
now.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I don't know until you tell me, Frank.
FRANK CARLIN: You mentioned in this paper, it's just not safe to send
people down in those tanks without a rope, safety harness, or scotpac.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: It's true. You should have seen those tanks.
FRANK CARLIN: That's right. Equalizing tanks. In fact one man went
down there, and he came out he was on his back for three days in this
paper. The carters at that time, back twelve years ago, were complaining
that the ramp was too steep, they couldn't unload completely their trucks.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I believe they have always complained about the
ramp.
FRANK CARLIN: Was it ever corrected? Was any of these corrected? We
don't know.
RUTH OLIVA: Part of the ramp was changed. They had to change it. It
was too steep.
FRANK CARLIN: Didn't they complain recently, though, about it being too
steep?
RUTH OLIVA: That was when they got the rock in, there.
FRANK CARLIN: What are we going to do if Mayor Kapell decides he
don't want the plant? He dumps it in our lap, right?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: The land reverts back to Creenport. The plant
stays ours, and we have to demolish it, and put the site back to it's
original condition, if that is what they request.
222 'V.�ARCH 31 , 1998
FRANK CARLIN: That sets a familiar tune to me. Just like the Police
Department, they dumped that in our lap, and cost the taxpayers
_thousands, and thousands, and thousands for eighteen months, and now
these problems 'here 'wasn't-corrected, dump that in our, lap. How much is i
it going to cost us to get it in shape? If we are going to build a new plant
it is going to be more.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: That was the whole point, we are looking at a lease
with only five years left us, actually' we were looking at this two years
ago, seven years left on it, we couldn't justify with only seven- years left
on a lease all the money that had to be spent to bring up to the proper
operational condition. Now, you can sit there and say, gee, it never should
have gotten to that point, and you are absolutely right, but, that was .the
state of affairs, so you can't change that fact. . It was allowed to run
poorly and inefficiently all along, and in all those cases where it was a
piggyback system, management contract with the Village, and the Town
Board took their hands. off of it in many respects, and said, it is out of
sight, it is out of mind, and somebody else is tending the shop.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: The whole thing was organized when they built it.
FRANK CARLIN: What you are admitting then is that the Town Board
neglected to oversee it. ;
COUNCILMAN MOORE: Absolutely.
FRANK CARLIN: So, you take the responsibility for that, right.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: Yes. I wasn't here then, but, sure.
FRANK CARLIN: Also, Greenport should take the responsibility for not
living up to maintaining through the contract.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: One could certainly say that.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Yes, you could certainly say that.
FRANK CARLIN: So, we have two people at fault here then.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI : We are not looking to point fingers at this
point. We have three or four years left on a lease. As this point we are
looking to find out how we are going to find out how we are going to
handle this situation in the future, so it doesn't get dumped on our laps at
the end of the lease, and all of sudden we have to do a rush situation.
That why we are at the point now, where we are realizing there are
problems with it. We are trying to move forward with it, and say, okay,
let's make a plan. Let's determine first if the town is. going to stay in
this business. If we are, then let's sit down with the engineers. We are
working on the landfill capping, possibly putting the tank up there. You
should be happy that we finally have a Town Board that is willing to look
at the situation, and solve the problem, and not turn their head on it.
FRANK CARLIN: John, I am happy, but I am not happy when it looks like
the people are going to start paying over $.08 a gallon to have their
cesspool pumped out, when it was $.04 a gallon. I am not happy on that
one, and this is what the outcome of it is.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI : That's exactly what the outcome of it is.
FRANK CARLIN: Because in 186 it was only $.02 a gallon.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI : At this point it is not because of the plant,
that it is $.08. 1 mean you have to remember we are the only town that
doesn't process their own waste, so we are always going to have an
additional trucking charge in Southold Town ,to move the wastewater out
of the town, because we are not processing it. - We are storing it in the
tank, and then we have to truck it out of here. Every other town In
Suffolk County that has cesspools either processes it, or they are closer to
the Bergen. Point facility where the individual -haulers bring the waste to
that location on their own, so Southold Town is always going to have an
31,, 199�
_ _ 223
"?F-RCH
additional trucking charge. I don't care what kind of plant we put up.
Unless we decide that we to treat our own waste right here, and not truck
it out, we will always have that charge, and it is something that if we are
.going to stay in that business we need to realize and accept.
FRANK CARLIN: _ Do you have plans on trucking it out, or are you
considering building a Scavenger Plant? Building a Scavenger Plant is
going to cost you a lot of money.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: I don't think building a Scavenger Waste Plant
is in our plans.
FRANK . CARLIN: It cost $2,500,000 back then, what is it going to cost
now?
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: We don't have enough gallonage to support the
plant, you know to actually build it, support it, staff it. We don't have
enough wastewater.
FRANK CARLIN: What I am saying is, too, and I don't want to park back
on this again. The Police Department was a shamble you dumped it in our
lap. Now, this thing became a shamble. It was dumped in our lap, and who
is going to suffer for it is the taxpayers. Now, this was your ordinance
written in 1986 Southold Town Board, so you still charge $10.00 for a
permit to pump your cesspool out?
COUNCILMAN MOORE: Yes.
FRANK CARLIN: One charge to pump is $10.00.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: I don't know what the fee cost is at this point.
TOWN CLERK NEVILLE: It is still $10.00.
FRANK CARLIN: Do you still require one pump ever three years to- pump
your cesspool out? That is the ordinance rule.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That was part of the deal in order to get the
Federal funds, and I wasn't on the Board at that particular moment, but I
always understood that once you had your cesspool pumped you got on a
list, which was maintained in Town Hall. I would say- probably the Town
Clerk's Office, but then you had to have it pumped out every three years..
I believe that is part of the stipulation for the funds, and new
construction, but this was never really enforced.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: When was yours pumped out last?
FRANK CARLIN: I got it right here in my bill.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Tell us. What were you charged for a pumpout?
FRANK CARLIN: I was charged $10.00 for a permit. It was $.02 a gallon
at that time, tax and everything.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: That was more than three years ago.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: What did it come to, Frank?
FRANK CARLIN: I'll tell you one thing, you ain't getting me to pump
out my cesspool every three years, because if you are going to $.08 a
gallon you are going to sit up there, and you are going .to expect all these
people in Southold Town to pump out every three years, and have to pay
$.08 a gallon. You ought to be having another dream someplace. Come on,
John.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: I don't think there is a person in town, who
gets their cesspool pumped out every three years. I think most people
pump their cesspool out, when the cesspool is full.
224 MARCH 31 , 1998
FRANK CARLIN: It's unbelievable. When you tell it to other towns, the
people in other, we have to have an ordinance here that tells you you have
to have your cesspool pumped every three years.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: That was the condition of receiving the Federal
money, Frank.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: In order to get the Federal money that was a
condition of the ordinance to the Federal money. I don't think there is a
person in town who has had their cesspool pumped every three years.
FRANK CARLIN: Then you have in here, the inspector come around, and
he looks at, and he can gives you a variance, if he feels it is necessary.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Frank, I don't think any of that has ever really
been put in place. The way it has always been handled through the years
is if you need your cesspool pumped, you get it pumped.
FRANK CARLIN: This should be changed then. It says, one pump every
three years.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: We should look into that. If it still says it in
the Code, then it should be taken out.
FRANK CARLIN: Another thing, why do you need permits to pump your
cesspool out, when you are paying the Town already the fee to pump your
cesspool out? Why do you have to have a permit for?
COUNCILMAN MOORE: Frank, the entire ordinance put in place that you
are referring to was a condition of receiving the Federal grant money to
build the Scavenger plant. The theory was that you don't want all the
nitrogen, and what not from waste going into the groundwater, and they
would pay for the creation of a Scavenger Plant for you. The condition of
getting the money was to create a scavenger waste district, and you had to
put the local law in place. The scavenger plant was supposed,to last twenty
years. That was the engineered use for life of it. We sat and said, we
really don't want to dismantle the ordinance. It has never been actively
enforced. You are absolutely right, but the last thing you want is to knock
on the door from some bean counting bureaucrat in Washington saying,
how many years has that plant been in operation? How can we recoup some
of that money? That's it in a nutshell. We have to get past the twenty
year use for life span, we are already looking down the road. What are we
going ,to do? We are not going to operate there, because we don't envision
operating a scavenger plant. We are looking at the landfill as a holding
facility.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That is all this is now, is a holding tank. Up at
the landfill we are investigating could we have a holding tank? I think the 4
Town Board has to decide what is the philosophy? Is the Town responsible
for providing this service? We provide a landfill for garbage carters, so
there are lots of things we are looking at right now, Frank, and we realize
there is a problem. In fact, I have spoken to the Mayor, and said, that
when we do set up the meeting, which will be. the first part of May,
would like, it's difficult, he might not be in office at that time, but we
would like an indication from Greenport what they plan on doing five years
from now? Do they plan on accepting the plant, or do they plan on saying,
no, we don't want it? An indication has been, no, we don't want it, but I
would like to hear from the entire Board. If they don't want it, as I said
earlier, it reverts to us. Actually they can say, we want the property put
back to it's original site. We will have to pay to take that building down.
What we are doing right now is just a holding tank, so you have both the
sludge and water, that we are transporting out of town. In prior years
when the plant was operating you would have the water and sludge
separated, and the sludge would go to the drying beds, so it was less
gallons, less number of gallons going to Bergen Point. We felt badly that
we had to increase it to $.07, but prior to that, even before the price
increase, the Town was absorbing one penny of the operational cost on each
gallon, so we felt where it was being raised to us we had to pass that on,
and we realized also, and that is why it comes in do we get in this
business, because we realize that some of these old, old houses, and the
ones that are pumped out the most, because of the old cesspools, and that
ei f 7
;ti,,ARCH .31 , 1998 225
is where you have senior living, that can not afford a $700 to a $1,000 bill
for pumping a cesspool. We are aware of all this, Frank, and we are
putting it all together, and we are looking to solve some of these problems.
FRANK CARLIN: I can understand, Madame Supervisor, and I understand
what you are trying to do. I am not questioning that. Don't get me
wrong. I asked Bill a question, and you went right on to what you had
planned on. That wasn't my question. My question was, why are you
charging people $10.00 for a permit to pump their cesspools out? Is it
necessary to milk $10.00 out, when they are going to have to be doubling
their fees to $300.00 to $400.00 to pump it out as it is without tax.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: If $10.00 makes a difference to me.. Frank, that was
all part of it.
FRANK CARLIN: All part of the ordinance, well, change it then. That is
what you have amendments for. Don't sit there and tell' me it's part of the
ordinance. Change it.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: That part we can certainly look at. No doubt about
it.
FRANK CARLIN: When I say last time, I think it was last time. You people
have a tendency not to get your priorities right. There is more to this
town than just open space. You got to look at the priorities.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Come sit with me for one day. You will see
priorities.
FRANK CARLIN: There is more than open space, believe me. This is one
of them.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: One of the things I just asked Laury, it seems to
me it was a requirement or part of the agreement, a permit charge. Was .
it, Laury? Do you recall?
TOWN ATTORNEY DOWD: Yes, I believe it was part of the requirement
including the fee, but I was going to go back, and take a look at minutes
of adopting this, and find out more of an explanation of what -was the
purpose of that.
FRANK CARLIN: You know, $10.00 here, and $10.00 there, adds up,
especially when you are going to go up to almost $.07 to $.08 a gallon from
$.02 a gallon. Senior citizens, you know, they watch their pay checks. A
lot of them are only living on Social Security here. It's easy for you
people to sit up there, increase your fees, or whatever you want to do,
but you have to think about someone else once in awhile.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Yes, we do, Frank. We really do. Do you have
anything else?
FRANK CARLIN: I will say one more thing before I leave. I got a call the
other night from somebody, and he said to me, Frank, you are wasting
your time going up in front of the Town Board. I said, no, I am not,
because I am not a Monday morning quarterback. I don't go around town
mumbling, and groaning something. I got something to say, and if I think I
am right, I will come here and discuss it. I am not wasting my time. Some
times, though, I have the impression that it does go in one ear and out the
other.
HANK KUEN: Hank Kuen from Laurel, just picking up on what Mr.
Carlin said. What is the administrative costs of a permit? What does it
cost you to issue a permit?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: A cesspool permit? The charge is $10.00.
HANK KUEN: If it is costing you $11 .00 to give a $10.00 permit, it
doesn't make any sense.
226 MARCH 33 , 1993
JUSTICE EVANS: It was required by the Federal Ordinance for record
keeping purposes. They have wanted to have some way of keeping track of
who was getting pumped, so that if we were enforcing the three year pump
out we would have record of who had a septic pumped. We don't know
that. That is why Laury is going to look at the minutes, and see.
HANK KUEN: Has the government ever come back and said, let's see
your permit list?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: The Federal government? No one has ever come
in.
COUNCILMAN MOORE: As I said before, we are hoping that continues to
be the case. I can tell you one instance in Riverhead. Seven years after
the flooding from a April storm that flooded the back of Riverhead, and
water everywhere.• Seven years later FEMA came back, was asking the
Town of Riverhead for their overtime records, and slips on highway
department, and everything else, so never underestimate the ability of
somebody coming back.
FRANK CARLIN: Do me one favor. Greenport still has this Scavenger
Waste Plant, as of today, right?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: No, we are running it now.
FRANK CARLIN: You are running it now?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Only as a holding tank right now. We were not
happy with the service provided.
'FRANK CARLIN: Now, if I was them people going down in the tank with no
harness.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That doesn't happen anymore. No.
FRANK CARLIN: You guarantee that, right?
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN.: Yes.
FRANK CARLIN: That's what I wanted to know, because that is a health
hazard.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: It was worse than that down there many years
ago. Anyhow, anyone else like to address the Town Board? (No
response.) If not, I will call for Board reports. I will start on my left
with Councilman Romanelli.
COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: I was put on the Board of the First Night of
Greenport. I attended their first meeting for the year. Believe it or not,
they are planning already for this coming New Years. They are an
enthusiastic group of people. They have all sorts, of ideas. They are
actually even starting to plan for the millennium, which is two years away,
but they are looking to get community spirit. They are looking to bring
local. artists in, local activities, all the way from—the original thought
was to start in Mattituck. Now they are saying we can take the Main Road,
and bring attractions all the way from Riverhead, and bring people out to
Greenport. They are looking to involve the whole community in any way
that can. Young, old, doesn't matter, they want it to be a real community
event. The planning stage has just started, and they are an enthusiastic
group. ' You will hear more about it as time goes on. This was the first
meeting. Then, also, last night I attended the Greenport-Southold Chamber
of Commerce monthly dinner meeting. Councilman Murphy came with me,
also. They had a speaker from the LILCO/LIPA deal. He gave his
views on it, and the room was filled up with local business people, and he
didn't fare very well. He was beat up very hard on his speech. Most
people were against it. He was trying to sugar coat a deal, or try to
present a deal that -just came off as a sugar coated deal to the public. It
was a turnout. The Chamber had a nice turnout. In fact next month's
meeting they have Richie Kiesler scheduled to speak. The other side of
the coin, so, I will .be curious if he keeps the appointment, and shows up.
N6ARCH 31 , 1998 227
That is for April's meeting, the last Monday of the month, or the third
Monday of the month, so that ought to be interesting, too. You will see it
in the paper, and if anybody has any views on it, and you want to express
your views either. way on the LILCO/LIPA deal, or as we passed today,
Southold Town municipal electric. The Chamber meetings are open to the
public, so anyone is welcome to come. It ought to interesting, and you will
have a nice turnout, and you can hear the views of the people, and
express your own. Claudios in Gr6enport on the,30th.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: That's 'it, John? Alice, nothing at this point.
William?
COUNCILMAN MOORE: Very brief, we had gre&nhouse topic of the
conversation of the Code Committee, and we hope we are going to pull
together some recommendations for the greenhouse industry, and our
planning staff and Town Board have put together some comments. We will
have that to the Board shortly. Affordable Housing Committee meeting is
Thursday of this week, and I am hoping to wrap those guys up. We have
got some very excited people who have some good ideas on that, and the
final thing is we have given an assignment to our Planning staff and the
Building Department on the business uses, and that has to do with
compressing our definition 'list. I mentioned at the last Board meeting. We
delegated that job off to Planning and ,Building Department to come up with
some more hybrid list of uses that are generic, and they are meeting with
us in another week or so, or two weeks, to do that, so that is moving
along very nicely. I will report at that time.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Councilman Murphy?
COUNCILMAN MURPHY: Nothing at this time.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Louisa? I have a few things I would like to
share with you. As you know the East End went up to Albany last week to
lobby in relation -to the 2% tax, land tax. I was not able to go, and none
of the Town Board members were available. We must all have had a busy
week. I know we did, so, Jim McMahon did go up and represent Southold
Town. The law will read that the limits on the south shore will be 250 and
100 on empty property (tape change.) People felt the concerns for the law
last year. The Governor had some concerns in relation to farmers, and all
these little glitches have been worked out, so hopefully we will see some
action on this particular law this year. I met the other day with a couple
of members from the Community Pride Program, and the high school
students with their counselors. We had a representation from Greenport,
Southold, and Mattituck Schools. We began to plan our town-wide clean
up, and we decided what we would do for the first year is stay with the
two major highways, and try to encourage neighborhoods to pick up the
litter in their neighborhood. It is going to be April 25th. It is going to
be 8 to 11 . The committees from each of these schools are in the process
of sending out letters to all your service organization, Lions, Rotary,
Kiwanis, whatever, because we don't see this as just a high school student
project. We see it as a community project with both adults and young
people working together. So, you are going to be hearing a lot more about
cleaning up Southold. We talk about the quality of life. Well, part of it is
less litter. I met this week with Reverend Fulford from the Baptist
Church up by the Landfill. He wanted some information in relation to the
building of their new church. As you may, or may not have noticed on the
North Road further towards the Cutchogue Church, there is now a sign on
the lot that it is the future home of their church. I had Ed Forrester
from the Building Department, and I think we clarified a lot of things to
make it a little easier, so this is something that any of you, the public at
large,, has questions, if you are planning a project, come in and talk to Ed
Forrester, the head of the department first. It could save you some
heartache and grief. We try to put you in the right direction, so that it
makes it easier to go through the process. Richard Hilary came in, and we
sat, and reviewed the S.O.A.R. Program, which is Save Our American
Resources. It is young people. He has a fantastic video tape that is in my
office for anyone that would like to view, any Town Board members, or
anyone else. They have done a great deal. The home base for that, of
course, is up to Peconic Dunes, and the environmental building has just
been winterized, and they are moving ahead, and we have high hopes that
perhaps somehow we can tie it into the ISTEA fund, and get a kitchen
228 iMi RCH 31 , 1998
dining hall up there. Although that is County property we work together.
We had a, department meeting. What usually happens at a department head .
meeting is they are updated on action that the Board has taken, so that the,
staff, and the Board are on the same wave length, plus they bring any
problems in that they see within their department to report on goings on in
their department, so it has proved to be very valuable. As a result of that
we have gotten the ZBA, the Building Department, and the Planning
Department to meet on a regular basis. They discuss different process,
different permits, that are coming in, again, to help move them through the
system more efficient than they have been in the past. I had the
opportunity, CAST sponsored Women in Conversation. There was an article
in the paper last week. . I hadn't been to one of, their meetings, so I
thought, I would go down, and take part in the conversation, and it was
worthwhile. If there is any of you, you ,know, even in the watching .
audience, give Linda Clements a call in the Cutchogue Presbyterian
Church, and she can give you information on it. It was really worthwhile.
I had a meeting with Mike Frank, who is Commissioner of Suffolk County
Parks in relation to Inlet Pond Park. As you may or may not know the
County owns the property up by Moores Wood North, where Greenport and
the Mariculture people want to put their building. Well, right next to there
the. County owns a large parcel of property. It was bought many, many
years ago. It takes in the beach front. At the same time the ' Town also
bought a small portion of the beach, and we have a right-of-way over their
property, and every once in awhile they talk about' developing the area,
but they are looking to buy the piece of property next door, which is 17
acres, and it's got a house on it, so they will have two houses on their
property up there. It hasn't closed yet, but that is what they are looking
to do, and we are looking to maybe work a partnership with them. I have
mentioned it to Neb Brashich, as far as the arts are looking for a
home. Audubon is looking for a home, so I am sure this building will be
utilized in some way. I attended Jubilee Day in St. Paul's Church in
Riverhead, which was a celebration of Lincoln signing of the Emancipation
Proclamation. It was the first time I had gone, and I will go back next
year. It was a serious but a fun kind of church service. I attended a
Farm Bureau dinner,, and would like to congratulate the Wells. They are
farmers, who have, been in the farming business many, many years, and it
is the'.first time the Farm Bureau has honored both a father and a son from
the farming community. As I said earlier, I have been going down to the
meetings at Greenport School. " Hopefully some of that can be finalized so
we can show our support. I have mentioned the Town cleanup. I, also,
had the opportunity to be a celebrity bartender. The money was being
raised for a wildlife program, and I was asked to be a bartender. I never
worked a bar before in my life, but I had a good time. I learned how to
draft a beer, and mix a little vodka and cranberry juice, and got a lot of
tips for it. . You don't keep the tips, they go to the wildlife. For the
evening they raised over $5,000. They gave a free buffet, and drinks, and
then you had people standing on their heads, and throwing money in
bedding, but it was good. It was for a good cause. I attended the Fire
District's meeting with the Fire Commissioners. They still have several
complaints, which we are working on in relation to house numbers. I had a
meeting in relation to land acquisition. As I said earlier, we had a grant
come down for $337,000, but from the way I read the facts, it reads like
it's for farmland development rights. Since Pataki's bonding we also had
a grant on the landfill. I keep waiting for the grant on Arshamomaque and
Dam Pond. We feel these are very important sites that have to be.
preserved. So, .we had a strategy meeting the other day with Stuart
Lowry from the Nature Conservancy. I invited Tim Caufield . from the
Peconic Land Trust, George Proios, who is an assistant to the County
Executive in -the environment area. Brian Murphy sat in with us, and Jim
McMahon, and when we came up with strategies, and ways that we can
begin to find the funding for some of these sites, that we feel are
'important to save. I think it was important that we had George there,
because he was the one, the resolutions we passed tonight in relation to
Mike Caracciolo in relation to the partnership program with the County.
This was one of the things that came out of that meeting, that we should
do, so we get into the hopper, and we can begin to perhaps partnership
funds with the County, so we are moving in that direction, also. I attended
Bessie Swann's retirement dinner. It was lovely. There were many
people there, many friends, and I wished her well on behalf of the Town
Board, and the community. Bessie has been a hard worker for many
years, and has served us well. That's about it. It has been busy. In
MARCH 31 , 1998 229
addition I took a tour around, as we always do, the Beach Committee, and
the Recreation Committee, and made list of all that has to be done at our
beaches and parks this summer, and our ball diamonds, and one interesting
point, when the Commissioner from the County was here I asked if we could
do something in relation to where you come off the ferry. It's a scenic
look. You see all these signs. There are over twelve signs in the first 100
feet when you get off the ferry, so the County does own that property.
It's a park, and Mike Frank says there is no reason why we can't work in
some kind of a partnership to clean it all up, and put the signs at least in
an attractive manner with some shrubberies, so these are kind of thing we
go around from time to time, and try to solve, and keep our community
looking half way decent. Okay, go ahead, Frank.
FRANK CARLIN: I spoke to you, I think the last meeting about metal
-pickup. You have it for leaves, and branches, and stuff for three weeks.
Now, even if you don't have to pick it up. Even if you let the people. bring
it down for one week a year. Wouldn't that nice if you give the people a
break to bring their metal or whatever they want down. I am not asking
the Town Highway to pick it up. Have it open like you do the leaves, and
the branches once a year for one week. Open the landfill to bring down
your heavy stuff, your metal or whatever, that would cost you money, one
week out of the year.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I have to be honest, Frank. It did slip my mind.
I am writing it down. This will be the last thing, and then I will let
everyone go home. It has been a long day.
FRANK CARLIN: That's what happens when you are famous.
SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Frank, the National Guard has a program they
just started and it works with communities, and the first one that they 'did
was actually I was a Park Commissioner on the County Parks, and we talked
about getting rid of the jump . cars in the Pine Barrens, so one of the
Trustees on the County Parks was involved in the Air National Guard, and
what it ended up doing, and promoting was the Air National Guard would
come in by helicopter, and take all the rusty cars out` of the Pine Barrens.
So, there are no more junk cars in the Pine Barrens. 1 had an offer, and
I am trying to think of a way, and I am going to give it to the Board to
think also, I have had the National Guard offer to do a program with us.
They don't have helicopters. They would have these great big trailer truck
beds, which could transport junk cars out of town. There would be no
cost to -anybody involved no matter where, and the dealer that they take
them to would reap the profits of the junk, but it would remove them from
Southold Town. So, I am talking to the Commander at this point, and we
are going to look at how they can help us with their program. Another
program they are doing is in relation to substance abuse. I have given it to
the Substance Abuse Committee to review. It is done in the fourth grade,
and some of the other grades. It would be a compliment to the DARE
Program perhaps. There are many things that the National Guards are now
doing with communities. They have heavy equipment. I think we -are going
to have some good opportunities to work with them on some of these
projects, so keep in mind if you come up with an idea. That's all I have to
report. If there is nothing else from the members of the Board I will
entertain a motion to adjourn. (No response) I wanted to congratulate
Cutchogue School. Yesterday they broke the ground .for their new school,
Mattituck-Cutchogue in the East. Cutchogue site. We all received our hard
hats, and I also have a gold shovel back here, also, that they gave me,
but it is nice to see that they are on their way. Mr. Siegmann was also in
attendance as a guest, and it was nicely done. That's it, Paul. Good night,
Paul. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us.
Moved by Councilman Romanelli, seconded by Justice Evans, it was
RESOLVED that this Town Board meeting be and hereby is adjourned at
9:10 P.M.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman
Romanelli, Councilman .Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie,
Supervisor Cochran.
This resolution was duly ADOPTED.
Elizabeth A. Nevill
Southold Town Clerk