Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB-08/12/1998-FI -h0 AUGUST 12, 1998 REGULAR MEETING A Regular Meeting of the Southold _Town Board was held on August 12, 1998, at Fishers Island, Southold, New York. Supervisor Cochran opened the meeting at 1 :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 Gregory F. Yakaboski SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I would like to thank Fishers Island for once again offering the opportunity to come to the island, and greet each and every one. We had a meeting earlier, which was open, an open meeting, with the Ferry District, and we are building some lines of communication, which is always a positive direction. We would like to introduce those attending today in case there is anyone from the island that would like to speak to these people. We feel it is an opportunity for officials, not only from Southold, but from Suffolk County, and New York State to get to know you all of a little better, and you would get to know us. We are going to introduce all the officials, so that you know who is here, 'and my Deputy, Bill Moore is going to help with the list. We are going to share them. We will be starting with Patty Acampora, our New York State Assemblywoman from this district. Patty, would you like to say, hello? PATRICIA ACAMPORA: Good afternoon, everyone. It is a pleasure to be here. As usual you have beautiful weather. It was a beautiful trip over. I was just talking to some of the people here on some of the issues that I have been involved in, and certainly I will continue to be very earnest in the advocacy for the fisherman and lobsterman, who are suffering problems this year. I would like, also, to thank publicly while we are here our Regional Director Ray Cowan, who has assisted us through the DEC. He has helped us. Also, Captain Eugene Cocoran is here from the New York State Police, who has been very helpful, when we had some problems back in November, December. So, those agencies, I thank them very much. This year is an interesting year in the Senate. One of the pieces of legislation we do have was to increase the number commissioners for Fishers Island Garbage District. So some of the legislation during these year, I think the most important for Home Rule Message has come out of Southold for Fishers Island. So, I am here if anyone needs to speak with me. I will be more than happy to speak with you, if there is anything my office can assist with, I am in Riverhead, and I have a card with me if you need a number. Thank you for having me here today. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you, Pat. We have Nicholas, is it Acampora also, the name you are saying, that is what is listed here. We have Bill Flyer, who is with Newsday. He has just begun covering the Town of Southold, so we welcome him. He worked on the series that you see on Channel 12 about historic Suffolk County. I guess it is the whole of Long Island, and now they didn't know what to do with him, so they put him out in Southold, so it is nice to have you with, us, Bill. DEC, New York State Tony Cava, John Conover, Mark Carrera. EugeneCoccoran from the New York Police Department out of the Hampton Bays area. Ray AUGUST 12, 1998 ', � Coway from Stony Brook, our DEC leader. Fred Daniels, I think he is on the island for Emergency Preparedness. Diane Devon from Mike Caracciolo, his office. Diane, you are here somewhere. Craig Elgut, DEC. Stanley Fargas, New York State- DEC. No one is in the office. Suffolk County Department of Planning is Andrew Freleng, and Department of Social Services is Rose Fuences, and Theirry Garvy, another New York State DEC person. COUNCILMAN MOORE: My list is of County, and some local people as well. We have Jim Grathwohl, who is on the committee, Friends of Fort Corchaug from over in Southold, Brian Hassemann from the Resource Center, Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services. Tom Iwanejko, Suffolk County Department of Public Works, Florida Jones, Department of Social Services, Steve Jones, Suffolk County Department of Planning, Steve Keuhhas, from the District Attorney, ADA, Harry Mulhall, Suffolk County Probation Department, Thomas Martin, Suffolk County Department of Health, Douglas McCabe, Department of Agriculture, Joseph Michaels, Assistant Deputy Suffolk County Department of Public Safety, Katherine Murphy, Red Cross Kathleen Newcomer, Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Erik Parks, Staff Assistant of Congressman Forbes, Paul Ponturo, Suffolk County Department of Health, Maureen Porta, Suffolk County Department of the Aging, Frank Randall, Suffolk County Department .of Health Services, Holly Rhodes-Teague, Director of Suffolk County Department of Aging, Michael Schlosberg, Suffolk County Clerk's Office, SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Phyllis Atkinson is from the Board of Assessment Review, Jim Bunchuck, who is the Department Head of the Landfill in Southold, Laura Collins, who is a new member on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Joseph Conway, Joe is our Chief of the Southold Police Department, John Cushman, who is our Accounting Officer, and runs that department for us very well indeed. Ed Dart, who is from our Tree Committee, Jim Dinizio from the ZBA, Melanie Doroski from my office. Mel and Ruthanne Woodhull is from my office also. Ruthanne runs f the office, and they had the assignment of purchasing and setting up I{ lunch, so thank you both for helping make the day. Of course, we all know Louisa Evans, Board member. Ed Forrester is from our Enforcement and Building,. Don Fredericks, who is with the Shellfish Advisory Committee, Valarie Scopaz, who runs the Planning Department, John Sullivan, he is from the Board of Assessment Review, Robert Van Bourgordien, he is on our Agricultural Advisory Committee. Bob, thank you. Greg Yakaboski is our Town Attorney. I just want to take a moment, though because I did hit these listed, and I did hit Louisa, but I would like to interject right here, and introduce the Board.- I will start on my left, and Greg Yakaboski is the Southold Town Attorney. Then we have John Romanelli, who is a new Board member. Then we have Alice Hussie, who is a Senior Board member. It doesn't mean old, it means senior, and we have Bill Moore who is my Deputy and also, Councilman, and Betty Neville our Town Clerk, and of course, Louisa, and then Brian Murphy, who is our Board member. Bill, continue. COUNCILMAN MOORE: We also have Craig Siracusa, Regions Director from Suffolk County Executive's Office, Paul Sparza, who is our cameraman from Channel 27, Robert Stanonis, Suffolk County Department of the Aging, John Stype from the Stype from Stype Insurance Company, which is the company that helps keep the town squared away on it's insurance. Mary Ann Wowak, Legal Assistant to the Suffolk County Legislature is here. Ed Boyd with the Fire Chiefs Council is here, Claire Glew from the Town Assessors Office, Gerry Goehringer, the ZBA Chairman, John Jerome is here helping setting up. He is from Southold Maintenance Department. Bob Kassner is here from the Planning Board. Trustee Jim King is here, our lobsterman. He is friend of lobsterman on Fishers Island. Bill Kremers is here from the Planning Board. Vee McKeighan our Director • of the Human Resource Center, along with Karn McLaughlin, who works at the Human Resource Center as well. Community Development Director Jim McMahon, Val Meyer from the Landfill is here. Trustee Ken Polywoda is here. Our Tax Receiver, Marilyn Quintana, John Raynor, who is our Emergency Management Coordinator or Director, Ken Reeves, Department head of Recreation, Jamie Richter, the Highway Department Town Engineer, Barbara Rudder from the Town Accounting f' AUGUST 12, 1998 Department, Scott Russell, one of our Assessors, and Dick Ryan, the Chairman of our Land Preservation Committee. Thank you. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I think I skipped Lydia, Lydia Totora, ZBA. Thank you, Lydia. Sorry about that. Is there anyone that I have skipped on the list. We have tried to check in with those of you who were boarding this morning. We didn't want to lose anyone on shore. Okay, as you may or may not know the Town Board has a policy that a this time before we act on any resolutions, those attending may certainly offer their input to the Town Board, or any comments in relation to the resolutions on the agenda. ti If not, if it is just general Town business, that you would like to share something with us, we will take that at -the end of the meeting. So, at this u! time before we begin to pass the resolutions, is there anyone that would like to address the Town Board in relation to the resolutions? (No response.) If not, I am going to read the first resolution. I would like Jim King to join me up here. Jim and I worked on this resolution, and I would say that Jim gave more input than I may have, but we both feel very strongly about it. Although Jim, this is not his Board to vote, I would like him to be here with me, because of the support he has shown for the lobster industry on Fishers Island. 1 .- Moved by Supervisor Cochran, seconded by Councilman Moore, WHEREAS, the lobster resource is the most valuable marine resource in New York State, and WHEREAS, the American lobster resource has been declared over-fished throughout its range, mandating fishing effort reductions and lobster stock rebuilding to sustainable levels, and WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State of New York that' the primary principle in managing the State's marine fishery resource is to maintain the long term health and abundance of marine fisheries resources and their habitats, and to ensure that the resources are sustained in usable abundance and diversity for future generations, and WHEREAS, utilization and allocation of available resources will be administered consistent with the restoration and maintenance of health stocks and habitats, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold strongly support the implementation of a Fishers Island Lobster Conservation Area, crafted to reduce fishing effort, protect and increase the brood stock abundance and reduce fishing mortality to levels which would minimize risk of stock depletion and recruitment failure and maintain the stewardship relationship between fisherman and the resource, as per Supervisor Jean Cochran and Trustee James King. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Jim, thank you for helping me on this, and let's see how the Board votes. 1 .- 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: This will be sent to the Governor, to all key people in government, and different agencies throughout New York State in hopes that they will put into place conservation area. We are not saying that you can't do certain things, but we certainly should begin to look at preserving and managing the resources, so hopefully this will taken in all seriousness and see some results. We will certainly will continue to fight for it. Thank you, Jim. 2.- Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilman Romanelli, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby approves the preparation and filing of an application to the New York State Department of - Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) and the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for designation of the creeks and embayments of this Town as a Vessel N-Discharge Zone (NDZ); and be it further RESOLVED that the Peconic Baykeeper is hereby requested and authorized to assist the Town in the preparation and , filing of said application. f " AUGUST 12, 1998 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 Councilwoman Hussie, seconded by Justice Evans, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby accepts, with regret, the resignation of Katherine Holbrook as a technician under the Fishers Island Safe BTI Program. 3.-Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Murphy, Councilman k Romanelli, Councilman Moore, Justice Evans, Councilwoman Hussie, Supervisor Cochran. This resolution was duly ADOPTED. 4.-Moved by Councilman Murphy, seconded by Justice Evans, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby appoints Ann Ellis as a Technician under the Fishers Island Safe BTI Mosquito Program, to replace Katherine Holbrook who resigned, at a salary of $6.50 per hour, effective immediately. 4.-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: That is the end of the planned resolutions. We did feel that we would like to share some things with you, that are going on in the mainland. Reverend Dozier was supposed to be with us today, and at the last minute he was unable to join us, but many of the Board members are liaisons to different 'committees throughout the town, and it is their responsibility to work with these committees. They report back to the Board so that we know what is going on where. Councilman Moore does work with the Anti-Bias Task Force Committee, and Bill, we are sad that Reverend is not with us, but if you would just maybe fill in a little bit, and explain and share what the committee function is. f COUNCILMAN MOORE: Thank you. The paraphrase on what was said, evil can happen when good people sit by and do nothing, and the Town Board of the Town of Southold decided not to sit by and do nothing, it declared 1998 to be a Bias-Free Year for the Town of Southold. It sounds great and thoughtful, and it's a great goal. It doesn't make it so. It also created several years ago an Anti-Bias Task Force. This the focus was really to be more active, and do more things. - The Anti-Bias Task Force has three sub-components, one is an education component which goes into the schools to try and show children at an. early age what bias is about, and how damaging it is to other people. It has no place in a community of people who pride themselves on open-mindedness and concern for their neighbors. The second element of this organization is a legal committee which looks at some things of hate crime legislation pending in Albany, and trying to encourage it's adoption, and the third is a social component, which is to encourage interaction between people who might not otherwise interact, and this summer we had a terrific' 1950's Motown Dance down at the American Legion Hall in Greenport. So, it is an instance where it is a very active committee. A wide range of people are involved all over the community, and we are happy to be a part of it. It's too bad Reverend Dozier couldn't make it, because he could expound more fully on what all is going on, but I am happy to be part of that committee and serve on it on behalf of the Town Board. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you, Bill. We have a Supervisor's update here, and there are several issues that are happening, and things going on that are important that you have updates on. The first one is the Community Preservation Project Plan, which many of you probably know more as the 2% Land Bank Bill. In fact, I just attended the meeting in Riverhead the other day, and the discussion followed, well, gee, if we put Community Preservation on the ballot in November people aren't really going to know which plan it is, so I think they are putting both the 2%, so you will identify with the plan that is being developed, and going on in the Town of Southold. Valarie Scopaz, our head Planner. Dick, are you a part of this? I don't who has been updating. Just yourself? Dick Ryan, he is here. He is Chairman of our Preservation Committee, and Brian is the I AUGUST 12, 1998 liaison Town Board member with that committee. As I said, this will. be on the ballot in November, so it is important that we all know what is going on. VALERIE SCOPAZ: I just wanted to .give you a brief update. As you know in June of this year, the Governor signed his legislation into being, and the Town has until September 1st to put together a draft plan and a map, which shows which properties we would preserve providing we take part in this program. All of this has to be put together in time for September 1st. It has to be put together 60 days prior to the November election. We put together a draft. Extra copies will be left with Louisa. I am hoping that copies can be distributed to wherever, local library, the post office, pass it around. I think you should take a look at it. Just so you know have the map here. This map was prepared by the staff in the building, Planning staff along with the Land Preservation Commission committee, and also all the other different departments in Town Hall, and also from Fishers Island. A special trip was made by the Planning staff with Dick Ryan, along with Tim Caulfield of the Peconic Land Trust, and Brian Murphy. They came on Saturday, July 25th to go over this map here, and to solicit input as to what changes should be made to the map. On the far left is the- update of what we did on this map. The corrections have been incorporated into our final copy, which is on the left. This is what is going to be the subject of the Town Board public hearing next week, August 18th. If it is adopted by the Town Board as a final plan, this is what will be before the voters in November. Just to give you a brief background, what is shown in orange on the map, is the property that we are proposing to be put on as potential acquisition. This is a 100% voluntary program, there has some concern about that. I just want to mention that some of these properties, there was a rationale behind picking out these properties. The Legislation requires certain types of property to be considered. We not only looked at the listing of the protected property, but we took into account the recommendations of Fishers Island Growth Plan, and the Fishers Island Watershed Study, which we had done in connection with the Suffolk County Health Department two or three years ago. So, we tried to incorporate all those recommendation into this map. Also, of note, there is a printout of all the recommended properties. On August 5th a mailing went out to all the property owners that we had noted on the map, and I am hoping that all the letters have reached their destination. We received a few back in the office, none from Fishers Island so far, that were undeliverable. That basically gives you a synopsis of what this program is about, and just to let you know that your property is on the list. The program is a voluntary program. What that means is that you as property owner have this as an option, if you so choose to exercise it. You are not bound to sell your property, the whole property. You can sell partial rights to your property. All of this is explained in the text here, so I suggest if you have a few minutes to go through it explains the various mechanisms, or preservation options that the Town will consider in conjunction with the property. If there are any questions we have Dick Ryan here also, and Greg Yakaboski, he can talk about the legal aspects of the legislation. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you. Are there any questions in relation to this bill? Yes? TWIG STICKNEY: Quickly in summary, the 2% goes into a pot, or a pool. I assume this is sort of going to several. . this is segregated by the area that it comes from. In other words, if $5,000,000 of the property gets over to Southold proper, Fishers is excluded from that. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Fishers is a part of the Southold Town. Each of the five East End towns is separate, and Fishers Island, of course, is a part of Southold Township, so they become available, and what is so nice about this is the money will not just be 'used for open space, or farmland development rights, it can be used for scenic vistas. It can be used for wetland areas. It can be used for historic structures, if you have historic houses here, so it is very broad. There is many, many things. Riverhead and Southold's plan is for improved property, $150,000. Anything above the $150,000 would have the 2% attached to it. For unimproved land it would be $75,000, so if there was young person that is going to buy a house for $180,000, they would only 2% on the $30,000. Okay? Now, you don't have spend it AUGUST 12, 1998 TWIG STICKNEY: It's not so much that, I guess it goes back to the age old, you know, if you put in whether we get .back; the custom here is we put in, are we assured of getting back? Might we get back more than what we put in, or? SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: No. I would like to think that it is all of us, not just me put in, or you put in, you are a part of Southold Town, and we respect, and we like having you as part of Southold Town, and if there is recommendations from the island in relation to a purchase it will be given every consideration. Committee-wise the bill calls for having a committee, rather than duplicate with a committee we felt that we would use the Land Preservation Committee. We did have an applicant from Fishers Island, but it was felt that rather than put them as a full member of the committee, we would have them as a liaison, and they will be invited, they will receive minutes every meeting. They will be invited to come over whenever there is some piece of property or something historic that Fishers Island feels they would like to be looked at, and purchased. So, we are involving the island as much as we possibly can. It is not a you and 1, it is a we. We are going to work together on this. It will benefit all of us. Yes, sir? FRANK BURR: It would seem that having a full member of the committee would be excluding the concerns. It would seem that it would add creditability to Fishers Island representation. I am sure there are reasons why, and I would imagine that they could be accomplished, and whatever attendance can be felt given whether on other issues, but having a representative and maybe an alternate from Fishers Island I think just addressing the issue that was just made would, I believe, raise the credibility of involvement to the appropriate level. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak to this issue? CHERRY RAFFERTY: Cherie Rafferty, Fishers Island, New York. I am always hesitant about this type of use of the land. I wondered whether you would be selecting, for example, the larger piece. If you choose between two pieces, I would like to know a little bit more before we really decide on a system such as this. Thank you. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Anyone else like to address the Board? (No response) It is going to enable us to purchase additional land, as I said, not only on Fishers Island, but on the mainland. It is problem we all see. There is a piece of property here on the island right now, that the Town is looking at. We don't have good news for you yet, but hopefully we will have. We are concerned with Fishers Island, so although there will not be a permanent member of the committee at this point, it will be liaison. As I said, we incorporated the Land Preservation Committee, because that was already in place. We had two vacancies, and we have filled those vacancies, one with a person from the vineyards, the grapes, he manages a vineyard, and the second person is someone who is very involved with the waters, and the marine industry, and we have tried to keep a balance on the committee with people from different areas. So, as vacancies come along perhaps that can be considered, but at this point we would like this gentleman to be a liaison with approval from the island here, and we will keep him informed as much as any voting member. Any other comments in relation to the Community Preservation Fund? (No response.) If not, we will move along. John Raynor has been meeting with, I believe, people from the County, and the State, in relation to the emergency plan. - JOHN RAYNOR: Good afternoon. 1 will just give you a quick update on the Town's activities in relation to the Millstone Nuclear facility, and the safety emergency plan for the Fishers Island residents. About three years ago under the direction of Supervisor Cochran we initiated a review of the plan that was in place with the NRC for Fishers Island, and we found it to be deficient for a number of reasons. Number one, there would lines to evacuate the population to New London, regardless of what type of incident we had at : Millstone. Within this petition both FEMA and NRC should open the Millstone safety plan with revision to give the town more options. We have recently have been successful, but it took awhile dealing with the NRC. During that same period, as you know all the—after that Millstone was shut down because of operating safety violations. About a month ago the NRC did give Northeast Utilities permission to restart reactor number i Fj AUGUST 12, 1998 three, which is their newest reactor. Northeast also hopes to get reactor number two on the line this fall, and they have decided to shut down the oldest reactor, number one. They won't be putting it back on line. This is pertinent. As of now Millstone is ready to shut down again. They developed what they described as a minor leak of non-reactive water from a valve, so they are going to be shut down for a minimum of. seven to ten days. As the Supervisor said, right now I am meeting with representatives of New York State, and Suffolk County, along with Alan Thibodeau for the island. We are very close to presenting our final revision of the plan to the Town Board, and to FEMA, and NRC, and basically what we want to do is keep it in light . the type of- incidence . .we could -have. at. Millstone. We wouldn't have enough of options, and what we are looking at is the first option is a sheltering place on the island. It . is very possible that the release will be not significant enough to evacuate the people. Evacuation of the island at any time, especially in the summer is not something that we are going to take lightly. So our plan will focus putting sheltering in place, and it will also call for evacuating the population, if necessary, to either Orient Point or Stonington, Connecticut. Recently the ferry district ran a test to make sure the boats could get into Stonington. That test was successful. On the Long Island Sound side we have already set up shelters, busing, and we hope to reach an agreement with Cross Sound Ferry for transportation. When that plan is done we will present it to the Town Board for discussion, hopefully approval, and then FEMA will accept it. We are actually pretty happy what we have been able to accomplish. It is a large task force to deal with the nuclear facility.- We have developed before Suffolk County and New York State, and I am happy to say Northeast Utilities of the State of Connecticut have been very cooperative. We hope it is going to get done as soon as possible. Somebody asked me the time frame on this. The Supervisor wanted it to get done yesterday. We would prefer that the plant did not reopen until we had our plan in place. We had FEMA evaluation and exercise here a couple of years ago. Judge Evans participated, and in that exercise we were able to prove that New London is not a viable option, because in the scenario New London was contaminated, and three hours later they asked us to move the island into New London, so our questions with the plans proved to be correct. So, based on that actual demonstration, and the other that we have done we may have convinced them that we do need a change of plan. We have been seven to ten days time to work on it. We are going to take it seriously. I like to get back to our meeting. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: John, thank you. Does anyone have a question of John? (No response.) Bob Kassner is a member of our Landmark Preservation Commission, and he wanted to share some readings from the committee, plus some information. BOB KASSNER: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Bob Kassner. I am a member of Southold Landmark Preservation Commission. The Commission asked me to address very briefly, for the reason that there is no home, not one single home, a historic site on Fishers Island in the Town's Register of historic places, and sites. This kind of surprises the Commission. The reason perhaps may be some misunderstanding of the Commission's purpose. There is actually no prohibition against changing the facade, or building anything on their home. You can even demolish it, although we would hope you wouldn't. One of the advantages of the commission listing, several 1 think, one is it is a prestigious designation for their home. You would go on Southold's official Town listing of historic homes. We do have a book of historic homes, or even a site, if you have a historic site. There is a very large and attractive brass plaque you are awarded at a Town Board meeting from the Supervisor, which can be affixed to your home. So I just wanted to say that if anyone wishes to be on the Register, please come forward, and let the Commission know. We would appreciate your input. Thank you. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thanks, Bob. This is a voluntary program, and it does not impose anything on you. It is just that it keeps us updated on the old homes that we have within the township, and as Bob said, you can make changes to your home: It is not going to prohibit anything, but we certainly love to, if there are old sites or homes on Fishers Island have them as a part of the listing for Southold Town. I would just like to update you. The last thing on the agenda is junk car removal. I went into New York City to the Association of Towns meeting this past year, and one AUGUST 12, 1998 ' of the programs was the National Guard and their Guard Help Program. I have a son that is a Colonel in the National Guard. He is commander of the 369th Harlem Hellfighters, so he is right there with a lot of good guys, and so I decided I would go to the seminar. I don't think there were anymore than five of us there, but they began to spell out, share with us, what the National Guard is trying to share with municipalities, and towns, and villages. It is support in many ways. They have a drug abuse program, which is absolutely great. I would like to see it incorporated into Southold's DARE Program, or perhaps run it. It is for 7th graders, and it is done through the ,;National Air Guard. One of the projects that we are looking at, Louisa had. mentioned at one time that there were rust cars on Fishers Island. I said, aha, I was a Park Commissioner for the County at the time that we had the National Guard remove the junk cars from the Pine Barrens. So, to me it sounded like a pretty logical project, that we could do perhaps for Fishers Island, so I have been working back and forth with the National Air Guard, and I understand the General up-state New York, this is his favorite project. He thinks this is one he would like to see go, so we are very hopeful. They have to wait for Federal funds to come down October 1st to pay for this. They are very hopeful that they will be able to airlift the junk cars off Fishers Island over to the mainland, and from there they will be taken to a junk dealer. I believe that they are directly working with the DEC. It is not our responsibility to do that part. Batteries, any liquids have to be removed from the cars before they are airlifted, but they did this very successfully, as I say, in the Pine Barrens, so there is no reason it can't happen here. So, we are still trying to put things in place. We are still working, and we are working our way through forms, and I just had to send a letter that we don't have any sling type businesses on the island, and competition with the Air Guard to move these things off, so hopefully this will all work out, and we will be able to move the junk cars from Fishers Island. I am going to have to know how many, what kink, and so on, and so forth for them before this happens. They all have to be moved to the airfield, so that they are all- in the same area, but of course this information will come to you through Louisa later on, but-they would like a number of approximately how many junk cars we do have over here on the island, so if you know of any, please, notify Louisa so she can do a master list, and we will have that information. Okay? Does anyone have any questions, any other topic you would like to discuss with the Town Board? Yes, sir? FRANK BURR: Frank Burr. First of all I on just a personally basis I would like to thank Supervisor Cochran and the Board, and all of .the people who came, and are spending a day out here. I know we all appreciate how busy all your schedules are, and we most appreciate your coming out and your attention to the affairs of Fishers Island. I wanted to just bring up two subjects, one it has to do with really a thank you to the Town Board, and Representative Acampora for their support of affordable housing here on Fishers Island for the year-round residents, and I thought you might briefly bring them up to date on what has transpired, and to thank you especially for a recent development. I was one of the founders of Walsh Park. It is ten years old this year. You probably remember that the project was to purchase a tract of land, twenty-four acres, at the west end of Fishers Island, and to develop on those twenty-four acres, twelve sites, for the purpose of providing residences for year-round families. The uniqueness of, this project is that the corporation which is tax-exempt owns the underlying land, and issues a thirty-five year renewal lease to those people who are going to buy the houses that go on top of this land, so effectively what Walsh Park Corporation has done is to buy and 'develop this interstructure, put the foundations in first to the point of putting a home that comes from Connecticut Valley to these sites on Fishers Island. I know many of have been up there, but it is a wonderful project. All twelve houses are full. I think what is unique about this project is that the home is owned by the persons that live in that home. The land is owned by the corporation; and you know going back to the original formation of Walsh Park our concern was give it into the right hands, and have it flip_ into the wrong hands, and to this point we have been effective in being able to sustain this project for year-round housing. The fact that last year it's the first turnover of one of the original buyers, and it worked according to Hoyle. That is it went into the hands of another year-round family, which pleased us greatly. Also the thank you is to thank the Town Board for the resolution, that was passed here several years ago, and that was to support Walsh Park being a recipient of the house that became the AUGUST 12, 1998 County's via the non-payment of taxes. I would like to report to you, as you know, that it did come to Walsh Park, and I would further like to report that we are very close now to be getting the renovations of this house. It has land unused for a long period of time. We have had some wonderful volunteer help from our friends within Walsh Park, and within the island, to clean up the inside of this house, which was pretty well vandalized, to clear the yard, and prepare this house for renovations. We have a contractor on the island, who is volunteered to play a major role to put this house in shape for us at a price, one that we can easily afford. It is going to be done at cost, or less, and we being a tax-exempt corporation can offer some ability to have -a person restore it; a margin of the issuing letter with respect to taxes. So, we thank you for that support. We report happily that we are about to renovate this house, and it will be the thirteenth home, and we are contemplating making this a rental property, because as you heard before, I think, rental property on Fishers Island in terms of quality rental projects have been an issue, and -we are going to try and address that issue. So, that is one thing. The second thing, I am the President of the Fishers Island Development Corporation, which owns the roads at the east end of Fishers Island. I have been working, as the corporation has, very closely with Nancy Hunt, and the Police Advisory Committee with respect to law enforcement and safety issues here on Fishers Island. I would like to say briefly, that we have a wonderful coming together early this year with Chief Conway, your Chief of Police, our Chief of Police, and Captain Eugene Corcoran, the head of Troop L, and subsequently we heard from the Inspector Richard Arbourne from Albany with respect to our concerns about law enforcement safety on Fishers Island. I would like to report just briefly that from the point of view of our agenda, we were seeking a number of things, an increased commitment to law enforcement (tape change) About the idea of Town police, and for a lot of reasons it is not an especially practical solution to Fishers Island to have your Town policeman. However, we have, and I believe the Chief recently addressed the Town Board, have requested that the constable force be reenforced. There is a potential retirement of one of the two, and whether that person retires or not, we would like to Town Board to consider adding yet a third Constable. The remoteness of Fishers Island, and the difficulty of bringing any help here anytime here soon, requires that we get outside help in terms of our law enforcement and safety needs. I think it goes without saying, that is the prime line, because we don't have the numbers of people, and we don't have the depth of crime that exists in other areas, but we do have our remoteness, which does, we think warrant more coverage than we have been getting. We have appealed to New York State Police to extend their season here, and they have been very cooperative, but there are still many months where there is no interstate police coverage here, and just to state the practicalities of it, to have anyone with anybody with any credentials in law enforcement having two constables doesn't do the job. It is just by definition can't do the job. This is a place not covered from December to April, except for the Constable. Not to mention the fact that we need it even in our busy seasons, which are now getting bigger, and bigger, it is kind of May to November now, if not longer. We need the support of not only the two constables we have, but we would like to suggest and urge the Town Board to think seriously about a third one. We have talked to Chief Conway, and we are well aware of his concerns about training, and the 500 hours of training. that are needed for a . full blown constable today make it almost impractical that we could find anyone at the amount of money that is paid to a constable to give up a half of anyone's life to receive. all of that time. On the other hand, in conversations we have come to the conclusion that we think mutually that there is some training that should be given that under Civil Service you can allow this person to receive the title, constable, and that while it is not full-blown we would make an attempt juggling to provide the training we could, both now, and on an ongoing basis, and we would also like to suggest that the medical benefits that have in the past been extended to constables, which is unique we know, be continued because the stipend is not a lot of money to ask people essentially to be on call every day, all day, and that is what a constable is. Secondly, we think that the medical coverage would have a significant impact on enticing people. As you may know we are currently advertising for applicants for the position of Constable, and I understand that one application has been submitted, and a couple of blanks have been taken out, so I guess we can look forward to more in terms of applications, and the purpose really is to just to plead with you and encourage you to give your fullest consideration to our AUGUST 12, 1998 �► getting more coverage than we have, and we think that the constable method of going is an incredible cost affective way. from the Town's point of view, and does give us the kind of level comfort that is greater than what we have today. Thank you. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you. Bill, I saw you write down from December to April they have no protection here. That is like saying to the world I am going on vacation, my house is empty for two days, so you could just kind of just skip over those dates. I don't know how the TV does it, but it is not wise to let the outside world know that from December to April you can come and break in the houses here. Just my way of thinking. Is there anyone else that would like to address the Town Board? JOHN THATCHER: I am John Thatcher, President of the Fishers Island Conservancy, and Jean not only do I endorse what Frank just said, wanted to thank the Town Board personally on behalf of the Fishers Island Conservancy and the Fishers Island. lobstermen for that resolution you passed just a little earlier this afternoon. It is a first step which I think will help enormously because one of things we really want to do is sit down, and talk to people at both the Legislative area, and the regulative, and Ray Cowan, I know, is sitting right there. Hopefully he will listen to what I am trying to save, because unless we get that this problem may not be solved, and I think it can be, and I think it can be in that it will be mutually satisfactory, hopefully to both sides in the dispute. Thank you all very, very much. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you, John Is there anyone else that would like to address the Town Board on any Town Board business? PAT KIBBE: I am Pat Kibbe, and I am on the Fort Wright Association Centennial Committee. I would like to present a plaque to you from the Lighting Committee for letting our lights shine on Fort Wright Officers Row. I appreciate the fact that John Cushman was able to receive all the wonderful donations that the Fishers Island people gave for the lights, and figure everything out for us. Of course, Tom Doherty has just being wonderful, and I know George Esser and I appreciate all the help we received from you for our celebration. Thank you very much SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you very much. I came over for the day for the celebration, and it was a hot summer day. We came across first on the New London Ferry, and then the Fishers Island Ferry, and I thought, now I really appreciate Louisa when she has to use the boats rather than fly over. It is quite a trip, but we had a nice day, and thank you, and we got the lovely book on the Fort, which my son confiscated, but we thank you very much for this plaque, and it will be hung in Town Hall, and thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to address the Board? (No response.) If not, would any of the Board members like to say anything? John? COUNCILMAN ROMANELLI: I would like to say this is my first time on Fishers Island, newly elected on the Board. What I saw so far it is a beautiful place, and want to thank you all for having us here, and what we talked about on the Town Board, Louisa has brought it to our attention a waterfront piece of property that has been tossed around about trying to cut a deal, and buy it. I would love to see this piece of land before we leave here today, if we can. If someone has the opportunity to show it to me, I would appreciate it. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: I think any Board member that hasn't seen it should really go down and see the property that we are talking about. Alice, would you like to say, greeting? ' COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: Thank you. We had that little reference before the introduction between the junior and senior, and it got me -to thinking this is my seventh visit to Fishers Island, and it is a great place. It was great the first time, and it is the second. time. I did have one thing that I wanted to talk to you about, and that is a surprise that I had when Justice Evans had told before that the people on Fishers Island were not interested in being part of a Southold Gas and Electric Utility Company. I am not here to sell anything. I just thought I would ask if you had seen the consultants report, and if you haven't if you want a copy. Your rates I understand are 'Q AUGUST 12, 1998 even worse than ours over in the mainland, so to speak. If we were to break away, if you broke away, as we are hoping to do, your rates would be less, so the only thing I want to say to you is if you are at all interested in this whole thing ask us for a copy of the consultants report, and make up your mind. It is nice to be here again. See you next year. JUSTICE EVANS: May I just clarify something? It's not that we are not interested. It is at this point we don't have enough information for Fishers Island to join and be part of the legislation, and I was hesitant to have us included in legislation without the research being done before hand, and I am hoping that is being done now. COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: This is going to be a little bit of a dialogue. Louisa did mention to me that she felt, or there were those of you who felt, that no investigation be done for Fishers Island. I checked immediately with the consultants when I heard this, because I thought, my goodness, how can do anything without even checking it out? They assured me that they—although they did not talk to you individually, and personally, they did check with the Public Service Commission. They checked with your supplier in Connecticut, and they researched the various forms and reports that are on file, the two states. I was going to get that information to her, and I didn't do it. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Alice, please, get the information to Louisa. COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: Tuesday. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you. Mr. Moore? COUNCILMAN MOORE: Southold Town is a great place, and it is great to have Fishers Island be a part of Southold Town. The Supervisor mentioned before that given the geographic separation we can fall into the us, and them, and we, and you, kind of thing, and hopefully by coming over, and here to visit we can break down that. We have the same thing happen to the village, us and them kind of thing, and Mattituckers can do an us and them, and Orienters can do an us and them, and hopefully we will remember that we are all a part of the same town, and it is one hell of a town, one of the nicest places you can ever visit. I. know you all know that, so we are just preaching to ourselves, but the 2% Land Transfer Tax is one of the many tools that the Town has if the voters pass this referendum. Among other things that are going on the Town as a whole has bonded regularly to buy open space, and farmland preservation rights, so this is just one more tool in a tool kit, if you look at it that way, to help maintain the beauty of a great town, and I want to thank you for your hospitality. I enjoy visiting here by boat, by ferry, by plane. It is a great place, and I thank you again for having us. COUNCILMAN MURPHY: This is my third trip in, I think, in a month and a half. It has been a very unusual experience. I decided this is probably the best kept secret on the whole east coast, Fishers Island, and I hope it stays that way. I know, and I think I voice with the rest-of the Board, we are very happy that you are part of Southold Town, and we hope that we can help you accomplish what you want to accomplish, and you can help us accomplish what we want to accomplish, so I thank you very much, and we will be back. JUSTICE EVANS: I just want to reiterate what Frank Burr said, and thank everybody for coming, all you from the State, the County, and the Town. Also, thank the island residents summer and winter for coming, because if you don't come to this meeting, and ask questions, and talk to people a lot doesn't get done, because we need your participation. I thank everybody for being down here. If you have issues you want brought to the Town Board, just talk to me. SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Betty, would you like to say, hello? TOWN CLERK NEVILLE: Yes, I would. Although I am a new Town Clerk, as of January 1st, I am not new to the town. I think I had my first trip to Fishers Island back in 1968, if I am not mistaken, to come over to do stenography work for the Justice Court, and I have been back many times, and I have enjoyed every trip very much. Thank you. AUGUST 12, 1998 SUPERVISOR COCHRAN: Thank you, Betty. I would like to thank Scudder Sinclair. I am going home . with two boxes of Boroleum. He said I have to share it, but I don't know if I will. I have been looking for this for years. I used to work in a drug store years ago in. Southold when I first got married, and this is the ointment that old Doc Stevens across the street recommended to everyone, so we used to sell this stuff by the case. At some point in my life, maybe when I was on the Board ten or twelve years ago, and I came over here, and they said this is where Boroleum is made, and I said, you are kidding, on Fishers Island, like a factory making this ointment? It wasn't like that, but anyhow, I am just so happy to find it again after all those years, and each Board member might get a half a tube. Thank you for joining us. Moved by Councilman Moore, seconded by Justice Evans, it was RESOLVED that this Town Board meeting be and hereby is adjourned at 2:35 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. Nevi le Southold Town Clerk i