HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG-06/16/2026 WS Denis Noncarrow Town Hall, 53095 Main Road
Town Clerk " , P.O. Box 1179
Registrar of Vital Statistics ` Southold, New York 11971
Marriage Officer ; Fax (631) 765-6145
Records Management Officer Telephone (631) 765-1800
Freedom of Information Officer COUN ,
Office of the Town Clerk
Town of Southold
Agenda
Work Session Agenda
Southold Town Board
June 16, 2026
9:00 AM
PUBLIC NOTICE: The Town Board Work Session will be held in the Southold Town Hall
Annex Basement Meeting Room, located at 54375 Main Road, Southold, NY 11971.
PUBLIC ZOOM LINKS:
You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
When: Jun 16, 2026 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Town Board Work Session
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83246125340?pwd=k3 SgILWpa2NJxbJPRW2Z6Z6IORZ00b.I
Passcode:388728
Additional Zoom Link for Work Session (Beginning at 1:00 PM):
You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
When: Jun 16, 2026 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Town Board Work Session
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://u s06web.zoom.us/i/8 8920468 826?pwd=BTAutN8bygZtdBeXiPR9Zj YxOc SC9Y.I
Passcode:821678
I. Discussion Items- Southold Town Board Work Session
1. 09:00 AM- Chief Steven Grattan and Captain Scott Latham
Southold Town Police Department Achieves New York State Accreditation Status
2. 09:15 AM-Requested Waiver of Southold Town Road Use Policy
Southold Schools Athletic Association 5k- October 31, 2026
3. 09:30 AM-Lillian McCullough, Land Preservation Executive Assistant with
Page 1 of 25
John Sepenoski, Land Management Coordinator/GIS Technician II
CPF Project Plan Update (Open Space)
4. 10:00 AM- Town Board Break
5. 10:15 AM- Councilwoman Alexa Suess, Community Development Project
Supervisor Andrea Sullivan, Town Planning Director Heather Lanza, Planner
Mara Cerezo, Government Liaison Gwynn Schroeder and ATA Julie McGivney
Workforce Housing Code Changes
6. 10:30 AM- Community Development Project Supervisor Andrea Sullivan and
ATA Julie McGivney
Policy Updates and Down Payment Assistance Clarification
7. 10:45 AM- Zac Tomaszewski,Network& Systems Specialist II & Liam Chiello,
Network& Systems Specialist I
IT Department Updates on 1. Laserfiche Access 2. Recommendation for Cyber
Security Training for Employees and
3. Cyber Security Insurance
8. 11:00 AM- Michelle Nickonovitz, Town Comptroller
Bond Report
9. 11:30 AM- Councilwoman Jill Doherty, Town Engineer Michael Collins, &
Director of Public Works Erick Haas
Duty Statement for Architect Position for the Engineering Department
10. Supervisor Krupski
Eminent Domain Lawsuit Payment of Fees/Entire Process
11. Supervisor Krupski
1. Fire Drill Discussion
2. Public Safety Task Force Recommendations Update
12. Executive Session—Labor Matters Involving the Employment/Appointment of a
Particular Person(s)
12:30 PM - Erick Haas, Director of Public Works
12:45 PM - Bill Flinter, Chairman of the Board of Assessors
13. Open Session Cont.
01:00 PM -NYS Senator Anthony Palumbo (via Zoom) and NYS Assembly
Member Tommy John Schiavoni
Veteran Tax Exemptions, Public Safety, Retirement Contributions, SEQRA, Battery
Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Regulations and NYS Rte.25 Road Maintenance
14. 02:00 PM - Councilwoman Alexa Suess, Councilman Brian Mealy and Town
Clerk Denis Noncarrow
Communications Task Force Recommendations
15. Executive Session -Labor-Matters Involving the Employment/Appointment of a
Particular Person(s)
02:30 PM -Nick Krupski, Solid Waste Coordinator
02:45 PM - Kim Fuentes and ATA Julie McGivney
Page 2 of 25
03:00 PM - Town Attorney Ben Johnson
16. Executive Session - Potential Acquisition(s), Sale or Lease of Real Property
Where Publicity Would Substantially Affect the Value Thereof
03:15 PM - Lillian McCullough, Land Preservation Executive Assistant
17. Executive Session -Legal Advice
03:30 PM - Town Attorney Ben Johnson
Page 3 of 25
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From:Ahearn [En ilt a tiaLi iWo wit c rr ail c Lre]
Sent:Tuesday,June 2, 2026 7:25 PM
To: Noncarrow, Denis<O[enisn Cc ou hoJdtownn gy>; Rudder, Lynda
< rnda.rudder town.southoid.n ,gas>; Born, Sabrina< brita. orr towr ,soathold.n >
Cc: Michaelis,Jessica<i s i a,it iciiaelis@town.southgl rn us>
Subject: October 31, 2026 Event Waiver Request
Dear Town Board Members,
On behalf of the Southold School Athletic Association, I am writing to respectfully request a
one-day waiver to allow us to hold our annual 5K race on the morning of Halloween on October
31, 2026. We are hoping to have a Halloween themed event to increase participation.
We understand that the Town of Southold does not permit running or bicycle races between June
1 and November 1. However, we are requesting an exception for October 31 so that this
important community event may take place.
The proceeds from this event directly benefit the Southold School District athletic programs and
help provide support for local students through uniforms, homecoming activities, field day
events, scholarships, and other athletic and educational opportunities.
This event has become a meaningful tradition that promotes community involvement, healthy
lifestyles, and support for our student-athletes. We respectfully ask that you consider granting
this one-day waiver and allow us to continue providing these valuable benefits to our local youth.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Patti Ahearn
Jessica Michaelis
Nicki Mudd46'
Southold School Athletic Association�sEP�914-548-4973
Pattiahean t,( na oii; car
Attached : Application for a permit to hold a special event
ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on
links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.
Page 4 of 25
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TOWN C"1.9RK 0.Box 1179
&11thold,New York 11971
MARRUGEOFFICER 1hle twnno( "11)765-1800
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OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
APPLICA11ON FOR A PERMIT TO HOLD A
SPECIAL EV9NT
PLeAst pro de ALL of the information r uest it below Ineom leW applications"Va ILI,N01,11S
Data:of Submission
Name of Event
Name of Organization; `
Is this a Not-For-Profit Event?
Contact's Name:
Mailing Address: 2
Contact's Phone Number
m
Contact's Email Address:
Event Location and Site D"
(Use additional paper if necessary)
Event Date(s): L3..l ApofQ to
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(include set up and shutdown times and dates)
Nature of Event: C'(.
(Please attach a detailed description to this application)
Time Period(Hours)of Event: From � � to � d
Maximum Number of Expected Attendees:
Specify any special requirements(i.e. road closure,police presence): — a c—
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Page 6 of 25
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Page 7 of 25
RESOLUTION 2015-655
ADOPTED DOC ID: 11028
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION NO. 2015-655 WAS
ADOPTED AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD ON
JULY 14,2015:
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby amends the Town of
Southold's Road Use Policy for Special Events on Town Properties and Roads, adopted on May
7, 2013, and amended on May 20, 2014, effective immediately, and applicable to all future Town
Properties and Roads Special Event Permit Applications; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby directs the Town Clerk to
append the Policy to all applications for special event permits on Town lands and to process all
future applications in accordance with the amended Policy, to read as follows:
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
Polic for Special Events on Town Properties and Roads
In addition to the criteria set forth in Chapter 205 of the Southold Town Code with respect to the
review of events that are proposed to utilize or be held on any land owned, leased or controlled
by the Town of Southold and, in particular, special events on Town roads, and with the exception
of community organized parades, the issuance of a Special Event Permit by the Town Board will
be subject to the following guidelines:
1. All events must be sponsored by a not-for-profit organization or recognized charity and
the applicant must verify that all proceeds generated by the event are wholly for the
benefit of said organization or recognized charity.
2. Events that require the closing of a road shall not be held on a holiday or at the same time
or location of previously approved community or special events absent authorization
from the Chief or Captain of the Police Department.
3. All motorcycle events shall be limited to 600 participants.
4. Applicants may only receive approval for one event in each calendar year.
5. The prior issuance of an approval does not bind the Town Board to approve the same or a
similar event in the future.
6. Failure to comply with any condition of approval may result in revocation of approval
and/or denial of future applications.
In addition to the above, all Bicycle and/or Running Special Events shall be subject to the
following guidelines:
1. There shall be no bicycle and/or running special events conducted within the Town of
Southold during the period of June 1 to November 1.
Page 8 of 25
Resolution 2015-655 Board Meeting of July 14, 2015
2. Organizers and participants of bicycle and/or running special events shall fully adhere to
the "rules of the road" including every applicable provision of the New York State
Vehicle and Traffic Law, including but not limited to VTL §§1231-1234.
3. Organizers of bicycle and/or running special events shall post a deposit of one thousand
five hundred dollars ($1,500.00)to ensure that the roads are returned to pre-event
condition.
4. Where the expected number of persons or the duration of the bicycle and/or running
special event may impact the health, safety and welfare of the public, as a condition to
granting the permit, the Town Board, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police,
may require the applicant to reimburse the Town for the costs of increased police
protection, public safety oversight, and public works facilitation, including any additional
equipment as may be deemed necessary by the Chief of Police to adequately and safely
control and protect the persons attending the event, the event area and traffic in and
around the event area. Such costs shall include all necessary staffing and shall be
provided to the applicant prior to the issuance of the permit.
5. All bicycle events and/or running special events shall be limited to 600 participants.
All special event approvals shall be subject to compliance with the following conditions:
1. They file with the Town Clerk a Two Million Dollar Certificate of Insurance
naming the Town of Southold as an additional insured; a$250 or$500 filing fee
(depending on size of event); a remuneration fee determined by the Chief or Captain of
the Police Department for traffic control; $250.00 or more deposit for clean-up (deposit
to be returned after event upon recommendation of the Southold Town Police Chief;
Southold Town Police Department);
2. Make every effort to control noise;
3. Comply with Chapter 205 of the Southold Town Code to notify neighbors in
advance of event;
4. Coordinate traffic control upon notification of the adoption of a Town Board
resolution with Police Captain;
5. No permanent markings be placed on Town, County or State roads or property for the
event;
6. Any road markings or signs for the event be removed within twenty-four(24)
hours of the completion of the event; and
7. Any parade participants shall not throw candy or other objects at or in the
direction of spectators along the parade route but such items may be handed
directly to spectators.
The Town Board reserves the right to waive or modify any or all of the above guidelines and
conditions as it may deem appropriate under the circumstances presented and to deny any
application for a special event that is determined to not be in the best interest of the residents of
the Town of Southold.
Updated: 7/14/2015 2:32 PM by Lynne Krauza Page 2
Page 9 of 25
Resolution 2015-655 Board Meeting of July 14, 2015
Elizabeth A. Neville
Southold Town Clerk
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Jill Doherty, Councilwoman
SECONDER:William P. Ruland, Councilman
AYES: Ghosio, Dinizio Jr, Ruland, Doherty, Evans, Russell
Updated: 7/14/2015 2:32 PM by Lynne Krauza Page 3
Page 10 of 25
a�
Southold Town Communications Task Force Recommendations
The Communications Task Force seeks to strengthen the connection between Town
government and the community by promoting clear, consistent, and accessible
communication for all residents. The Task Force supports transparency,public trust, and
effective public engagement, and will help ensure that the Town's outreach methods
continue to evolve in response to changing needs and expectations. Through thoughtful
guidance and collaboration, the Task Force will assist Southold in maintaining open,
responsive, and inclusive communication that reflects the values and priorities of the
community,
As part of its work,the Task Force developed and distributed a community-wide
communications survey to identify challenges residents and visitors experience with
Southold Town's current communication practices. (Survey results, strategy materials,
and supporting information are provided in the following pages.)Based on the survey
findings and broader community outreach, four primary areas were identified as priorities
for improving communication with residents and visitors:
I.Website Upgrade
II. Social Media Engagement
III.Email Newsletter
IV. Structure and Oversight for Future Communications
L Website Upgrade Recommendations
1. Recognize the Website as the Foundation of the Public Communications
System. Survey findings overwhelmingly identified the Town website as the most
important long-term communications tool. The website should therefore serve as the
central hub of the Town's communications strategy,with newsletters,email
communications,text notifications, and social media content directing users back to
the website as the authoritative source of information.
SOUTHOLD TOWN COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE REPORT I JUNE 2026
Page 11 of 25
2. Prioritize a Comprehensive Website Modernization Initiative. Survey data
indicates that many residents have difficulty locating information on the current
website. Of the 718 respondents who answered the question regarding ease of finding
information, 632 did not characterize the experience as "very easy."This finding
strongly reinforces the need for a comprehensive redesign and modernization effort.
3. Establish the Website as the Primary Traffic Destination.While a website redesign
may require a substantial implementation period,interim communications efforts
should consistently direct residents to the Town website as the official source for
information.
4. Develop Interdepartmental Communication Practices.Departments should notify a
centralized communications contact whenever public-facing information is updated.A
simple shared-email or notification process could support newsletter production and
improve coordination among departments,the IT Department, and communications
staff,resulting in more synchronized and consistent messaging.
IL Social Media En agxement Recommendations
1. Establish Active Social Media Accounts for Southold Town. Survey findings
indicate that younger residents frequently prefer social media for receiving news and
updates,and that residents generally desire more proactive("push")communications.
Facebook and Instagram were identified as the most commonly used platforms among
respondents, and both are managed within the same platform ecosystem,allowing for
efficient content sharing and administration.
2. Establish a Social Media Policy for Authorized Southold Town Staff.The policy
should apply to"authorized users"who are granted access to Town-managed social
media accounts with Town Board approval. The policy should define eligibility for
authorization, establish standards of conduct,specify permissible and impermissible
content, address paid promotion or advertising, and outline procedures for addressing
policy violations.
3. Permit Department Heads to Request Access to Town Social Media Accounts.
Department heads should be permitted to request access to the Town's Facebook and
Instagram accounts and would be responsible for directing content posted on behalf of
their departments. Existing standalone departmental accounts, such as those operated
by the Recreation Department and the Police Department, should be grandfathered.
Final approval should remain at the discretion of the Town Board.
4. Grant"Authorized Users" One Deputy. Each authorized user should be permitted to
designate one deputy to maintain account continuity during periods of illness,leave, or
other absence.
5. Disable Public Comments on All Future Town Social Media Pages.Disabling
comments would encourage residents to contact departments through official channels
such as email or telephone and may reduce moderation burdens and legal concerns
related to public forums.
SOUTHOLD TOWN COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE REPORT I JUNE 2026
Page 12 of 25
6. Disable Direct Messages on Future Town Social Media Pages.Messaging a Town
social media account should not be treated as submitting an official request or
correspondence.The Town should implement an automatic response directing users to
appropriate official communication channels,such as departmental email addresses or
phone numbers.
7. Use Consistent Branding and Clearly Mark All Future Social Media Pages as
"Town of Southold."All Town social media accounts should be clearly identified as
"Town of Southold"and use the official Town seal as the profile image. Consistent
visual branding across platforms will improve public recognition,trust, and
consistency.
8. Define Permissible Content Shared. Content shared through Town social media
channels should be informational,nonpartisan, and limited to Town-sponsored events,
public notices,and official Town information.
III. Email Newsletter Recommendations
1. Establish a Regular Monthly Email Newsletter. Survey findings indicate that many
older residents prefer email communications, and residents broadly expressed interest
in more proactive("push")information delivery.The Task Force therefore
recommends that the Town consider launching a regular newsletter to provide
ongoing,transparent communication regarding key Town messages,services,
deadlines, and issues of public concern.
2. Distribute the Newsletter Primarily Online. The newsletter should be primarily
web-based,with a limited number of printed copies made available at locations such
as Town Hall, Senior Center, and Recreation Center for residents who do not regularly
use digital platforms.
3. Prominently Feature Newsletter Sign-Up on the Website.The Town should provide
a prominent homepage link and/or pop-up invitation allowing residents to submit their
email address and consent to receive Town communications.This will help build a
robust subscriber list.
4. Assign Content Responsibilities to Department Heads.Department heads should be
responsible for gathering and determining content for their respective departments.
While tasks may be delegated,department heads should remain accountable for
meeting editorial deadlines and ensuring accuracy.
5. Provide Useful and Diverse Content. Initial content may include social media
updates,press releases,Town deadlines,resident service information, emergency
announcements, and educational material such as water conservation guidance,
recycling information,invasive species updates, and storm preparedness tips. Content
should continue to evolve based on public feedback and departmental contributions.
6. Establish a Launch Timeline.The Task Force recommends a launch timeline of
approximately six months following Town Board approval. This period would allow
time to establish governance structures,appoint any necessary committee members,
and finalize editorial and operational procedures.
SOUTHOLD TOWN COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE REPORT I JUNE 2026
Page 13 of 25
7. Establish an Approval Process.A formal review and approval process should be
established prior to distribution of each newsletter.The Task Force believes that
approval by the Town Board would provide a fair and practical level of oversight.
IY.Structure and Oversight Recommendations
1. Establish a Standing Communications Committee.Lang-term communications
efforts will require coordination among Town staff and members of the public with
experience in communications and social media management.The Task Force
recommends the creation of a standing Communications Committee to support
ongoing communications strategy, oversee implementation of major initiatives such as
the website upgrade, and facilitate coordination among the IT Department,Town
Clerk's Office, Government Liaison, and Supervisor's Office.Final decisions would
remain subject to the direction and discretion of the Town Board.
SOUTHOLD TOWN COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE REPORT I JUNE 2026
Page 14 of 25
The Southold Town Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-50 on January 2,2026 to create a task force in
order to gather information needed to establish a Communications committee.The task force sought to
identify communication challenges and opportunities throughout the Town.
The resolution included the following statement about the committee's potential charge: "Through
thoughtful guidance and collaboration, it will assist Southold in maintaining open, responsive, and
inclusive communication that reflects the values and priorities of the community."
Task Force members met in January,and broke into sub-groups; one to draft Town employee policy
guidelines about social media use;the other to create a survey of Town residents.The survey was
developed to gather data about how residents engage with and to obtain information from respondents
as well as to identify any gaps in communication channels,etc.
This report speaks only to how the public survey was conducted and its results.
Launched publicly on March 23,the Southold Town Communications and Engagement Survey was
distributed throughout the Town until the published deadline of April 17,when the online survey was
(closed).This was the first town-wide survey conducted to probe residents' expectations regarding
Town communications as well as the formats relied upon by the public to get Town government
information.
While the survey was conducted primarily online, paper copies were provided through public libraries,
at Town Board meetings and at the Town's Senior Center.A total of 60 paper responses were collected.
All paper copy responses were entered by hand in the database created,and all materials provided were
offered in English and Spanish. Promotional materials stressed a call to action.
The survey subgroup set a goal of at least 380 responses to achieve a statistically significant sample size,
based on the Town's population of 23,732 (2020 Census).This threshold corresponds to a 95%
confidence level and a 5%margin of error.The final response total reached 718,far exceeding
expectations.
Promotional materials, distribution strategy and communication channels:
—Town website acted as the focal point of public communication about the survey.The survey was
embedded in the website and residents were encouraged to complete it online by the April 17 deadline.
The site employed a banner on the home page to grab web-users' attention,with a call to action, and
directing them to the survey.
—Posters were generated in English and Spanish,which included direct links to the online instrument.
Paper copies of the poster,and surveys were distributed to Town Hall, Human Resource Center/Senior
Center, Recreation Center,and libraries;digital copies were shared through a range of networks.
—Press releases in English and Spanish were sent to local media channels—newspapers, local TV and
radio. (Supervisor Al Krupski was interviewed on WLNG Radio,a trusted source.Tu Prensa ran an article,
which was also widely disseminated via social media.
—Town Board members were provided information and encouraged to send flyers with survey links to
their networks.
—The Town Recreation and Police departments posted about the survey,with links, on their Facebook
accounts; both departments have presence in social media contacts.
—Each of the Civics Associations were asked to support dissemination of information about the survey.
All included information in their regular online community e-newsletters.
Page 15 of 25
—Greenport Village shared the survey in their newsletter.
All 718 responses were tabulated after the April 17 deadline, and provide a wealth of information about
respondents' communications experience and expectations,from basic demographic data to sources of
information consulted for town information,social media habits and platforms used,to more
qualitative/subjective insights regarding how informed respondents feel, and if they think adequate
information is regularly provided about Town decisions.
As often is the case with a first-time survey,the data provides the Town with solid baseline information
while raising meaningful questions about respondents' needs, concerns,and ideas about how to
increase public engagement and communication between government and our residents.
SURVEY RESULTS
Q1 Which hamlet or area do you live in?
718 of 718 answered (100%)
Which Hamlet or area do you live in?
Cutcho ue 107
...............__...._...�._�.....��. www__w__......_.....___...._ Cutchogue
East 0 East Marion
wMarion _, 3
Fishers Island 86
Fishers Island
Greenport West 39 Greenport West
Laurel 17 Laurel
Mattituck 85 Mattituck
New Suffolk 26 New Suffolk
Orient 53 orient
Peconic 33 Peconic
Southold 204 Southold
Village of Greenport 38 village of Greenport
Page 16 of 25
1 ,,,
41,
Q2 What is your age group?
716 of 718 answered (99.7%)
What is your age group?
18-29 8
30-44 .. 44 18-29
45-59 103
60-74 _ 355 3044
75+ 206
45-59
60-74
MEN=
7S+
Q3 Which best describes you?(Select all that apply)
714 of 718 answered (99.4%)
... Which best describes you? (Select all that apply)
Homeowner 623
Homeowner
Parent/guardian of school-age
children 31 Parent/guardian of...
Business owner 48 Business owner
Senior 247
Senior
Renter 42
-------�--�-
Seasonal resident 57 Renter
Farmer/agricultural operator 9 seasonal resident
Other 13 Farmer/agricultural... 9
Other 13
Other: Living in parents' home(3), employed in Town (3), resident pastor in church parsonage,student,
artist, parent (2), retired,transplant from Cape May
Q5 Language Spoken at home
713 of 718 answered (99.3%)
English 704
Greek � 2
Spanish 5
Italian/Croatian 1
Korean 1
Page 17 of 25
at
Q6 Where do you usually get Town news
or information about services? Where do you usually get Town news or
information about services?
.,., 718 answered (100%) i i IIII
718 of 7
_._ .._.._.._.._..........._._ Word of mouth M
Word of mouth 285
Municipal website �
Municipal website 236
—._.------�.._,_-- Social-Media...
Social-Media (Facebook,
Instagram) 290 Printed newsletters or...
Printed newsletters or flyers 106 Local newspaper
Local newspaper 432 Email qp
Email 223 Council meetings
Council meetings 48
Oth.e.r wwwwwwww____....._..........._,m_._..._.63w
Other
Community bulletin boards 47 community bulletin...
Channel 22 35 Channel 22
WLNG Radio(92.1 FM) 74 WLNG Radio(92.1 FM)
I am not sure where to get
1 am not sure where t...
Town information 59
Other: Different outlets and Town representative in Fisher's Island, news media (Northfork Buzz,
Northforker, North Fork Patch, East End Beacon), phone/text messaging,Senior Center, Channel 12,
Family& Friends.
Q7 Which ONE source do you rely the most for any information?
698 of 718 answered (97.2%)
Which ONE source do you rely the most for any
Email 126(18.1%) infromation?
Newspaper 224 (32.1%)
Other 43 (6.2%) Email
Print 20(2.9%) Newspaper
Social Media 122 (17.5%)
Other
Website 163 (23.4%)
Print
Social Media r
Website
Other:Word of mouth, participation in meetings. civic associations, libraries, News 12, not local
newspapers and news media (Northfork Buzz, Northforker, North Fork Patch, East End Beacon).
Page 18 of 25
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Q8 If you indicated social media,which platform(s)do you engage with?
If you indicated Social Media, Which platforms do you engage
with?
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Bluesky Facebook Instagram TikTok Truth Social X YouTube
Total 5 106 110 12 7 16 25
*Out of the 122 who responded social media.
Correlation between two variables:
Age group and which one source do you rely the most.
Social
,Age Group Email Newspaper Other Print Media Website Grand Total
18-29 1 1 1 4 1 8
30-44 7 6 1 2 19 9 44
45-59 19 16 1 3 30 34 103
60-74 69 102 27 7 53 90 348
75+ 30 99 13 8 16 29 195
Grand Total 126 224 43 20 122 163 698
Page 19 of 25
01,
Q9 How often do you check for Town information?
713 of 718 answered (99.3%)
Daily ew 105
Monthly 79
Never � 10
Only when there is an
issue 174
Rarely _w 92
Weekly 253
How often do you check for Town information
Daily No=
Monthly
Never
Only when there is an issue
Rarely
Weekly
Q10: How easy is it to find the information you need?
695 of 718 answered (96.8%)
Very difficult 50
Somewhat difficult 222
Somewhat easy 360
Very easy 63
How easy is it to find the information you need?
Very difficult I
. Ill ,ll i
Somewhat difficult
Somewhat easy
Very easy
Page 20 of 25
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Q11: What type of Town information is most important to you?(Select all that apply)
707 of 718 answered (98.2%)
Community Events 420
Emergency alerts 405
Taxes & Billing 335
Board and Committee Meeting Notices,Agendas& Minutes 306
Road work&Closures 302
Housing& Economic Development 289
Planning& Development 266
Zoning 263
Water,Sewer,Waste Services 216
Permitting 212
Recreation &Programs 107
Other 34
What type of Town infromation is most important to you?
Road work&Closures EMINEENNOM
Board and Committee Meeting Notices...
Community Events
Other
Planning&Development
Zoning 11,11111 1 1 BRUNEI w
Housing&Economic Development
Taxes&Billing
Emergency alerts
Permitting
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Water,Sewer,Waste Services
Recreation&Programs a
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Q12: Do you think that you are provided with enough information about decisions that affect your
community?
704 of 718 answered (98.0%)
Somewhat-327 responses (46.4%)
No- 207 (29.4%)
Yes - 128(18.2%)
Not sure-42(6.0%)
Q14: How often would you like to receive Town updates?
702 of 718 answered (97.8%)
Weekly-409 responses(58.3%)
Monthly- 168 (23.9%)
As needed (emergencies only) -98(14.0%)
Quarterly- 27 (3.8%)
Q15: How do you prefer to receive updates?
692 of 718 answered (96.4%)
Email- 539 selections (77.9%)
Text alerts- 119 (17.2%)
Social-Media - 116 (16.8%)
Website updates - 112 (16.2%)
Printed mail- 92 (13.3%)
Other- 12(1.7%)
Q16: Do you have reliable internet access at home?
678 of 718 answered (94.4%)
Yes - 624 responses (92.0%)
Limited -39(5.8%)
No- 15 (2.2%)
Q17: Have you contacted the town in the past 12 months?
704 of 718 answered (98.0%)
Yes -445 responses (63.2%)
No- 259(36.8%)
Q19: How satisfied were you with the response?
477 of 718 answered (66.4%)
Very satisfied - 155 (32.5%)
Satisfied - 175 responses(36.7%)
Neutral -80(16.8%)
Dissatisfied -44(9.2%)
Very dissatisfied - 23 (4.8%)
Q20: Based on your experience,was staff accessible when you needed information?
494 of 718 answered (68.8%)
Yes-366 responses (74.1%)
Sometimes- 107 (21.7%)
No - 21(4.3%)
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Q21: How informed do you feel about local decisions or actions that affect your community?
707 of 718 answered (98.5%)
Very informed — 70(9.9%)
Somewhat informed —431 responses (61.0%)
Not very informed — 183 (25.9%)
Not informed at all— 23 (3.3%)
*A total of 542 people responded that they would like to receive future surveys or updates,on this one.
Open Ended Questions at the End
Q1:What would improve communication? Please describe one-way communications with residents
could be improved.
Q2: Please describe one thing Town government could do to improve communication with
residents
There were 462 responses (Q1: 246 and Q2: 216),which accounted to close to 20 pages of comments
which demonstrated deep engagement with the survey. Responses were synthesized into a single set of
findings.
-Overall Finding
(Synthesized using OpenAl and reviewed manually)
Across both datasets, residents consistently describe town communication as fragmented, difficult to
access, and reactive.The central message is: Residents want a coordinated,transparent, and proactive
communication system that is easy to use and reaches everyone.
Top Communication Challenges
1.Website is the Primary Barrier(Most Dominant Issue)
• Difficult to navigate,outdated, and poorly organized
• Information is hard to find and scattered
• Broken or missing systems(e.g.,document access)
• No clear"current issues"or central dashboard
2. Lack of Proactive ("Push") Communication
• Residents must search for information themselves
• Limited alerts about meetings, decisions, and projects
Need:Shift from passive communication to regular outreach (push model).
3. Strong Demand for Email,Text, and Newsletters
Most frequently requested solutions:
• Weekly or monthly email newsletters
• Text message alerts for urgent updates
• Concise, bullet-point summaries with links
Preference: Quick,scannable updates that respect residents'time.
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4.Transparency&Trust Concerns
• Decisions are unclear, delayed,or insufficiently explained
• Lack of visibility into processes,timelines, and outcomes
• Inconsistent communication during major issues
5. Limited Access to Meetings & Information
• Poor audio/visual quality of broadcasts
• Agendas not shared early enough
• Lack of meeting summaries and highlights
• Barriers for remote residents (e.g., Fishers Island)
6. Fragmented Communication System
• No single, reliable source of truth
• Over-reliance on informal or inconsistent channels
Need:A central hub supported by coordinated channels.
7. Limited Engagement& Responsiveness
• Residents report difficulty getting responses
• Desire for:Town halls and public forums, office hours with officials, more visible community
presence
Insight: Residents want two-way communication and meaningful engagement.
8. Inclusion Gaps
Certain populations are underserved:
• Seniors (need print/mail and phone options)
• Fishers Island residents (geographic isolation)
• Part-time residents and non-digital users
Need: Communication must be multi-channel and inclusive.
9. High Interest in Development,Zoning& Local Issues
Residents want:
• Early notification of proposals
• Clear timelines and status updates
• Opportunities for input before decisions
What Residents Want
A Central, User-Friendly Information Hub
• Modern, easy-to-navigate website
• One place for all town information
• Clear summaries of current issues and updates
Regular, Proactive Communication
• Weekly or monthly newsletters
• Alerts for meetings, zoning changes, and major issues
• Ongoing updates—not just final decisions
Multi-Channel Communication Strategy
• Email(top preference)
• Text alerts (for urgency)
• Website(central source)
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• Social media, newspapers,and mail (supporting channels)
Transparency&Clarity
• Explain decisions,timelines,and impacts
• Share information early in the process
• Provide honest,straightforward communication
Opportunities for Engagement
• Town halls and community meetings
• Feedback tools and surveys
• Office hours and direct access to officials
Key Insight:This is not simply a communication tool issue; it is a systems,coordination,and trust issue.
Residents are asking for a clear, consistent,and resident-centered communication strategy.
Identified Core Priorities
1. Redesign and Modernize the Website: Centralized, intuitive, and regularly updated
2. Launch a Regular Email Newsletter:Weekly/monthly summaries, alerts,and key updates
4. Strengthen Transparency Practices: Clearly communicate decisions,timelines,and rationale
5. Expand Engagement Opportunities:Town halls,outreach events, and accessible leadership
6. Adopt a Multi-Channel Approach: Ensure all residents are reached, regardless of access or
location
Bottom Line
Residents want to be:
• Informed (clear,timely updates)
• Included (accessible and equitable communication)
• Engaged (opportunities to participate)
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