HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB-03/15/2022 PH 1
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK : STATE OF NEW YORK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
--------------------------------------------------
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
--------------------------------------------------
Southold, New York
March 15 , 2022
7 : 00 P . M .
B E F 0 R E :
SCOTT A . RUSSELL, SUPERVISOR
LOUISA P . EVANS , JUSTICE
JILL DOHERTY, COUNCILWOMAN
GREG DOROSKI , COUNCILMAN
BRIAN 0 . MEALY, COUNCILMAN
SARAH E . NAPPA, COUNCILWOMAN
March 15, 2022 2
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : I am going
to invite anybody who would like to comment
on any of the specific agenda items , please
feel free?
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Hi .
Katherine Stepnoski . I see, Number 6 is the
280 , the Housing, is that going to be --
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: That was
this morning .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : You ' re
talking about the agenda; right?
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Yes .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: That was
from the Work Session .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Yes . That
was from the Work Session . There is nothing
on the agenda tonight for adoption . Big
House Legislation went to the Planning Board
for SEQRA Review . And you know, planning
study, recommendations . We certainly have
time and now that we have the committee
meeting set up with joint meeting with the
AG Community, I know that was a big concern
for you . We can identify and get that in
the code at the same time .
March 15, 2022 3
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : I was
curious how far you guys were on the
definitions ?
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: We didn ' t
discuss definitions today, but in that draft
we had today, it did include agricultural
workforce housing .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : And we ' re
going to work with the AG Community to come
up with the AG work house definition at that
Code Committee Meeting . It ' s a perfect
place for all around the table .
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : And the
grant is out for Suffolk County and New York
State as far as developments or improvements
to farm worker housing . So that ' s a huge
relief for us and the farm community and the
grower community . It isn ' t just ( inaudible )
farm. It ' s other people in the community
who also filled out the survey and will try
to move forward and improve conditions . Not
all growers . Thank you .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Thank you .
Would anybody else like to address --
MS . RANDY WADE : Randy Wade, 6th
March 15, 2022 4
Street, Greenport . I was so excited .
You ' re doing some special stuff . The
( inaudible . )
(Audio Quality, Microphone Issue . )
MS . RANDY WADE : Of tax ( inaudible )
which is going to be major . They need three
things and we don ' t quite have ( inaudible )
government office that deals with housing
( inaudible ) and has stuff . You can actually
fund it, if you want to do Section VIII with
administrative ( inaudible ) there is
certificates . ( Inaudible ) . The Housing
Authority would be really useful to you
according to -- I know it has come up in the
past . And there is possible -- you know,
some previous hesitancy, but everybody has
hesitancy and we don ' t want to lose the
volunteer emergency workers or the property
taxes ( inaudible ) for the rest of the middle
class . So we really care . And then the
third is the non-profits and the Northfork
Housing Alliance . I ( inaudible ) three
certified . They handle all the education
requirements . It ' s a lot more involved then
what I am saying . But lucky to have them.
March 15, 2022 5
And also I hope you will and we will
continue to talk about transportation
commission and rethinking parking
requirements in Hamlets because we really
want walkable Hamlets . For business and we
can eventually have viable transit . On the
South Fork, they had a demo for ( inaudible )
transit to connect with the bus service and
it proves ( inaudible ) and doing another demo
on the South Fork . So we would certainly
find something like that useful . So thanks
again . You ' re all working too hard .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Randy,
we ' re not working as hard as you are . Thank
you for organizing that meeting, Randy . As
an elected for Southold, I was privy for the
elected on Greenport . It is a greater
community concern . I heard the concerns of
people who are really in want of Affordable
Housing and want to fight for Affordable
Housing . Trying to fight for us here for
Affordable Housing, but just the education
part is so critical and just listening to
concerns of everybody in a unified to make
sure we do the right thing and you are
March 15, 2022 6
seeing that we ' re trying to do our part on
the Board . So thank you . And I look
forward for the next one and let me know
when the next one is . It was a good forum.
So thank you very much .
Would anybody like to address the
specific agenda items?
(No Response ) .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : We will
get this done and take comment after .
( Continuation of the meeting with
Resolutions . )
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : That
completes the business on the agenda . Would
anybody like to comment on any issue?
MR . DAVID BERGAN : Dave Bergan . Now
I had prepared these comments in reading the
agenda that was posted online last night
that included agenda item related to the
Justice Court . And I noticed this afternoon
that that agenda item has been removed from
the packet here tonight . And I am -- so I
just want you to realize that . I am here to
address you as Members of the Board of
Police Commissioners . In this role, you
March 15, 2022 7
have a responsibility to address an aging
police facility . We put it over ten years
ago that this facility must be modified via
an extensive renovation or replaced . We all
realize the need for a new Justice Court, as
well as , the need for many other capital
facilities within Southold Town government .
I am here to pitch the creation of a new
public safety center, which would include
both the Justice Court and Police Department
located within the Town owned property on
Peconic Lane . This can be a single building
as East Hampton has with two distinctive
entrances or two separate facilities in
location to each other . Current police
facility house both Highway and DPW, getting
these employees out of the extremely dated
facility that they work in . It ' s my
understanding that the police communication
link to the current towers could be
accomplished at this proposed location .
Meaning communications would not have to
incur additional costs . The current police
building was built back in 1971 with very
limited, if any, modifications done since
March 15, 2022 8
then . Over the last decade, State
Guidelines have impacted small police
facilities . This Southold Town Board also
committed resources to the State
Accreditation for the Department, yet
certain facility issues can prevent our
ability to obtain this accreditation . For
example, current property and evidence rooms
do not meet minimum standards , along with
our interview area . New York State
standards require separate rooms for audio
and visual recording purposes , which we
currently do not have . We ' re required to
comply with State Screening processes ,
whereby a prisoner should answer a group of
specified questions in the affirmative .
We ' re required to have employees be
stationed immediately in front of jail cell
in clear view of the prisoner . Current jail
holding cells for the visited them, have
guests of course, do not have physical space
to allow for this . The Juvenile holding
facility does not meet State standard . It
has been noted for over a decade now the
entrance hallway, which prisoners use, allow
March 15, 2022 9
for a prisoner to gain immediate entry into
the clerical area subjecting these employees
to a potential dangerous situation . The
current booking holding cell area is located
in a very small room. In addition to these
issues , our current facility does not have a
turn-out room. While our patrol officers
normally turn-out from their different
vehicle locations , there could be times when
they ' re required to use a turn-out room at
the station . TCO staffing has increased
dramatically where it ' s challenging to turn
them out in the building . Employee parking
is limited to a point where many employees
are -- have parked near the Highway
Department . Finally, the basement has been
subjected to mold and mildew challenges over
the years , endangering the health and safety
of employees housed there . Given the need
for all of our capital changes , capital
facility needs of this Town, the funding
which would be required to build this , this
could be our only opportunity in the near
future to address this crucial need of a new
police facility . I am asking the study is
March 15, 2022 10
challenged in your position as police
commissioners . Doing this will demonstrate
your support for our police personnel .
Thank you . And if you have any questions ,
feel free?
COUNCILMAN GREG DOROSKI : So this
morning at Work Session, majority of the
Board decided to move forward with a Task
Force to look at all of the municipal needs
in the area . And we ' re looking to schedule
our first meeting before the end of this
month . We ' re committed to putting together
as really aggressive timeline to lay out
what these needs are . To do an analysis and
needs analysis and really put together a
plan . This was one of the issues that was
brought up . And I would agree with you,
this is an urgent and it ' s something that we
need to look at together, wholistically
together with the other needs of the Town .
So thank you .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : It ' s my
understanding from the bonding of the
building, the Annex, that there was $ 1 . 8
million set aside for renovations of that
March 15, 2022 11
building; is that correct?
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Yes .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : So that is a pot
of money for which we could purchase
cubicles and do different things in order to
move departments around . So this space
could be freed up to facilitate this total
transition that needs to take place .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Yeah . No .
We don ' t have access to that money unless we
spend it on a specific purpose . We never
took the money because we never spent the
money . So you can ' t put the money in the
bank like a normal loan . You can only spend
that money when you ' re specifically using
it . That is after the fact .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : So while it was
approved in the bond, it was never accepted;
is that what you ' re saying?
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : That was
never expended . Yes .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : Thank you .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Who else
would like to address the Town Board on any
issue?
March 15, 2022 12
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Katherine
Stepnoski . I came early because I wanted to
see what the agenda was and had extra time .
So I strolled across the street into the
burial grounds . And just wanted to read
something from the pamphlet that I got
across the street . So Ezra L ' Hommedieu, his
talents were wide ranging and taking a
lesson from the Indians , he taught the
colonists that fish may be a fertilizer . He
did deliver ammunition and supplies to the
Eastern Suffolk County militia . He was a
prominent State and National Affairs Member
and served in many official roles including
State Senator and a representative to the
revolutionary ( inaudible ) . One of the small
band of settlers who found Southold . He did
whatever needed to be done . It took a lot
of comfort in walking through there and
enjoying the space . And in reading about
some of the people . And I feel empowered by
them to try and do whatever I can to
preserve the history of agriculture, farming
and growing . Whether it ' s oysters or its
vegetables or its trees . Whatever we can do
March 15, 2022 13
to preserve and use these spaces wisely and
not become overgrown or unproductive pieces
of land . It ' s important to me . Part of my
asking for a definition of worker housing is
( inaudible ) these people had their families
working on the farm with them. And whether
they located and went somewhere else, they
still had the core values which the next
generation in my family has , and the next
family has and the one after that is
learning on the farm. And in order to
preserve my farm, the generation that can
put their effort and the value already of
maintaining that farm, is living and working
on my farm. So when you contemplate what
the definition is of farm worker/grower
housing, there needs to be perhaps a change
for Southold Town to incorporate
generational families as recognized in those
structures . I did reach out to Albany and
spoke with Mr . Kehoe . And he is in AG ' s
Markets and he advised me that I should seek
answers in the Assessors and here with my
Town Board members . And once I get those
answers , he might then be able to help give
March 15, 2022 14
me language or support if we needed it to
help with the way the property is assessed .
And it is , at the discretion of the Town to
decide whether something should be taxed at
a certain rate or be given some
modification . And so that also goes to the
generational family members who live and
work on the farm in that housing . So if you
could take that in the process while you ' re
coming up with the definition, I would
really appreciate that .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: Have you
spoken with the Assessor ' s ?
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : I have
briefly . I was given some more information
by Scott . But even with what he gave me and
that black and white definition, the black
and white version of what that can be, fully
at the discretion of the Town and the
Assessor ' s Office if directed by the Town .
So if there is a way to incorporate
generational family members as workers --
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: I would be
interested in hearing from the Assessors to
come and speak with us about this
March 15, 2022 15
specifically, so that we have more
information about it .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : I am sure
Kevin would be more than happy to . I just
want to explain the generalities ( inaudible )
what is taxable and nontaxable or exempt,
but they get to determine the level of
taxability . So it ' s the valuation that they
would be looking at when they assess your
property .
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : I
understand and read over what you gave me,
but there seems -- if you are in the AG
District, there are exemptions that are
available if they meet a specific need or
use on the farm and it ' s sole reason for
worker . That those would be available .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: Yeah . I
would be interested in having Kevin come
talk to us about specifics .
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Thank you
very much . Have a good night .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Come on
up, Randy .
MS . RANDY WADE : It was only because
March 15, 2022 16
she reminded me . People were worried about
doing accessory apartments . I know a friend
of mine in Greenport built a fence and she
wanted to do the same thing and she got a
building permit . And her taxes doubled and
went up . So in -- apparently when there is
a building permit, to bring everything up .
What they do in East Hampton is , they only
increase the tax on whatever ( inaudible ) .
And so for accessory dwellings , they would
increase the tax rate on that accessory unit
and they would also factor in the fact that
there were be an affordability . So the
rental income would be low . They worked it
out to about $700 to $ 1 , 000 a year .
Somebody has to pay extra to have an
accessory dwelling unit . So trying to keep
that in mind --
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : We will .
There is probably about 700 of the time
where you wouldn ' t get increase in taxes .
If the accessory structure was built within
the structure . The problem is , when the
Assessor ' s go out and they find not just the
improvements for the accessory structure,
March 15, 2022 17
but a lot of work has been done over the
years . And they ' re required to capture that
as part of the assessment . They don ' t have
the inherent right to look the other way
when it comes to certain things . But I
would agree with you, it needs to be .
MS . RANDY WADE : That house hadn ' t
been expanded . It was just a house and a
fence .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : I can ' t
speak to that . So I don ' t know . Talk to
Kevin -- and we will talk to him. We will
have him come .
COUNCILMAN GREG DOROSKI : I make a
motion to adjourn .
COUNCILMAN BRIAN MEALY : Second .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : All in
favor?
COUNCILWOMAN JILL DOHERTY : Aye .
COUNCILMAN GREG DOROSKI : Aye .
COUNCILMAN BRIAN MEALY : Aye .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: Aye .
JUSTICE LOUISA EVANS : Aye .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Aye .
(Meeting Concluded . )
March 15, 2022 18
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
I , JESSICA DILALLO, a Court Reporter
and Notary Public, for and within the State
of New York, do hereby certify :
THAT the above and foregoing contains a
true and correct transcription of the
Meeting held on March 15 , 2022 ,
via videoconference, and were transcribed by
me .
I further certify that I am not
related to any of the parties to this
action by blood or by marriage and that I
am in no way interested in the outcome of
this matter .
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand this 31st day of
March, 2022 .
JESSICA DILALLO
1
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK : STATE OF NEW YORK
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
--------------------------------------------------
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
--------------------------------------------------
Southold, New York
March 15 , 2022
7 : 00 P . M .
B E F 0 R E :
SCOTT A . RUSSELL, SUPERVISOR
LOUISA P . EVANS , JUSTICE
JILL DOHERTY, COUNCILWOMAN
GREG DOROSKI , COUNCILMAN
BRIAN 0 . MEALY, COUNCILMAN
SARAH E . NAPPA, COUNCILWOMAN
March 15, 2022 2
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : I am going
to invite anybody who would like to comment
on any of the specific agenda items , please
feel free?
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Hi .
Katherine Stepnoski . I see, Number 6 is the
280 , the Housing, is that going to be --
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: That was
this morning .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : You ' re
talking about the agenda; right?
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Yes .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: That was
from the Work Session .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Yes . That
was from the Work Session . There is nothing
on the agenda tonight for adoption . Big
House Legislation went to the Planning Board
for SEQRA Review . And you know, planning
study, recommendations . We certainly have
time and now that we have the committee
meeting set up with joint meeting with the
AG Community, I know that was a big concern
for you . We can identify and get that in
the code at the same time .
March 15, 2022 3
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : I was
curious how far you guys were on the
definitions ?
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: We didn ' t
discuss definitions today, but in that draft
we had today, it did include agricultural
workforce housing .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : And we ' re
going to work with the AG Community to come
up with the AG work house definition at that
Code Committee Meeting . It ' s a perfect
place for all around the table .
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : And the
grant is out for Suffolk County and New York
State as far as developments or improvements
to farm worker housing . So that ' s a huge
relief for us and the farm community and the
grower community . It isn ' t just ( inaudible )
farm. It ' s other people in the community
who also filled out the survey and will try
to move forward and improve conditions . Not
all growers . Thank you .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Thank you .
Would anybody else like to address --
MS . RANDY WADE : Randy Wade, 6th
March 15, 2022 4
Street, Greenport . I was so excited .
You ' re doing some special stuff . The
( inaudible . )
(Audio Quality, Microphone Issue . )
MS . RANDY WADE : Of tax ( inaudible )
which is going to be major . They need three
things and we don ' t quite have ( inaudible )
government office that deals with housing
( inaudible ) and has stuff . You can actually
fund it, if you want to do Section VIII with
administrative ( inaudible ) there is
certificates . ( Inaudible ) . The Housing
Authority would be really useful to you
according to -- I know it has come up in the
past . And there is possible -- you know,
some previous hesitancy, but everybody has
hesitancy and we don ' t want to lose the
volunteer emergency workers or the property
taxes ( inaudible ) for the rest of the middle
class . So we really care . And then the
third is the non-profits and the Northfork
Housing Alliance . I ( inaudible ) three
certified . They handle all the education
requirements . It ' s a lot more involved then
what I am saying . But lucky to have them.
March 15, 2022 5
And also I hope you will and we will
continue to talk about transportation
commission and rethinking parking
requirements in Hamlets because we really
want walkable Hamlets . For business and we
can eventually have viable transit . On the
South Fork, they had a demo for ( inaudible )
transit to connect with the bus service and
it proves ( inaudible ) and doing another demo
on the South Fork . So we would certainly
find something like that useful . So thanks
again . You ' re all working too hard .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Randy,
we ' re not working as hard as you are . Thank
you for organizing that meeting, Randy . As
an elected for Southold, I was privy for the
elected on Greenport . It is a greater
community concern . I heard the concerns of
people who are really in want of Affordable
Housing and want to fight for Affordable
Housing . Trying to fight for us here for
Affordable Housing, but just the education
part is so critical and just listening to
concerns of everybody in a unified to make
sure we do the right thing and you are
March 15, 2022 6
seeing that we ' re trying to do our part on
the Board . So thank you . And I look
forward for the next one and let me know
when the next one is . It was a good forum.
So thank you very much .
Would anybody like to address the
specific agenda items?
(No Response ) .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : We will
get this done and take comment after .
( Continuation of the meeting with
Resolutions . )
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : That
completes the business on the agenda . Would
anybody like to comment on any issue?
MR . DAVID BERGAN : Dave Bergan . Now
I had prepared these comments in reading the
agenda that was posted online last night
that included agenda item related to the
Justice Court . And I noticed this afternoon
that that agenda item has been removed from
the packet here tonight . And I am -- so I
just want you to realize that . I am here to
address you as Members of the Board of
Police Commissioners . In this role, you
March 15, 2022 7
have a responsibility to address an aging
police facility . We put it over ten years
ago that this facility must be modified via
an extensive renovation or replaced . We all
realize the need for a new Justice Court, as
well as , the need for many other capital
facilities within Southold Town government .
I am here to pitch the creation of a new
public safety center, which would include
both the Justice Court and Police Department
located within the Town owned property on
Peconic Lane . This can be a single building
as East Hampton has with two distinctive
entrances or two separate facilities in
location to each other . Current police
facility house both Highway and DPW, getting
these employees out of the extremely dated
facility that they work in . It ' s my
understanding that the police communication
link to the current towers could be
accomplished at this proposed location .
Meaning communications would not have to
incur additional costs . The current police
building was built back in 1971 with very
limited, if any, modifications done since
March 15, 2022 8
then . Over the last decade, State
Guidelines have impacted small police
facilities . This Southold Town Board also
committed resources to the State
Accreditation for the Department, yet
certain facility issues can prevent our
ability to obtain this accreditation . For
example, current property and evidence rooms
do not meet minimum standards , along with
our interview area . New York State
standards require separate rooms for audio
and visual recording purposes , which we
currently do not have . We ' re required to
comply with State Screening processes ,
whereby a prisoner should answer a group of
specified questions in the affirmative .
We ' re required to have employees be
stationed immediately in front of jail cell
in clear view of the prisoner . Current jail
holding cells for the visited them, have
guests of course, do not have physical space
to allow for this . The Juvenile holding
facility does not meet State standard . It
has been noted for over a decade now the
entrance hallway, which prisoners use, allow
March 15, 2022 9
for a prisoner to gain immediate entry into
the clerical area subjecting these employees
to a potential dangerous situation . The
current booking holding cell area is located
in a very small room. In addition to these
issues , our current facility does not have a
turn-out room. While our patrol officers
normally turn-out from their different
vehicle locations , there could be times when
they ' re required to use a turn-out room at
the station . TCO staffing has increased
dramatically where it ' s challenging to turn
them out in the building . Employee parking
is limited to a point where many employees
are -- have parked near the Highway
Department . Finally, the basement has been
subjected to mold and mildew challenges over
the years , endangering the health and safety
of employees housed there . Given the need
for all of our capital changes , capital
facility needs of this Town, the funding
which would be required to build this , this
could be our only opportunity in the near
future to address this crucial need of a new
police facility . I am asking the study is
March 15, 2022 10
challenged in your position as police
commissioners . Doing this will demonstrate
your support for our police personnel .
Thank you . And if you have any questions ,
feel free?
COUNCILMAN GREG DOROSKI : So this
morning at Work Session, majority of the
Board decided to move forward with a Task
Force to look at all of the municipal needs
in the area . And we ' re looking to schedule
our first meeting before the end of this
month . We ' re committed to putting together
as really aggressive timeline to lay out
what these needs are . To do an analysis and
needs analysis and really put together a
plan . This was one of the issues that was
brought up . And I would agree with you,
this is an urgent and it ' s something that we
need to look at together, wholistically
together with the other needs of the Town .
So thank you .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : It ' s my
understanding from the bonding of the
building, the Annex, that there was $ 1 . 8
million set aside for renovations of that
March 15, 2022 11
building; is that correct?
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Yes .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : So that is a pot
of money for which we could purchase
cubicles and do different things in order to
move departments around . So this space
could be freed up to facilitate this total
transition that needs to take place .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Yeah . No .
We don ' t have access to that money unless we
spend it on a specific purpose . We never
took the money because we never spent the
money . So you can ' t put the money in the
bank like a normal loan . You can only spend
that money when you ' re specifically using
it . That is after the fact .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : So while it was
approved in the bond, it was never accepted;
is that what you ' re saying?
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : That was
never expended . Yes .
MR . DAVID BERGAN : Thank you .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Who else
would like to address the Town Board on any
issue?
March 15, 2022 12
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Katherine
Stepnoski . I came early because I wanted to
see what the agenda was and had extra time .
So I strolled across the street into the
burial grounds . And just wanted to read
something from the pamphlet that I got
across the street . So Ezra L ' Hommedieu, his
talents were wide ranging and taking a
lesson from the Indians , he taught the
colonists that fish may be a fertilizer . He
did deliver ammunition and supplies to the
Eastern Suffolk County militia . He was a
prominent State and National Affairs Member
and served in many official roles including
State Senator and a representative to the
revolutionary ( inaudible ) . One of the small
band of settlers who found Southold . He did
whatever needed to be done . It took a lot
of comfort in walking through there and
enjoying the space . And in reading about
some of the people . And I feel empowered by
them to try and do whatever I can to
preserve the history of agriculture, farming
and growing . Whether it ' s oysters or its
vegetables or its trees . Whatever we can do
March 15, 2022 13
to preserve and use these spaces wisely and
not become overgrown or unproductive pieces
of land . It ' s important to me . Part of my
asking for a definition of worker housing is
( inaudible ) these people had their families
working on the farm with them. And whether
they located and went somewhere else, they
still had the core values which the next
generation in my family has , and the next
family has and the one after that is
learning on the farm. And in order to
preserve my farm, the generation that can
put their effort and the value already of
maintaining that farm, is living and working
on my farm. So when you contemplate what
the definition is of farm worker/grower
housing, there needs to be perhaps a change
for Southold Town to incorporate
generational families as recognized in those
structures . I did reach out to Albany and
spoke with Mr . Kehoe . And he is in AG ' s
Markets and he advised me that I should seek
answers in the Assessors and here with my
Town Board members . And once I get those
answers , he might then be able to help give
March 15, 2022 14
me language or support if we needed it to
help with the way the property is assessed .
And it is , at the discretion of the Town to
decide whether something should be taxed at
a certain rate or be given some
modification . And so that also goes to the
generational family members who live and
work on the farm in that housing . So if you
could take that in the process while you ' re
coming up with the definition, I would
really appreciate that .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: Have you
spoken with the Assessor ' s ?
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : I have
briefly . I was given some more information
by Scott . But even with what he gave me and
that black and white definition, the black
and white version of what that can be, fully
at the discretion of the Town and the
Assessor ' s Office if directed by the Town .
So if there is a way to incorporate
generational family members as workers --
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: I would be
interested in hearing from the Assessors to
come and speak with us about this
March 15, 2022 15
specifically, so that we have more
information about it .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : I am sure
Kevin would be more than happy to . I just
want to explain the generalities ( inaudible )
what is taxable and nontaxable or exempt,
but they get to determine the level of
taxability . So it ' s the valuation that they
would be looking at when they assess your
property .
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : I
understand and read over what you gave me,
but there seems -- if you are in the AG
District, there are exemptions that are
available if they meet a specific need or
use on the farm and it ' s sole reason for
worker . That those would be available .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: Yeah . I
would be interested in having Kevin come
talk to us about specifics .
MS . KATHERINE STEPNOSKI : Thank you
very much . Have a good night .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Come on
up, Randy .
MS . RANDY WADE : It was only because
March 15, 2022 16
she reminded me . People were worried about
doing accessory apartments . I know a friend
of mine in Greenport built a fence and she
wanted to do the same thing and she got a
building permit . And her taxes doubled and
went up . So in -- apparently when there is
a building permit, to bring everything up .
What they do in East Hampton is , they only
increase the tax on whatever ( inaudible ) .
And so for accessory dwellings , they would
increase the tax rate on that accessory unit
and they would also factor in the fact that
there were be an affordability . So the
rental income would be low . They worked it
out to about $700 to $ 1 , 000 a year .
Somebody has to pay extra to have an
accessory dwelling unit . So trying to keep
that in mind --
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : We will .
There is probably about 700 of the time
where you wouldn ' t get increase in taxes .
If the accessory structure was built within
the structure . The problem is , when the
Assessor ' s go out and they find not just the
improvements for the accessory structure,
March 15, 2022 17
but a lot of work has been done over the
years . And they ' re required to capture that
as part of the assessment . They don ' t have
the inherent right to look the other way
when it comes to certain things . But I
would agree with you, it needs to be .
MS . RANDY WADE : That house hadn ' t
been expanded . It was just a house and a
fence .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : I can ' t
speak to that . So I don ' t know . Talk to
Kevin -- and we will talk to him. We will
have him come .
COUNCILMAN GREG DOROSKI : I make a
motion to adjourn .
COUNCILMAN BRIAN MEALY : Second .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : All in
favor?
COUNCILWOMAN JILL DOHERTY : Aye .
COUNCILMAN GREG DOROSKI : Aye .
COUNCILMAN BRIAN MEALY : Aye .
COUNCILWOMAN SARAH NAPPA: Aye .
JUSTICE LOUISA EVANS : Aye .
SUPERVISOR SCOTT RUSSELL : Aye .
(Meeting Concluded . )
March 15, 2022 18
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
I, JESSICA DILALLO, a Court Reporter
and Notary Public, for and within the State
of New York, do hereby certify:
THAT the above and foregoing contains a
true and correct transcription of the
Meeting held on March 15, 2022,
via videoconference, and were transcribed by
me.
I further certify that I am not
related to any of the parties to this
action by blood or by marriage and that I
am in no way interested in the outcome of
this matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand this 31st day of
March, 2 22 .
J ICA DILALLO