HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA-09/30/1998 HEARINGAPPEALS BOARD MEMBERS
Gerard P. Goehringer, Chairman
James Dinizio, Jr.
Lydia A. Tortora
Lora S. Collins
George Homing
RECEIVED AND LED BY
BOARD OF APPEALS
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
Southold Town Hall
53095 Main, Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
ZBA Fax (516) 765-9064
Telephone (516) 765-1809
ript of Continued Hearing
September 30, 1998
.thold Town Board of Appeals
by Lucy Farrell from Tape Recordings)
*~-~5 P~.-M~.~-t-t--~ BUILDING INSPECTOR'S REQUEST FOR
INTERPRETATION (Generic Interpretation, Town-Wide for Radio
Towers for Private Use under FCC).
Reopen Appl. #4611. I have to tell you that we are the Building
Department less again, Mr. Fish is still ill and he will not be
here. If anybody would like to add anything to this interpretation
please raise your hand. Mr. Cuddy? By the way Mr. Cuddy I just
want to point out for the record, that we did receive the information
that you had prepared for us, and we will make it part of the file.
CHARLES CUDDY, ESQ: I had as Mr. Goehringer points out
delivered some additional information. The information that I
delivered was nothing more than what had previously been before
this Board and I just want it to be public. I delivered the
statement by Mr. Oshin what I did is I took our certain excerpts of
his testimony and to read it non-site specific so there are no
references to any particular site. I have again another copy of
that but tonight it's signed by Mr. Oshin. I took the Memorandums
I had previously prepared and also eh-sized any site specific
references 'there. So, we're talking simply about Radio Towers and
Telecommunications, and I offer that again, Mr. Chairman, into the
record if I may.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: To answer your question, I have
discussed that with counsel, and there is unanimity.
MR. CUDDY: So that is an acceptable practice then to adopt those
previous statements and -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
wanted to consult counsel.
They were really never scraped.
I just
MR. CUDDY: So we have it both ways. We have with or without.
Mine is no different. In other words I didn't change the words. I
simply took it and took out those words with any site specific
references.
Page 2 - Special Me~,ng/Public Hearing
September 30, 1998 - Board of Appeals
SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Can I mark that as 'received,' please.
CHAIRMAN: Sure.
BOARD SECRETARY: Thank you.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's very rare that we're on the floor like this but
we were making decisions, and sometimes it's difficult to discuss the
decisions with each other when we're up on the dais, so.
MR. CUDDY: We thought that way we had a complete level plain.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Pardon me, Mr. Cuddy we always have
been. completely level plain.
MR. CUDDY: Thank you. After coming here six times, I didn't
want to say it again. There's just one question that I had.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Ok.
MR. CUDDY: And that is, does the record contain the letter from
the Building Inspector that certainly promoted if not caused this
particular hearing?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We discussed that last, this tonight with
counsel and I have to tell you that as you know, that letter was
shortened, OK. That letter included your applicant's name and the
specific situation that concerned this hearing. I at this particular
time am not particularly happy with including that letter only
because we chose to deal with this on a town wide basis. OK, that
does not mean that it's only restricted to your applicant, ok.
I will have to discuss that with counsel.
MR. CUDDY: The reason I asked that as to whether it's appropriate
is because we don't have the Building Inspector tonight, and we
didn't have the Building Inspector last week. (Inaudible statement).
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We could.
MR. CUDDY: But even that, if he doesn't come certainly his letter
is explanatory and the reason for doing this. If he does put it in
terms of site-specfic, or non-site-specific, I would hope that maybe
you would consider having that letter as part of ihe record.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: OK. I have to tell you that we haven't
decided if we're closing the hearing tonight or not. Alright.
That's an issue that we really have not decided and I'm not speaking
for Mr. Dinizio. Mr. Dinizio has quite honestly told me that he
still wants to discuss this with it with the Building Inspector. Is
that not true?
Page 3 - Special Me~lng/Public Hearing
September 30, 1998 - Board of Appeals
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes, and I don't mean to hold you up. Quite
honestly I find that we can't seem to get someone
here. Because I know if I called one of my employees With
that set aside I think that Mr. Fish can provide me with answers to
questions I have as to how we got here. I think that you know,
when a person works 8 hours a day, five days a week, supposed
to be 2 hours a week - I want to know, I want you to know, maybe
there are questions that he can answer for me that might help me in
making my decision. Certainly we{re talking about a decision that
we make and I'm truly embarrassed that the Building Department
cannot send a representative, and whether it has to be that
particular person or not, I'm not so sure that it has to be. That we
can't discuss it with anybody. Certainly he can discuss it. I don't
want to go down there and say, hey, Joe - because then it's not
fair to you, it's not fair to anybody else. My preference would be
that you know, certainly, Mr. Cuddy we will take your particular
comments into consideration if you so choose. If you have a
different thing you want to try it.
MR. CUDDY: I don't want to do anything that would prejudice my
client but, certainly there has to come a time when it comes to an
answer. I think everybody agrees on that. On the basis that
Mr. Fish is ill, which is certainly an excuse, any time, and I would
understand that you might put it on again, would you please put it
on for a specific date so that we will have some hold on this thing.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure. Well I think we- I think we've
done that you know, to the best of our ability.
MR. CUDDY: I mean again, would you please so we have a special
date and we know when we're coming.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Sure. And you know, you certainly
don't have to hang around tonight if you don't want to. I don't
mean that in a trite sense. You can call us tomorrow, and we'd
certainly be aware of that issue, alright.
MR. CUDDY: But what I'm saying is, is the Board in a position
now to say that we're going to do something, next week or another
week?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, it's going to be at the next hearing.
Notice which would be October 15th.
MEMBER DINIZIO: It seems that's a pretty long time.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: We'd get the next meeting.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yeah, but I mean the gentleman could be well
tomorrow. We could do this next week.
Page 4 - Special Me~ng/Public Hearing
September 30, 1998 - Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Bearing in mind what he has and what
he's suffering from, and I don't want to get involved in that
situation, he could be out a week, OK, which would mean that we
would then have to have another meeting next week at the same
time. I suggest that we very simply just put it on for the 15th and
put it to bed at that particular time.
MEMBER COLLINS: We also want our Fishers Island member to come
over here when we meet. CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes. The
other issue is that, you know, that I in - all due respects to the
Building Department - understand these things, these things
happen. I think that there was a fluke on their part where one
member thought that the other person was going to come to the
hearing, and that's basically what happened. As you know, I hate
to use this phrase and I've only used it twice in 18 years, but we
do have power to subpoena, and if Mr. Dinizio feels that it is of
importance this is a democratic Board, and we'll vote on it. But,
you know, there are other people who want to speak. Thank you.
Anybody else want to speak regarding this?
COUNCILWOMAN ALICE HUSSIE:
keeping the hearing open?
So, I'll have to assume that your
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
really voted on that situation.
the hearing, OK.
At this particular point we haven't
I think there was a feeling to close
COUNCILWOMAN HUSSIE: That's why I asked the question.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: And I have to tell you that I have great
feelings for these Board Members, we work very closely and a I
would be so inclined to permit this to stay open until October 15th.
I have no idea if I have the vote to do so, but we'll see. So Jim
why don't you make the motion.
MEMBER DINIZIO: No, I don't want to make a motion. I would like
to assure this gentleman that this gentleman will show up at the next
meeting. To me that's the utmost -
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: That's tantamount, yes.
MEMBER DINIZIO: You know, whether it has to be him or anybody
from. doing this, I'm not so sure.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: No, he isn't -
MEMBER DINIZIO: But if we're going to subpoena somebody then
that's the gentleman that we subpoena. How do we go about doing
that?
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: The Town Attorney will do it.
Page 5 - Special Me~mg/Public Hearing
September 30, 1998 - Board of Appeals
SECRETARY KOWALSKI: We can do it by resolution.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yeah.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Resolution.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well, you know, I don't think that's of
necessity at this point as long as he tells us that he is going to
show up.
MEMBER DINIZIO: Well, I've got to tell you though, Jerry, I mean,
because the record is full of indecisions on their part for the past,
you know, six months since that because noone seems to want to
make a decision on this. So, I mean, my purpose is that, put the
thing to bed, you know, and grant it if measures have to be taken
today. Now is the time to take these measures. You know, no one,
knows for sure but we need to be sure that we can employ people
and that Mr. Rosen hired people to come here and represent him
that you know, as a town, you know, and trying to run an
organization. You know, have some information for them. I mean, I
cannot make a decision unless I know how it came about and if I
can't, you know, even though I won't say how I feel, personally I
want to say, it looks to me in the record that there's some real
hemming and hawing going on. That there's a person who doesn't
want to make a decision and doesn't want to stand by
I need to speak to that person. I want to know, I want to
understand how he came to this point so that we can make a
decision. If I have to make a motion to subpoena him, then that's
my motion.
MEMBER HORNING: Are you making such a motion?
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes.
MEMBER HORNING: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: All in favor?
BOARD MEMBERS: AyeS.
SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Is anyone opposed?
MEMBER COLLINS: Opposed? I mean, it can rather suddenly.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
and I apologize.
Yes, I tend to move motions rather fast
MEMBER COLLINS: I guess I would vote on it. I'm not sure I care
for the because procedurally, OK, I vote on it.
SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Chairman voted aye, also?
Page 6 - Special Meeting/Public Hearing
September 30, 1998 - Board of Appeals
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Yes.
MEMBER COLLINS: You're adjourning the hearing with a date.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: Well now we have to make a motion for
that and I suggest that we do it on October 15th, which is the
regular meeting date and we'll adjust the time accordingly and at the
same time I just wanted to mention the other thing. Well yes,
because you already advertised it, did you not?
SECRETARY KOWALSKI: Well the time, the first hearing is at 6:30
and the last hearing is scheduled for 8:35. I don't know if Mr. Fish
will be here that late.
MEMBER DINIZIO: I'm concerned about George.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER: George is staying overnight.
MEMBER DINIZIO: You're staying overnight? Oh.
SECRETARY KOWALSKI: What time would you like on that?
MR. CUDDY: I don't know, I'll discuss that with you and the
Board, just set a date.
SECRETARY KOWALSKI:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
SECRETARY KOWALSKI:
at 6:00 o'clock?
CHAIRMAN:
SECRETARY:
CHAIRMAN:
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
MEMBER DINIZIO: Yes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
BOARD MEMBERS: Ayes.
CHAIRMAN GOEHRINGER:
It would be at 6:30 or after, right.
Yes. We will discuss it.
Is it possible that it would be earlier, say
Yes, that's possible. It depends.
So in that motion are we saying after 5:307
No, no. Just say from 6:00 p.m.
So, you're making that motion?
I'll second that. All in favor?
made a resolution recessing the hearing for October 15th.
thank you again, ladies and gentlemen for coming here.
See Minutes for official Resolution and vote.
OK, so at this particular point we've
We