HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB-08/26/1980SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD
August 26, 1980
WORK SESSION
10:00 A.M. - Chief Carl Cataldo briefed the Town Board on an incident
that occured in Greenport ~illage on Sunday night, August 24th.
Chief Cataldo reported the loss of a n~ Handi-Talkie valued at
between $1500_and $2000.
Discussion was held relative to the police radio contracts between
the Town of Sou~hold and the Village o£ Greenport and Town of Shelter
Island which expire on December 31, 1980.
Discussion was held relative to 1980 police budget expenditures
in personnel and contractual and how this relates to the remainder o£
the ye~m.
Considerable discussion was held concerning the current scheduling
of two men and one sergeant per shift. It was decided to..~,increase this
scheduleing to three men and one sergeant per shift.
11:00 A.M. - Patrolman Henry Stepnoski, President of the Southold Town
PBA presented a letter To the Town Board concerning the scheduling of
two men and one sergeant per shift. Patrolman Stepnoski was advised
the matter had been resolved and the scheduling would be changed to
three men and one sergeant per shift. Patrolman Stepnoski asked t~hat
his letter to the Town Board be withdrawn.
11:05 AcM. - The Board dis~cussed the s~rplus~ police radios-with Chie~
Cataldo, The Chief w~ill obtain prices ~o determine the value of the
radios.
11:35 A.~. - The Board began re¥ie~ing the agenda.
12:05 P.M. ~ High,ay ~uperintendent Dean and Donald A, Si.ess of H2M
spoke to the Board about the statewide Safer Local Roads and Streets
Program. Mr. Sloss had presented a proposed resolution ~o the Board
concerning the Town of Southold's share in the program. The Town
will receive $123,297 in s~.ate bond funds, but must provide $41~099
in local matching funds. It was determined these matching ~unds would
be provided entirely in in~.kind services by the High~ay Department.
A resolution will be proposed at the regular meeting.
12:20 P.M. - The Board recessed their work session for lunch.
1:25 P.M. - Resumed reviewing the agenda.
2:03 P.M. - Mr. Frank Bear and Mrs. M.J. Paul met with the Board
and advised they would be presenting a prepared statement at the
regular meeting with regards To Robins Island and the recent poll
taken by the Save the Robins Island Committee.
Mr. Bear presented a letter to the Town Board from the North
Fork Environmental Council~ Inc. offing to pay the registration fee
of $75.00 for a town official willing To attend an International
Conference-on European "Waste-to-Energy Technology in Reston,
Virginia on October 29th and 30th.
2:10 P.M~ Mr. Michael Riese addressed the Board concerning beach
problems arising from ~respass on the northeast side of Herren Point
Beach, Southold. He stressed the need for a beach ordinance. Council-
man Nickles advised Mr. Riese that he has presented a proposed beach
ordinance to the Town Board for study and it will be discussed in
detail at one Of the next two To~n Board meetings..
2:20 P~M. - James Monsell and David Kappel, Vilta~e of Greenport
AUGUST 26, 1980
briefed the Town Board on the progress of the Greenport Water System.
The Board will take under consideration a proposal for the Town to
join'with the Village of Greenport on a grant application to enlarge
the present water system or future systems. A decision will have to
be made by late September as November 17th is the filing date for 1981
round for Small Cities Grants.
2:45 P.M. David Spohn, John Appelt and William Rose met with the Board
to discuss the progress of the Airpark Committee. They have screened
consulting firms for airport master plan site sele2tion study and
recommend three firms: Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff, CH2M Hill
and R. Dixon Speas Associates. The Board will set aside 20 minutes
~ firm between 1:45 P.M. and 2:45 P.M. on September 9th-to interview
the firms. Mr. Spohn will make the arrangements.
A regular meeting of the Southold Town Board was held on Tuesday,
August 26, 1980. Supervisor Pell opened the meeting at 3:00 P.M.
with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Present:
Supervisor William R. Pell III
Councilman Henry W. Drum
Councilman John J. Nickles
CounCilman Lawrence Murdock, Jr.
Councilman George R. Sullivan
* * *
Town Clerk Judith T. Terry
Town Attorney Robert W. Tasker
Deputy Supervisor Marie Bauer Johnson
Absent:: Justice Francis T. Doyen
On motion of Councilman Drum, seconded by Councilman Murdock, it was
RESOLVED that the minu~es of the August 12, 1980 Southold Town Board
meeting be and hereby are approved.
Vote of the Town Board: ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell~.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
On motion o£ Supervisor Pell, seconded by Councilm~n N!ckles, it was
RESOLVED that the next regular meeting of the Southold Town Board will
be held at 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 9, 1980 at the Southold Town
Hall, Main Road, Southold~ New York.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
Thms resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: This is a change, usually the first meeting o~ the
month is held at 7:30 a~ night. September (th happens to be Primary
Day so we are holding it in the afternoon so we can be out of here
by 5:00 o'clock.
I. REPORTS
SUPERVISOR PELL: The ~irst report is Solid Waste Management Committee,
Councilman Murdock.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: This is a report of the meeting o~ the Five Town
Solid Waste Management Study and H2M at the Quogue gildli~e Preserve~
Monday, August 18, 1980 at 2:00 P.M. Present from Southold. Town
were Highway Superintendent Dean, Supervisor Pell and Councilman
Murdock. I'll not make a length~.report because the H2M report is
not final. Commissioner M±ddleton of the DEC was in attendance and
was very satiffied with the report as a solution ~o the disposal area
problems, recommended a start to the proposal because.of a five year
estimate to complete contracts, builidngs and related problems-.
Roughly the cost ~o build is $87,000,000 in 1980 dollars and that's
without any facilities for sludge treatment. The firm ha~ no 2ecQm~.enda-
tion yet as how to finance it or when it is to be payed Off but they
also recommend a contract with Brookhaven Town co use the facility
that Brookhaven is proposing, so we should write ~o Brookhaven ~O star~
a daiIgoue. The minimum cos~ estimate of $34.00 a ton to dispose
UGUS
of solid waste, which is after we build a collection facility in-the
Town of Southold portents a hugh increase in the cost of solid waste
management program in Southold Town. That would be the end of my
repo~2. I would just make the aside that this is going to become a
very expensive proposal. The$34.00 a ton is a low estimate by H2M
and does not have us building our own facility. The $34.00 a zon
is including the cost of transporting of solid waste from a collection
facility probably at the Cutchogue Landfill Site to the Brookhaven
facility. If we have to build our own £acility as part of the Five
Towns, we will also have transportation cost from Cutchogue to where-
ever the Five Town facility is and it is going to be a very expensive
proposition for what we are used to in the Town o~ Southold.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Thank you. One point I would like to add to that
is the next time this committee is going to meet is September --
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: I forget if it is a Monday or a Friday.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Either the 15th or the 19th this committee will
meet again and then the Town Board will have to discuss between now
and then the recommendations or how it feels the waste management
should go in Southold Town so when they sit down again the Town Board
will have a position o£ some osrt how to take on the future of the
problem for our township. This is the beginning of a long road all
five towns will have to go down.
2. Report of Justice Rich (July 1980) which will be placed on
file with the Town Clerk.
The next report is from myself. I just want to report that last
week the Town Board met-as they do once a year, on Fishers Island.
The entire [_Town Board went with elected and appointed officials from
many agencies of the County and State. I feel it was a very fruitful
day. In one respect the problems of the people on the Island are
going to have is in 1981 the pollution on their cars, the exhaust from
their cars, has to be monitored. For one of the 100 cars on Fishers
Island to be monitored the device to do this cost approximately
$12,000. For a car on Fishers Island, where you have 100 cars, the
people would have to take the ferry boat from Fishers Island to New
London, Connecticut, then from New London, Connecticut, to come over
to Orient Point and then come to a garage on the mainland in New York
State to have ii done and then go back. A representative from Commis-
ioner of Motor Vehicle~Office from Albany was there and he is recommend-
ing to the EPA, and this is only a recommendation to the EPA from our
Commissioner Melton from New York State, that Fishers Island be
exempt where there are only approximately 100 cars and so many miles
of land. So this is one of the' good things that perhaps came out of
the meeting we had there.
The next report I'll move down to Item number 4, it is from
Taxation and Finance .Committee. George Sullivan.
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: The above committee met on August 12, 1980. In
attendance was myself as Chairman, Councilman Murdock, as well as
William Price of McMann Price Agency and Allan Dickerson and Robert
McCarthy of the Roy Reeve Agency. Also in attendance was Mr. William
Mullen who has prepared an analysis of the Town's insurance policies.
The purpose of the meeting was for Mr. Mullah to review the comments
prepared by the two insurance agents and he will formally reply to
them by letter. We als0 recommended that Mr. Steven Guido of Hamilton
Stone, Inc. give a presentation to the Town Board. Mr. Guido's firm
are financially consultants and have done work for Suffolk County and
several municipalities in the area of payroll, namely in the area of
social security wages which have been in the past reported incorrectly.
The firm has been able to recoup three hundred thousand dollars for
the County of Suffolk and several thousands of dollars for other towns.
Their fee ~s based only on recovery of zaxes incorrectly paid. Mr.
Guido gave a formal presentation oat the Board's executive meeting and
it is the Committee's recommendation tha~ the firm be hired subject to
approval of its contract by the Town Attorney. That will be in a
resolution today. I was £iformed of this particular service through
the offices of the County Comptroller and they, as you can see, have
done tremendous work for the Town. Basically what it boils down to
is that municipalities have a different reporting system for social
security wages than normal employers. A lot of municipalities have
reported incorrectly. This firm has the expertise to recoup those
particular taxes. Just in the other area, in addition to the
recommendations that were made of the insurance policies I have asked
the agents to examine three other areas of concern to me. They are
as follows: Public Officials Liability coverage; Employee Blanket
Bond coverage and Health insurance. They are moving the £irst Two
and I've given the Supervisor sheers for the health insurance. So
they may be able to get a tax saving, fund saving in insurance.
That's what we are trying to accomplish.
SUPERVISOR PELL: One more report, I just want to ad lib a little i£
I can. This last week I went to Hauppauge to meet with the Riverhead
Town people, the county executive's office and the Long Island Railroad ·
in reference to perhaps increased or better schedule o£ trains going
in and out of Greenport, the east end here. There was a petition
presented with 65 names on to the county exec through the two towns
asking that the scheduling of the trains be reevaluated. The people
who like to go back on Monday morning and come out on Friday night,
they can do it fine buring the summertime but after Labor Day they
take the train right off and this group who, two or three citizens
went up with us from the two townships and one of the things that
came out of the talking there, it seems there is one train a day
into Greenport. That train leaves Ronkonkoma, comes to Greenport,
stays an hour or so in Greenport, turns around and goes back to
Ronkonkoma. That is the only train in and out o£ here during the
weekday. We asked the ridership of this train, as we refer to it as
the train to nowwhere, because when it gets to Ronkomkoma you got an
hour and thirty-seven minutes wait before you can take the next train
to New York. So we refer to this train as the train To nowhere. Not
meaning Greenport is nowhere. We asked them if they couldn't reevaluate
the money they are spending on this train running out here and perhaps
put on a bus that would run up to Ronkankoma and meet a trainevaluat-
lng like this and we were told that they would look into it. This
meeting was requested back'in February through out county executives
office and the railroad just got back to us and we had it last week.
As the people went with us said, it is progress, a little bit slow,
but progress.
II. PUBLIC NOTICES - COUNCILMAN NICKLES:
1. The first public notice is from the New York State Depart-
merit of Environmental Conservation and it has to do with removing
13 existing pilings and repositioning 14 mooring pilings,
and placing a 24 by 30 ft. finger piles attached mo at ends by re-
positioned 14 mooring piles. The response date in which to respond
to this is September 3rd. -(Application by James H. Rambo, Inc.
a/d Matt-A-Mar-Marina, Mattituck).
2. Department o£ the Army, Corps o£ Engineers is an application
by Christopher Gudis at Beebe Drive on Eugene's Creek for a dock,
ramp and float. Response date on that is September 4th. This is a
revised application for work that was done. I believe, last year.
3. Long Island Oyster Farms maintenance dredging in their boat
basin. Response date of that September 4th.
4. The final notice is on the County Legislature and due to the
fact that September 9th is Primary Day they passed a resolution
changing their meeting from the 9th of September To September 10th.
Copies of all these public notices are on file with the Town Clerk
is you wish to look at them further.
III. COMMUNICATIONS - SUPERVISOR PELL:
1. We have a letter with a resolution attached to it from H2M,
the firm that the Board has engaged to prepare the preliminary plans
for the Town to receive $123,000 from the Highway Bond Act, Safety
Act that was passed last year. We gem $123,000; the Town has To put
up $41,000, to a ~omal of $164,000, plus the Town already has got
$11,000 to make the application for this money. H2M is the firm who
is doing it. They are out today working on it, today. We will have
a resolution later on to accept-- to go into this program.
2. From Legislator John Foley and represents the Capital Budget
Program for 198~, acquisition of land along the Carman River and other
areas throughout the counmy; in Barcelonia Neck in East Hampton Town,
Pine Forest in Southampton Township, and also in Brookhaven Town there
is some land and what not. Nothing in Southold Town.
3. Letter from Greg Blass saying that the recommends mo put on
the ballot the resolution to do away with his job, put it up to_the
people to vote to do away with the county legislature.
AUGUST 26, 1980
839
4. The P~nning Board of the ~own of southold sent the Town'Board
a letter on ~our subdivisions of land where the subdivisions have placed
a highway bond up for three years; the three years has ran out and they
are asking the Town Board what to do with the situation now. We have
referred it to the Highway Committee to investigate, see what the problems
are and make recommendations back to the Board
5. This was discussed two weeks ago when the Board met. It's a
law, federal law, introducing to take the local control away from
cable TV. We give out a franchise in the different townships, we do
in Southold Town to Times Mirror outfit to have cable TV in our town-
ship. The Board has introduced me to write a letter saying that the
local government would like to have and maintain, as it does now, a
say in the proposed franchise for cable TV. This is--the ~ext of the
proposed bill is quite lengthy and we had it on hand about a week ago
and I did review part of it.
6. Many people who have been here before are away that Goldsmith's
Inlet-- we have asked~J, the County to partake in a study on the erosion
problem in the Inlet. It is in the hands of our county attorney. We
are asking him to expedite and try to get the study under way and on
going.
7. From Herbert R. Mandel reference Gull Pond, the stake-outs--
stake-outs as attached in Gull Pond, known as Norman E. Klipp Park.
Mr. Mandel is very much opposed to it and we are awaiting information
coming from the state to tell us whose responsibility it is and who
has final say. Our Town Attorney has applied to the state for some
facts and they have yet to come in and the Board is sitting tight until
we get the facts from the state and then we will re~der a decision.
8. I think this is the third or fourth letter I have received
about the stairs at Lighthouse Beach Road, Horton Point in Southold
here. This one is from Mrs. Bitses. I know I had somebody come in
before and this is under Beach & Parks, I referred them to Councilman
Nickles and he is going to sit down and work on this and perhaps come
up for next year's budget, some sort of recommendation.
9. From a Group For America's South Fork recommending that the
New York Ocean Science Lab do a water study sampling project on the
east end townships. There are many such projects being considered.
This is one I think would help the New York State--New York Ocean
Science Lab get federaI funds and state funds and work along these
lines. The Town Board has not decided to do anything at this time.
with this other than look and see what else is going on. We have a
program on water testing going on by the county, Union Carbide.
Congressman Carney is coming along with some sort of a study--testing
going on. Suffolk County Health--and we want to reevaluate before we
make any recommendations to the New York Ocean Science Labs to apply
for funds to do this, even though I am a trustee on their board. I
don't want anybody to say conflict of interests.
IV. HEARINGS AND DECISIONS
We have plenty of time. We have two, hearings today, one at
3:45 (Joseph L. Townsend, Jr. wetland application), and one at
3:50 (Local Law to Provide for the Removal or Repair of Unsafe
Buildings and Collapsed Structures.) It is not time to go into
them yet. We go on to resolutions.
V. RESOLUTIONS
SUPERIVSOR PELL: Resolution number one ~'~ for Bay Constable Town
Cielatka.
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: Whereas Constable Cielatka--Tom Cielatka has
been on probation with the town for six months and that period is
up the end of this month, the feeling of the Town Board is that he
should be hired as a full-time employee, and receive his step one raise.
On motion of Councilman NIckles, seconded by Councilman Murdock, it was
RESOLVED that Thomas Cielatka, Bay Constable, Town of Southold, be
removed from his probationary six month status and placed in a permanent
status with the Town of Southold and receive his step-one increase of
$500.00 effective September 1, 1980.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor PelI.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Resolution number 2 we are not ready upon it. It
is for the Board to approve the concep~ of a cluster zone down in
East Marion of a certain area there (property of Cove Beach Associates'
The Town Board went down there today, this morning at 9:00 oclock to
look at it; the gate was locked and we couldn't get in to see the
area, so therefore we are not ready to act upon it. We want more
information with a detailed map of it which the people did not
submit to us therefore it might be on the agenda the next time we meet
On motion of Councioman Murdock, seconded by Councilman Drum, it was
RESOLVED that the application of Frank J. McBride dated August 13,
1980 for permission to locate a trailer on his property on the north
side of Oregon Road, Cutchogue, New York be and hereby is granted for
a six month period.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman NIckles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
COUNCILMAN DRUM: I might just add that this trailer permit is for
some farm workers which is a State--not a State program but a State
Department program of young people from Poland and sponsored by, as
I say, our federal government and they will be here temporarily for
a six month period. It's an on-going program for several years.
SUPERVISOR PELL: One that I certainly think very worthwhile. I have
a nephew who'S in Poland now on an exchange program. He's over there
in another completely different field, not agriculture. He's over
there and we have some of their people, young people come here.
Move on to number 4. Resignation of Terry R. Tuthill as a
member of the Board of Appeals.
On motion of Councilman Drum, seconded by Councilman Sullivan, i~ was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold accepts, with
regret, the resignation of Terry R. Tuthill as a member of the
Southold Town Board of Appeals, effective September 15, 1980, and be
l~ further
RESOLVED that a letter be sent to Mr. Tuthill expressing the Board's
appreciation for his devotion to the position of Member of the Southold
Town Board of Appeals for more than two years, and wish him good health,
happiness and prosperity in the years to come.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman NIckles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Poll.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: At this time I would like to announce and have the
Town Clerk post that resumes for this position, to fill it, will be
accepted at the Town Clerk's Office up until September 18th. The
Town Board will make the appointment on September 22nd. That will
be posted on the Town Bulletin Board.
Number 5 is from what we call the Airpark ComMittee. We do not
need a resolution on it, but I will ask one of my Councilmen to
explain what went on today when we did meet with them, to keep you
all informed. Henry, you want to take it?
COUNCILMAN DRUM: As you may recall, several years ago there was a
study which I chaired with several representatives in our community,
Dave Spohn being one and we came up with certain recommendations.
The again recently Mr. Spohn heading up the committee of three has
interviewed several firms that would conduct a study for the Town. This
would be with federal funds. We don't have the funds as yet, however,
we are going to interview these three consulting firms and selec~ one
and they will proceed and make arrangements and try to obtain these
federal funds from the Federal Avaia~ion Government, our federal
government. There is nothing assured but they will conduct this
study, or attempt to get this study money so we could look at our
requirements in Southold Town for an airport.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Thank you very much. We will be interviewing these
three firms in the near future. Dave will being them into the Town
Board, I think, two weeks from today and we will interview then.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Number 6, resolution To let one of our Building
Department employees attend a wood burning stove conference.
_,6.
On motion of Councilman NIckles, seconded by Councilman Drum, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold authorizes one
Building Inspector to attend a seminar for dealers of wood and coal
burning stoves at the Holiday Inn, Plainview, New York on september
A,G,ST ,6, 9so 341
10, 1980 and grants permission for the use of the Town car and his
lunch expense to be a legal charge against the Town of Southold.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
7. On motion of Councilman Nickles, seconded by Councilman Drum, it was
RESOLVED that the Southold Town Board declares itself lead agency
in regard to the State Environmental Quality Review Act in the matter
of the'application of William Pollert £or a wetland permit on certain
property located at north side Pine Neck Road, On Jockey Creek,
Southold, New York.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Number 8 is to award a bid to fix approximately
78~£eet of bulkhead in Mattituck at the end of Mill Road. Are
you already to award the bid, gentlemen?
i.8~On motion of Councilman_Drum, seconded by Councilman Murdock, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town o£ Southold award the bid
for the reconstruction of approximately 75 lineal feet o£ bulkhead
along the easterly side of Mill Road adjacent to Mattituck Inlet at
Mattituck, New York, to the lowest responsible bidder, Whelan Marine
Construction, East Hampton, New York at a bid price of $15,600.00
for which sume the contractor will furnish all labor and services and
material, a~d be it further
RESOLVED that' Supervisor William R. Pell III, be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to enter into an agreement on behalf of the
Town of Southold with. Whelan Marine Construction for aforesaid work.
Vot of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: There were three bids, he was the lowest of the
three of the bidders and he has to put up a performance bond of
100%.
Number 9 is something we discussed before and we. put it back
on.the agenda today. Basically out Town Historian requested to go
to a con£erence in Rochester, New York the end of this year of all
Town Historians throughout the state. The Town at this time is
going to pass a resolution authorizing her to go at a sum not to
exceed, not to exceed $305.00 of Town funds. ~t if runs more than
that she goes at her own expense. The Town will put towards the
expense of $305~00 I will offer that.
9.On motion of Supervisor Pell, seconded by Councilman Drum, it was
RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold grants permission
to Southold Town Historian Magdaline Goodrich to attend the New York
State Municipal Historian's Association conference in Rochester, New
York from September 18 through September 20, 1980, and she be permitted
to spend $305.00 from her budget for meals, lodging and travel expenses.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: CoUncilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Number 10 and number 11 you do not have. Number
20 is something we spoke about before, it is hiring H2M and who wants
that resolution?
10~oved by Councilman Nickles, seconded by Councilman Murdock,
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 369 of the Laws of 1979, the Energy
Conservation through Improved Transportati~on Bond Act, and Chapter
53.of the Laws of 1980, the New York State Legislatnre authorized and
appropriated funds for a statewide Safer Local Roads and Streets
Program, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to these statutes, the New York State Department o£
Transportation has apportioned program funds to the municipality as
follows:
State Bond Funds (Plus local Match) = Total Program
$123,297 (+$41,099) = $164,396
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the To~a of Southold shall
participate in the Safer Local Roads and Streets Program, pursuant
to the terms o£ the Bond Act, the Program Guidelines and the State-
County Agreemenz, and it is further
342- AUGUST 9,o
RESOLVED, that construction of the Program will be by Town of
Southold forces or by competitive bid letting, with oversight by
the County Superintendent; and it is further
RESOLVED, that~the Town of Southold shall participate in the costs
of the Program, with 75% reimbursement by State bond £unds; ~and it
is further
RESOLVED, that upon completion of the Program, the Town o£ Southold
shall at its own expense properly maintain the completed projects.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Highways be an~
he hereby is authorized to sign all project applications.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: There is an addendum which the Town Attorney
will give to the Town Clerk, the Town's matching funds o£ $4~,099
shall be made up of in-kind services through the Highway Department.
ADDENDUM to Resolution #10:
It is the understanding of the Town Board in the adoption
of the foregoing resolution that the Superintendent o£ Highways,
as well as the consultant, H2M, have assured the Town Board that
the local share of funds to be provided by the Town, to wit: $41,099
will be provided by means of in-kind services to be performed by the
High~ay Department.
SUPERVISOR PELL: ~nFth.lgn you want to ask about that? rt was a long
resolution. What we ar~ delng, is-the ~t~te is going to give us
$123,000, the Town has, ~ put up $41,'000. The Town w/~.~l put up it~
money as in-kind serv!cesu The sta~e money ~ill be used to buy road
oil, tO buy drainage rlng~ s~ we can put ~ drainage~ystem in~ to buy
st2eet lights. The T~n e~plpyee~ ro~d department~ will go around
and do the work and be charged toward .this~bo'~, act. In-kind services.
A good part of.it will be that: Basically that is wha~ we are doing.
RONNIE WACKER: .What roads are going to be repaired?
SUPERVISOR PELL: Basically they are l~oking at, today, 27 from where
the four land ends ~ R~¥erha~d .Town line. They want to resurface
that one. They want to put in s~me drainage along the~e. There are
three projects. Drainage along there, to resurface that road and buy
lights and do some lighting throughout the Town. ~hose are the areas
they are looking at right now. They are out today with Mr. Dean
going over it. The Town Board has not finally zeroed in, but these
are the areas they are lo~king at right today. This application must
be in by, I think it iS October 1st. and we meet on September 9th
again and I presume, and I hope Mr. Dean will make a report at that
time to the Board.
Anything else you want to ask on th~s? If not we move to number
11, which you do not hve bu~ w~ do.
!1. On motion of 6ouncitman Sullivan, seconded by Councilman NIckles, it was
RESOLVED that the Southold Town Board enter into a contract with
Hamilton Stone, Inc. ~or the review, of the Town's Payroll Records to
recoup any excess social security ~axes paid. This contract will be
subject to the Town Attorney's approval.
Vote o£ the To~yn Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
SUPERVISOR PELL: We have seven minutes before the public hearings,
I'd like to ask the Board members if they have anything they would
like to discuss at this time,.? Larry?
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK:
input.
~ pre£er to wait until the audience has their
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: While we are waiting around, I've been in
discussion with the head of our lifeguards, Mr. M~ir and throughout
the summer, prior to the ~i£eguard season the MattaA-Mar, manager o~
the Matt-A-Mar Marina has been kind enough ~o let Mr. Muir use his
pool for training lifeguards, using speed tests and so on. He was
very helpful. Without it it would have been much more difficult £or
him to find lifeguards for our Town beaches this year and at his
suggestion I ask the Supervisor to write a letter to the manager o£
the Matt-A-Mar Marina thanking him for providing those services to
AUGUST 26, 1980 3~
the Town. I might also add while we are discussing that, it was brought
to'my att~.~.tion that £or four days last week there was not a lifeguard
a~ all at New~Su££olk Beach and this is a result of--I can't give you
the exact days but it was last week. Larry, do you know the dates off
hand?
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: There was a liefguard there yesterday so apparently
somebody went to school
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: I can explain to you what happened. What happened
is that it was necessary for Mr. Muir to fire a life guard because of
their abuse of the privilege of working for the Town. The lifeguard
on that beach was one of the park district beaches decided To go to
MacDonald's in Riverhead for lunch and I don't think anybody can find
fault with him for dismissing a lifeguard. It is d~££icult this time
of year in August to keep our lifeguards because many say they are going
to work for the Town the whole summer but really onlygoing to be out
here for the month of July and the personnel gets a little thin so Mr.
Muir is ~n a continual training program all summer trying to keep
vacancies filled, but that position is filled again and I don't know
about the~park district in Cutchogue, but our concern, of course, is
the Town Beach.
SUPERVISOR~PELL: The letter will be sent and this is the first I heard
of no lifeguard there. Mr. Muir usually checks and lets me know. Maybe
he didn't check those days.
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: He knew there wasn't a lifeguard there, Bill, he
fired the lifeguard, but I can't give you all the difficulties he had
trying to find ~nother lifeguard, but fortunately those days of the
week was really bad, rainy days.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Okay, I'll send the letter right out. George do you
have anything to add ? (no response.)
I'd like to remind you all that tomorrow morning at 10:00 o'clock
we are going to have open house ceremonies in Peconic Lane at 10:00
o'clock. Our county exec will be there to say a few kind words over
the Senior Citizen/Youth building as well as the Feeder Bus route
system that is set up. So I want to make sure you all are welcome
up there. No formal invitations were sent out by my office or the
Town Board. We put it in the press last week. I think the press
done a good job of covering it. So I hope we see a lot of you people
up there. Coffee will be served and punch or whatever. The three
Seniro Citizen's groups are each going to host along with the youth.
It is going to be open from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 and from 7:00 To 9:00
at night. If people work during the daytime can go up at night. The
senior citizens and youth will serve the cof£ee and tea or whatever
there is to be and I think it is going to be a nice affiav.
I think it is close enough to 3:45 to have our first public hearing.
On motion of Councilman Nickles, seconded by Councilman Murdock, it was
RESOLVED that a recess be called at 3:45 P.M. for the purpose of holding
two public hearings. Meeting to reconvene following the public hearings.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman Murdock,
Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was duly adopted
The following public hearings were held:
3:45 P.M. in.the matter of the application of Joseph L. Townsend, Jr.
for a wetland permit.
3:55 P.M. a proposed Local Law entitled, ~'Local Law To Provide for the
~em~¥al er Repair ~ Un~a~e Building ~nd Collapsed Structures".
Meetlag reconvenad at ~:Q5 P.M.
SUPERVISOR PELL: ~here we left off was w~ were ready ~o open the
flOQ~ up to the ~udience for anythi'ng they.might like to address the
Board with,. The flQor iS YOurs. When you raise your hand I will
~ecogn$,ze you. Please state, your name and if you h~ve a prepared
text, u~e the m~ka a9 everybody, can hear you talk it will be helpful
and the t~pe recorder can pick it up. Who would like to address the
Board ~$~st? ~rs~. ~.J~ Paul.
MARTHA JANE PAUL, Cutchogue, New York: Gentlemen of the Southold
Town Board. I am here today representing the Save Robins Island
AUGUST 26, 1980
Committee, a large group of concerned Southold Town citizens'Who
believe that the Town Board has an opportunity to go down in history
as having the foresight and vision to preserve an island of.approx-
imately 400 acres, which has natural, archaeological andhistrocial
attributes. We have long been convinced that a majority of Southold
Town's voters would prefer to have the island preserved in its natural
state instead of being altered forever by development. We now have
positive proof that this is so. A mail poll of the registered voters
of the Town of Southold shows---now, the figures that we gave you just
an hour ago have become obsolete, so I will give you the correct
figures. The mail poll as of now 84.6% or 2086 people favor preserva-
tion of Robins Island in its natural state, based on the number of
cards received through August 26th. The statement checked by that
84.6% urges the Town Board also to go on record as ~avoring ~reserva-~?
tion~ of the island and immediately to seek public and/or private
funding forTown acquisition of the island. 3.4% or 86 people said
they had no opinion and 10.4% or 257 of the respondents stated
preference for development of the island. The rest failed to check
any of the above options but generally wrote notes expressing some
of their feelings, and we are more than willing to let you look
through these cards in detail at any mutually convenient time and
they are right in front of you now. In less than ten days we received
responses from a significantly high percentage of those who received
the mailing. Out of the 11, 139 registered vo~ers of the Town wo whom
we sent the mailing, as of August 26th, 2466 have responded. That is
22.1%, a percentage seldom equalled in a mailing, according to people
who have been involved in this sort of thing. Fifteen to twenty percent
is considered an excellent response. Money contributions totaled
$2,200.00 and there were 291 donors, probably representing some 500
when you consider that most contributions are made by husband and wife
Now actually the percentage of responses from those who received
the mailing is more than the 22.1% which I had mentioned. We used
the Suffolk County Board of Elections mailing labels, for which we
paid. When a number of people began complaining that they had not
received the Robins Island:mailing in a certain post office district,
we checked with the postmaster and he told us what we had
not know; that all addressed on bulk mail must include a pos~ Office
box number if the patron has one and had included it on his or her -
voter gergistration card or the mail is.thrown ouz immedicately.There-. ~
fore, the percentage returned was more than the 22.1% we figured.
That was on the basis of a total 11,139 which we paid for. Anyway,
there should be no doubt now that a majority of the Southold ~own
voters do want Robins Island preserved with the support of the Town
Board. Our Committee has already explored avenues for funding for
Town acquisition of Robins Island. We shall be happy to assist the
Board in this effort, either as an officially appointed committee or
as a cooperating, independent entity, should the Board decide to
proceed in this manner. Our membership includes at least one person
who has experience in this area. She and others of us have
already established contacts which can be helpful. With your approval
and participation, we can move forward with specific information and
authority. We have gathered and continue to gather a vast amount of
proof of the unique aspects of Robins Island. For example, we have
attached a letter from teh Suffolk County Archaelogzcal Association
dated August 8, 1980, stating that they have categorized Robins Island
as one of the ew, relatively pristine areas of aboriginal habt:itation
on Long Island. They also sent a 37 page documentation of the arch-
eological findings which have already been uncovered on this island.
Therefore~ based on zhe returns from the miliang, 84,6 of the voters
who responded want the island preserved. We urge you to act ~t once,
today, if possible, but no later than September 9th, to approve
preservation of Robins Island and to seek £unding to help the Town
of Southold acquire it. The benefits to each of you, and to all o£
us, will be immediate and.our children and grandchildren will be
thankful for your foresight for generations to come. Thank you.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Thank you very much. Now, I presume you are not
turning that in to the Town, you are taking that home with you, that
display.
MRS. PAUL: Yes, but really as Town officials and representing us~
I think if you did go through them it would give you a very good
picture of what people are thinking and wb_at they want. By september
9th I am sure we will go over 2500 and we'll take it from t~ere on
September 9th, or today. Thank you.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Anybody else wish to address the Board?
MR. GILLETTE: I'd just like to mention about Horton's Point. What
is taking so long to get anything done with those steps over there..
You know, we--this is a unique place and it seems it is jus~ a shame
to not be able to use the beach by people.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Alrigh~, to answer you, the man I would like to have
answer is not here, Mr. Dean. The Town Board asked Me. Dean to come
up with a cosy factor it would take To clean the brush out, pu~ the
stairs up and get Horton's Point in good shape. Mr. Dean did not attend
out Town Board meeting today, he is out on the road, as I said before,
with H2M. He came in £or about 15 minutes. We talked about roads,
lights and he went back out. We had a letter on it. It is in h~s
file with a request to him to get back to the Town Board with the
information that we need io give him the okay to go ahead and clean
the brush out and fix it up and do whatever is needed to make it a
respectable area. That it is basically. We turned it 0ver to him
a couple of weeks ago when somebody else brought it up.
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: I don't think it was turned over to him a couple
of weeks ago. It has been turned over to him, though.
MR. CHARLES MOHR: I spoke to Mr. Dean a few months back and he had
told me he had the money for the steps, the amount w~s $1300 for the
lumber and he would have them finished by the end of June or the
minute he had the highways cleared of the sand and that was the last
I.heard o£ Mr. Dean. Then I spoke to John the other day about the
SUPERVISOR PELL: Right, I know he spoke ~o me too.
MR. MOtLR: Yes, I spoke to you first and you told me to go to see
John Nickles about it. John and I spoke about it.
SUPERVISOR P~LL: We are going to see what happend to it, look into it.
I can perhaps give you an answer, if you want to contact me at the
end of the we~ek. The Town Board will probably take action, if it
requires it a~ the next Town Board meeting. I'll see Mr. Dean up
there and ask him where we stand on it. I know he did discuss it,
as John ~yas, some time ago with us but nothing was ever really
pushed on it.
MR. ~MOHR: I know he had showed me some papers about the price of
lujjmbe~ and all ~hat it costs and everything and when I went back the
secretary and Mr. Jacobs, I sai~ I should have contacted them more
o£ten but I took it for granted that he would continue on. I didn't
want ~o bother him being he was busy, so then I went to you, then
John.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Let us go to work on it, we will pursue it.
MRS.~MARGARET GILLETTE: I would just like to comment that when we
first moved to Southold eleven years ago, we bought our property a
couple of years before that, I would just like to comment that~one
of the features of Southold Town that made it very very attractive
to us, was the fact that so many of the road endings yielded access
to the beach area..From the standpoint of many recreational activities
that was very very attractive to us and this was one of the big
features of Southold Town and over the years many of these areas have
been closed off and we just don't like to see it happen.
SUPERVISOR PELL: We had a group of people at our last Town Board
meeting from, I am going ~o call it Rocky P~int Road, East Marion,
complaining about the same thing. A few years ago the Town put a
fence up and closed it right off because, as we pat steps in there
the steps were burned up and broken down. The amount of people that
was using it on weekends were strictly more because at the end of that
particular road we had--we owned fifty feet, that is all the To~n
owned. On each side~ east and wesv, is private property. They would
go down there with 200 people and a fifty feet~road or 100 people,
cars all up above, so the Town got in a position, in that case, they
had to clo~e it off because people were just going on everybody's
land. At the end of our roads, the majority of our roads, there are
80 some of th~m in the TOwn, the Town ow~s 80 some road ends that ~
go int~ the water--the majority of them are fifty foot in width and
they do have problems in certain areas, that some of them we do have
to close off. At Horton's Point the Board is going to go into that
in detail and find out what we c~n do and if we can do and I hope to
have a final recommendation from Mr. Dean, through John and his
committee, ready next Board meeting.
COUNCILMAN DRUM: I j~ wanted to say, unfortunately when we were
a real rural area that weren't regulations. Now, the~Suffolk
County Department o~ Health, if we have a beach, we are required to
have rest rooms and This can be a real problem. Basically they have
ignored it, but if it is s beach and you have access, it can be at
some time they are going to say, sorry you must provice the facilities.
Then this becomes very difficult. This is a possibility. And life- ~
guards as well. So at present no way could our community, could ew ~
afford to have a lifeguard and facilities at every beach e~d. We~,~
have 80 some off. But if they wanted--if they said This is a beach,
we could be ~orced to have that facility.
MR. MOHR: The beach down at Horton's Point, it would be impossible
to swim. It is just a good beach for fishermen, for people to come
down and take pictures.
COUNCILMAN DRUM: We agree, but what I am saying is we can be faced
with this. I'm'no~ saying this is going to be our approach. Don't
misinterpret what I say, I am concerned.
SUPERVISOR PELL: We will look into this and try to get a report back
at the next Board meeting, if not before. I will talk to Mr. Dean
and John the end of this week.
Mr. Charles Hickey in the back of the room.
MR.CRARLES HICKEY: Mr. Pell, in answer to Mr. Drum this particular
section is nothing but bolders~ that these people are talking about.
Now, that was a beautiful place ay one time. I was down there only
here last week and I was shocked and my wife indicated the same thing.
There are trees and bushes growing eight feet high or more. I knew
all about the s~eps, I talked about it. I talked to Mr. Dean about
it. Now, 67 steps is at another location. Mr. Dean tried out some- ,I
~thing ~t 67 steps that he felt was going to be the answer and I haven
heard any more.
SUPERVISOR PELL: The Town Board, today, did visit the 67 steps site as
a uni~. Mr. Nickles was not with us, but the other three members and
myself drove down to 67 steps to examine exactly what you are referring
to, the ~ype of steps that he put in and he could take out, undo, take
out and we looked at it down there.
MR. HICKEY: At the Lighthouse Road, every time something happened to
that it was vandalism. Either way they would knock them down or burn
them or whatever.
MRS. JEAN TIEDKE: Perhaps the Town should very seriously consider
buying more beach front for people ~o use.
MR. FRANK ~t~AR: I'd like to come back to the question of Robins
IsIand, if I may. I'd just like ~o refer to the cartons you see over
there on the little vable. The white containers contain the cards
of those people, broken down by election districts~ who ~re in favor
or preservation of Robins Island. Mrs. Salmon, who is right there,
has done the recording for us~ holds in her h~nd those cards from
people who prefer development t~ the island~ the others are the
no opinion cards, and there are some, a lewd. people w-ho didn't say
what their opinion was but did write some ki~d of note and expres~
their feelings. I think that it is astounding, really that w~ h~v&
received this kind of response. You will recall that last spring we
had a petition with app~ox±mately the same number of signatures on
that petition as we know have cards returned to us. Out of th~se cards
that have been returned to us, as Mrs. Paul sald~ more than 2100 are
in favor of preservation. This mailing was done only about ten days
ago. We got all these back in that short period o£ time. ~We received
quite a number back today, as you know ~rom looking ay your copu of
the statement Mrs. Paul made with different figures which indicates
the number we received today. We do hope that thfs is c~nv!nc±ng
evidence that--I heard a~ least one member o£ the Town Board say that
he is convinced that the majority o£ the voters of South~ld Town favo~
preservation and he would be in favor of it also. I thin~ that it is
time now to realize that you are not just playing with numbers. We
have the facts to go on.
AUGUST 26,
MR. WILLIAM GARDNER, Cutchogue:~i~.I'd be very interested and I think
the Board would be very interested, if they have those by election
for the towns within Southold, what the results are by that count.
In other words, how many from East Marion, how many from Mattituck,
how many from Southold, how many from Orient.
MRS. SALMON: That was in the process of being done but is just
not complete. It can be done within the nex~ couple o£ hours.
It is a simple matter of just counting the cards.
MR. MICHAEL MATTES, Mattituck: W~en this matter £irst came before
the Town Board last April Mr. Sullivan made the statement that the
majority o£ the people of the Town of Southold were, in his opinion,
were in favor of development of Robins Island. Do you still feel that
way.
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: Yes, the people that I've talked to, and again,
· am not going to give the number, a fairly good croSs-section., still
go along with that. Again, this response is only 14% over the overall
voter registration.--22% okay, so I think we should still monitor the
rest of the responses.
MRS. PAUL: I don't think we can do it because of the Mattituck mailing
I think that's why this is 'not an accurate acco~unt but I don~t see
how.you can say the majority of the people favor development. I think
it is ludicrous.
SUPERVISOR PELL: In your statement you read y~u said one post office,
if the addresses were not on, did not -- th~t~s Mattituck?
MRS. PAUL: Yes~ it is.
MR. ~TTES: You say that the majority of the people you talked to
are in favor o£ development, as a CPA and expert in statistics',
with a population of 20)some odd thousand people in a given community
and we want to know-how many people like pizza pies by checking off
yes or no on an inquiry, would you say that a sampling of 25 or 50
or 10& people is more statistically s-ignific~nt~than a sampling of
say 10% or 15% of the population. In other owrds, in a population of
2~,0OG people statSstically is 25 people more statistically relevant
or is the samplling ~ 2,G00 s.ome odd ~ore relevant?
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: I donlt know. I don~t know. ~hgt that ~odel
of that example would bring out.
}lR~ MATT~S: ~ell, if we wanted to find out how many people in the
Town of Southold liked pizza pies the ideal th~ng would be to go
out an~ ask everybody--100% sampling. When Wal~er Crenkite gets
on the news at night and says this is a poll of 2~000 some off
people and the deviation might be plus or minus 3%~ he's-~talking
about millions in the theoretical sample.. We are talking here
about a far greater percentage and one of the things I learned in
Statistics I, and i'm sure you ahve the similar experience, that
the greater the sampling, the more relevance, the better the imprints
can be made concerning the whole, is that no~ true? S'o how-can you
say that the 25, 50, or 1O0 people you talked to can be more
statistically relevant than the 2000 people here.
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: It doesn't seem to match up. 1 agree with
you.
MR. MATTES: You are still willing to say the 100 people you talked to--
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: The people I talked to, again the people that
favor preseryatlon~hut no~ _~he~e you haye th~ response. 1 think
you shDuld ~onitor th~ re~ain~ng results that come back..
MR. MATTES: If those remaining result~ that c~me back are in
.relatively the. same proportion that we have here in front of
would you be willing to modify your stand?
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: Yes,. I think the questionnaire might have
eon given to the Town. Board, perhaps, for their.suggestion~ If
you want us to react on a certain questionnaire, perhaps you should
have asked us for some suggestions,
AUGUST 26, 1980
MR. MATTES: Why, Mr. Sullivan, why?
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: If we're to act on something that perhaps
might not be all inclusive. If your check box for development
said that this perhaps would lead to--if your next sentence under
there said, this may require an increase in your taxes for acquisition.
MRS. PAUL: How do you know that?
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: I don't know, but it may. If the sentence
said it may include an increase in your taxes.
MR. MATTES: Conversely the following what you say, does it
favor development o.f Robins Island the tax rate will be reduced?
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: I think in that particular sense it should
have maybe defined development in some sorts based on the plan
that was submitted to the Town Planning Board.
MR. MATTES: I think we are splitting hairs here, Mr. Sullivan.
I think what we are trying to get at is a sense of yes or no
among the people. The people have spoken, Mr. Sullivan. No way
can you say statistically, and I'm sure anyone else in here who
has taken Stat I in college, by sampling 10% of a population is
less statistically relevant than a sampling of approximately--
less than one half of one percent. If you talk to 100 people it
is one half of one percent. We h~ve a return here of approximately
10% in favor--22% versus your half of one percent. The response in
favor was 44 times greater in favor of acquisition for parkland.
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN: We're going to move on it at the next meeting
and you will have my position.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: In reading this, your last paragraph, M.J., says
that now you want the Town to acquire Robins Island. Is that the
thrust of your recommendation now?
MRS. PAUL: Town acquisition.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: Because the last acquisition was not. The last
proposal was somebody do it. Now you have refined it to a Town
acquisition?
MRS. PAUL: Mr. Poll's resolution for County acquisition. We are
now asking for Southold Town acquisition.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: Because I want to understand for myself, because
certainly if it is dealing with Southold Town it is, as far as I am
concerned, an entirely different situation that what you were asking
for two months ago.
MRS. PAUL: It is.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: Now it vitally affects the finances of every
person in the Town. We no~:longer can deal--
MRS. PAUL: We don't know.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: I'm afraid we do know. There is~no money that
can be expended that somebody doesn't have to pay for.
MRS. PAUL: We're not asking that Mr. Murdock, Taxes are not the
issue. The issue now is preservation or development.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: The issue, that is what I am trying to solidify
now, M.J. The issue, according to what I see out of the last paragraph
of this report is that the Save Robins Island Committee is requesting
that the Town of Southold acquire Robins Island to preserve it. Is
that your recommendation. I want to know what we're asked to do, is
what I'm really asking you.
MRS. PAUL: With funding and we are asking the Town Board to
immediately seek private--private and/or public funding and we
have someone on our committee who is versed in this and we ourselves
have called about if there is such a thing as:~private funding, such
a thing as public funding for endangered species or archaeological
areas. That sort of thing. I don't want my taxes raised, Larry,
not one bit.
AUGUST 26, 1980 349:
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: Well, M.J., very honestly, whether the taxes go
up or whether the taxes go down if the majority of the people in the
Town are willing zo spend more money of thei~'tax dollars, so be it.
If 51% of the people say, I will spend $50.00 a year more on my property
taxes in the-Town of Southold, that is what the Town of Southold will
have and should have. It isn't a question of say, are your taxes
going to go up or down because of a proposition, it's is it as important
to the people who are paying the taxes that they are willing to have
their taxes go up and down.
MRS. PAUL: You're already in square five, we're starting in square
one.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: No, I am only concerend--I want to understand
fully that you represent as your sampling of 22% of the population
of this Town that you're representing that based on that Save Robins
Island ~ommittee is asking the Town of Son, hold to preserve and
acquire--to acquire and preserve Robins Island.
MRS. PAUL: And you've got to continue it. There are two parts to
that one sentence, and to seek public and/or private funding. Funding
of the island but we acquire it.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: But it's the Town of ~outhold who is either going
to acquire ~t and also be the lead agency. However we are going to get
the funding, whether the funding is coming from another source.
MR. BEAR: I would just like to say this in connection with. the
.question---I think you have a legitimate question there Larry, but the
point is this, we have talked already to a number of people who are
involved in both private and public funding and they don't tell us
that we can go out tommorow and pick up the money like that. But
they do tell us that there is a veFy excellent opportunity of doing
just that if we go about it in the right way. In other words, if
this Town Board should go on record as favoring preservation, then
if you really believe that and really want zo go out and Seek the
~unding, we're convinced on the basis of conversations which we've
had thaz this can be accomplished in a satisfactory manner. I can't
promise you how az this time or where az this time, but we would like
to work with this Town Boamd and help every way we can, and bring
abouz the preservation of Robins Island. Town acquisition with public
and/or private funding.
MRS. RONNIE WACKER: Well, Frank Pretty much said what I was going to
say. We are not asking that the Town grant a bond issue. We are:not
asking that it be done by Town purchase., but.we are asking simply that
the feeling of the people be noted and we recognize that there are many
funding opportunities £or us to seek out.
MRS. LEE DELLAMANO: Is it out of line to ask what kind of monies are
being talked about?
SUPERVISOR PELL: For Robins Island to purchase it? The last purchase
price was $1,300,000.
MRS. DELLAMAN0: Is it _for sale? Is it sold? I don!t know anything
about it. Is is now sold? Are the people willing to give it up?
SUPERVISOR PELL: That's a good ~eSlI~n. The last _time I know.it
was sold to a gFOUp o~ Europeans. That's the last.question I heard.
You say one-three, where does that price come from?
MRS. WACKER: That was the sale price, $1,300,000. That's what they
paid John MacKay.
MRS. DELLAMANO: How would we get it away from them? Would you just
condemn it?
SUPERVISOR PELL: Good wuestion, could be... ~hat I am sure W~ll be
worked out. Who else had their hand up in here?
MRS. JUDY M~GONEGAL: I'd like to know why the Board has not done
anything on the resolution before the Town on a call for a Human
Life Amendment? It has been pending. You've been saying you need
more information. People have offered information and I'd like to
know why--which ever~way you go, why it hasn't been put up as a
resolution?
850:. u usT
SUPERVISOR PELL: I have it on my last thing ~o talk about today.
I will talk abou~ it right now if you would like. One of my Councilman
called me Friday and asked me to put on the agenda for today's meeting.
I discussed it with him in great length and told him tha~ I had tald
many people who had called my office publicly here I would notify them
before it was put on the agenda. I do plan, at the request of my
Councilman, to put it on the next Town Board agenda.
COUNCILMAN DRUM: I might say that I am the one who is ready. I have
been ready to of£er a resolution before the Town. I was very willing
and I am willing to o£fer that resolution today but it was at the
request of the Supervisor That it be delayed, but I have been ready
for some time.
MRS. McGONEGAL: You said at the next meeting at the request of.your
Councilmen, what if they don't requestLit?
SUPERVISOR PELL: They have, Mr. Drum already has, and Mr. Sullivan--
MRS . McGONEGAL: So it has been requested and we can expect this at
the next Town Board meeting?
SUPERVISOR PELL: I will plan--I told Councilman Dmum Friday that
I would put in on the next agenda because I sat in this chair and told
people in this room that I would notify them before it was put on
the agenda. On Friday I explained to Councilman Drum if he wanted
it on today, I would put it on, but it would be against what I told
the people. I asked him if he would let me put it on the next time and
he did agree that I would put it on the next time at his request and
he did make the requrest. St will be on the next agenda.
COUNCILMAN DRUM: However, as I have said, if the Board agrees today,
I will be very willing to propose it today. But I did, very true,
when Mr. Pell said to me on Friday that he had told other people
that it would not be on, at.that time I had agreed to let it be
postponed with the understanding that it would appear at the next
meeting.
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN; I'm ready ~o move on it today.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: At the last meeting we told people that we would
give them two weeks notice so I'm in favor of waiting because there
are many people in the audience who wanted to know a specific time
whether we would actually move on it at this meeting and we had told
them no, that we would not act on it at this meeting. The Supervisor
explained to quite a few people in the audience that day that we would
give them notice. That's my only restriction.
MRS. LORNA TUTHILL: Gentlemen of the Board. In the last few weeks
many people have asked me two questions. Why is the Town Board
concerned with the abortion issue and how is this any of their business~
As we tried to.find reasonable answers to these questions we ~ame o.t
/
the following conclusions: Abortion is a private matter to be. dealt
with by each individual according to his or her standards or personal
morality and the tenants of ones religious faith. In other words, the
real issue is not, do you believe in abortion, or would you ban all
abortion, the issue is do you believe American government should have
the right to interfere in the personal practice of the faith of its
citiznes. I'm not here to advocate abortion. I don't know a single
person who advocates abortion, per se. Everywhere I've inquired the
answer has come back this way: I don't believe in abortion but I do
believe everyone should have the right to make the choice and that is
the issue here, the right to make a choice in the practice of ones
religious faith. We want to preserve that basic freedom of religion
tha~ thousands of Americans have died ~o preserve for us and for the
peoples of other noations of the world as well. In every generation
this freedom has been challenged beginning with the earliest American
colonies. Any fifth grade social studies student who has learned his
lessons knows that the black pages of our history recording the witch
hunts in Salem, Massachusetts grew out of a community where membership
in a ~articular church was required in order to have a vote in the
local government. Today American citizens are being held hostage in
a land where ~reedom is in shambles as a variety of religious leaders
seek to dominate its government. When you vote~ if you vote today
or on some other date, to support a Constitutional Convention %hat
would make the theology of one group the law of this land, ::will be
interpreted by us who believe in the separation of church and state
and in the free practice of ones faith as a direct attack upon the
Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution which you have sworn
uphold. ! have here 164 signatures which, added to. those wez have
already collected, represent over 500 people who agree with me that
this is so.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Thank you. Present them to the Town Clerk and
she will have them on file.
I would like to ask if I could, if the Board does_not objeot,
for Mrs. Paul, at the next Board meeting, to present us with a
detailed breakdown of your replies and also the election district
in districts 18, 4, 1---
COUNCILMAN DRUM: I would like to make a comment in regard to these
letters ~hat have been received. I appreciate the statement and the
committee's ef£ert in which they have done-~the work that. they have
done. When we received the original petitions, may commen~s at that
time were, I didn't'feel the language was appropriate, I do no~ feel
tha~ this was an objective questionnaire either. I have know and
I have learned by s~atistics that you may--any response that is
desired can be obtained in the way the questionnaire is worded and
I do not feel that--I appreciate your efforts a great deal. I feel
that your effort was to obtain one result and to be very frank with
you, I am no~ disappointed in the results, I am disappointed in the
manner in which you went about it. Those are my only comments.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: I would like to ask the Supervisor, since you're
the Chief fiscal of£icer of the Town,~ now this proposition--should
the Town purchase the island, do you have amy thoughts-you feel that
we~ are in general shape that we can consider it at this time or do
you make a recommendation it should be looked into ~or a time to say
next year--because we are under constraint. If it is g6ing to be this
year we must have it on the ballo~ by, I believe, September 19th is
the last time that we can ac~ mo have anything included in the ballot
for this year. Now, if the~= and I respect£ully submit that the last
paragraph changes the entire complexion that we are now being asked
as a Town to purchase this, and you are the ~chief fiscal officer of
the Town and I would like to know your opinion about whether zhis is
possible %or us to pursue a~ this time or do we have ~o ask the
people to be more patient, give us time and maybe work on it .into
1981. We hg~e a budget--I read the thing in the ~aper that said
they were going to being it to the Board now. I was under the
impression it was in terms o~ being placed on the ballot for November,
that that was the reason for this informational gathering and i~ it's
for the Town ~o buy it I certainly would like input now. We have 50
people here and ~ather than have 50 people walk out of here~ saying
we're unresponsive I would rather have you respon~ so that we can at
least tell the people whether it is something we have time to consider
in time for the November 1980 ballot, do we have to consider this at
different lengths and take a longer period of time?
SUPER%ISOR PELL: Thanl you, Larry. The way I read.this and maybe
ITm reading it wrong, it~_says to approve preservation o£ Robins
Island and ~o seek funding to help the T. own of Southold acquire it.
I read it ~o seek funding to help the Town. I think they are asking
the Town Board to help them and them ~o help us zo go outside and
seek outside funding, no~ Town funding. I think this is a request
a~d to me the key work, it is in here with a capital S, Seek £unding.
I think they are asking us to work with them and them with us to see
what funding, whether £ederal, s~ate, private or whatever is available.
I don;t think they are asking the Town money to be there.
MR. FRANK MURPHY:, Mattituck: Mr. Pell, I really £eel the~e is quite
a negative attitude on the Town Board on this when ~e have such
a large number of people who evidently took the ~ime t.o be interested
to do this and I--you still ha~e parn of a~meeting scheduled after
this part of the meeting--why can't, so that you do get a better
input in the Town Board, appoint a commitzee of concerned people who
would be pro in developing mo ~ork with the aommittee find out what
we're talking about. Find out why it's preserved, what they're doing.
I don;t think these people ask to have us spend two million dollars
for the acquisition a~ all. I think they are jus~ asking to preserve
it. Let's find ou~ how.
352. A c TST
SUPERVISOR PELL: Thank you. If the Board so desires to appoint a
committee wo work with these people I will let them not objecv to
it. It's up to the Board. We are going int~o a working session when
we adjourn today we will adjourn this meeting here, I have several
i~ems I want the Board's guidance on, they're housekeeping items.
No action is necessary on them but they are--I think seven or eight
I didn't have a chance to discuss with the Board to get their guidance
on the way I should reply to certain letters and stu£~ like that but
if the Board wants to appoAnt a committee they would have to doit in
an official body, we would have to do i t an official Town Board
meeting. Does the Board anticipate this? If there is we can recess
the meeting and adjourn i~ after we discuss it. What's the pleasure
of the Board?
COUNCILMAN DRUM: I don't object to a committee. Of course we've had
various people, as I say, studying and various groups have come to all
of us. In fact we've had the Conservation Advisory Council went-over
and looked at Robins Island have made a report. To study it, by all
means I think perhaps have a group appointed where we will--let us
consider it, let us discuss it after this meeting, official meeting.
Let us discuss it at 5:00 o'clock. Discuss all avenues.
MR. WILLIAM WEINHEIMER: One impact on this entire operation is we
don't know whether the present owners are willing vo sell.
COUNCILMAN MURDOCK: It will raise the price of acquisition.
MR. BEAR: I think that first we don't know whether the owners are
willing to sell it. I've seldon, if ever, known of a real estate
speculator who wasn't willing to sell for a certain price. In this
case i~ the Town can condemn and condemnation resultsiin,usually~a
~eason~bly £&ir price. These are the things that need to be explored.
Ail these things. We don't claim that we have all the answers as of
now. We are asking that we gev going and do something. That the Town
Board could take a stand in favor of preservation and then seek a way
we could do it with £undlng. That's whaz it boils down to.
MR. TOM McGONEGAL: I just want to address ~hat the lady said.
~ don;t understand why abortion is a religious issuez~ If murder
I think the only issue is whether it's murder or whether it's some-
thing else.
SUPERVISOR PELL: The Board will have to wiegh this the next week
and gev prepared vo vote on it.
COUNCILMAN DRUM: It's not religious.
MR. MOGONEGAL: It seemed as though it was presented before that
it was some kind of church and state thing or something and it doesn't
seem to be a religious issue at all in my mind. ~t~seems to be a
moral issue on which the United States is based on.
MRS. JOHN ASHTON: On June 12th we came to you and asked you ~o pass
this home rule resolution because the state legislature goes into
special session in September. We are just saying let Southold Town
be heard as we are asking £or freedom of speech. In answer to this
lady that abortion is a matter of private conscience, it has to follow
murder is a matter of private conscience. Stealing becomes a matter
of private conscience. As I carefully explained in the last meeting
with the work that I had prepared ~or you the pro-abortionists are
asking us to accept a whole new code o£ morality. I'm asking you
please to vote in favor o~ it and I also have 199 signatures to add
so you have over 800.
SUPERVISOR PELL: Thank you very much. The Board will recess now,
we will convene today--if you warty to adjourn we can't appoint a
committee then. We are going to adjourn. This will end official
action of the Board £or today. A committee will no~ be appointed
today.
COUNCILMAN NICKLES: M.J., Bill had asked you, or Henry or someone
had asked you to updave this and bring it to the next Town Board. I
think it would be bette~ if you had it in by the Friday prior to the
September 9th meeting so we don't get--by the September 5th.
AUGUST 26, 1980
SUPERVISOR PELL: I think it is t~ 5th we get the agenda ou~ so it
should be into my m~ting by the 5th so it can go out with the agenda.
On motion of Supervisor Pell, seconded by Councilman Murdock, it was
RESOLVED that there being no further business To come before this
Town Board meeting adjournment be called at 5:05 P.M.
Vote of the Town Board: Ayes: Councilman Sullivan, Councilman
Murdock, Councilman Nickles, Councilman Drum, Supervisor Pell.
This resolution was declared duly adopted.
Judith T. T~erry Town Clerk