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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB-08/12/2004SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING August 12,2004 1:30 P.M. A Regular Meeting of the Southold Town Board was held Thursday, August 12, 2004 at the Fishers Island High School, Fishers Island, New York. Supervisor Horton opened the meeting at 1:30 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Present: Absent: Supervisor Joshua Y. Horton Justice Louisa P. Evans Councilman Thomas H. Wickham Councilman Daniel C. Ross Councilman William P. Edwards Town Clerk Elizabeth A. Neville Town Attorney Patricia A. Finnegan Councilman John M. Romanelli SUPERVISOR HORTON: Good afternoon, at this point we will convene this public meeting of the Southold Town Board for our annual public meeting of the Southold Town Board on Fishers Island. First let me extend the Town Board's sincere appreciation for the residents of Fishers Island, for those of you who are in attendance, for coming to this meeting because without the public it is not a meeting, it is just a gathering of politicians. So we appreciate that you have made this meeting. Please rise and join with me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Is Congressman Goss with us today? I asked him to come and give us a briefing of the CIA. For those of you that don't know that Congressman Goss, a Representative to the House out of Florida, also is a resident here of Fishers Island and he has just recently been appointed the Director of the CIA. Nominated, that is correct. So much for formalities. Before we get started too far, I would like to ask a person to come forward and that is one Ms. Sofie Malinowski and I had the pleasure of meeting Sofie about one month ago, it was July 15th actually, I met Sofie. I took a trip over here, I got a ride to Fishers Island from the Bay Constables to come meet August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 2 with Justice Evans and the Board of Directors of the Fishers Island Civic Association. And I walked into the gym, around 9:00, 9:30 somewhere in that neighborhood, right, Sofie? And I walked into the gym and there were scores of children in a very organized and sportsman like fashion playing a number of games here in the gym. And I was, not only was I taken aback by the number of children here in the gym but it was so quiet outside and there were all these children around. I was more impressed that every single kid in the gym, what were the ages of those students? SOFIE MAL1NOWSKI: Eight to eleven. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Eight to eleven. So scores of children from eight to eleven were actively engaged in a very sportsmanlike fashion in specific sports. And I was just so impressed with their ability to know where they should be and what they are doing and I was watching the strategy and it was a fun thing to watch and that was a program hosted by the Island Peoples Project. Is that correct? And Sofie was one of the counselors, directors, coaches, if you will, that was here working with those children and I want to bring Sofie forward here because I have a proclamation that I would like to issue to Sofie. As many of you know, Sofie is a tremendous athlete and has recently been recognized for her athletic, Sofie has recently been recognized by organizations more important than the Southold Town Board for her athletic abilities and what I have here is a proclamation and in fact, the original proclamation will be in a leather cover, will be Federal Expressed to you. We didn't bring it over on the boat today because we feared it would end up in places like my jacket did, which was on the deck of the car ferry. So this is a copy of the proclamation. If you would come forward, Sofie, I would appreciate it. I am going to read this proclamation. I think Sofie really mirrors, this is a representative of so many that you have from this community that put their heart and a lot of energy and a lot of soul and commitment into aspiring, worked out goals. Lofty goals and achievements and we want to take this opportunity to note that Sofie is definitely one of those people that we should recognize, for good cause. WHEREAS : the Town Board of the Town of Southold wishes to recognize $OFIE MALINOWSKI for her excellent lacrosse career at The Williams School; and W H E R E A $ : SOFIE exhibits the spirit, dedication, team work, and sportsmanship ora true champion, holding the school's seasonal and all-time records for goals scored and leading her team to the Connecticut Independent Schools Athletic Conference title; and W H E R E A $ : the importance of the skill, pride, and commitment of $OFIE~$ coaches, parents, family and team supporters cannot be overstated as she was en-couraged toward her outstanding achievements; now, therefore, be it R E $ 0 L V E D : that the Town Board of the Town of Southold wishes to congratulate $OFIE MALINOWSKI for her remarkable athletic success and extend our best wishes for her future at St. Lawrence University. DATED : August12, 2004 August 12, 2004 3 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting Supervisor Joshua Y. Horton Councilman Thomas H. Wickham Councilman William P. Edwards Councilman Daniel C. Ross Councilman John M. Romanelli Justice Louisa P. Evans Town Clerk Elizabeth A. Neville SUPERVISOR HORTON: Congratulations to you. Sofie, thanks a lot and congratulations, may fair winds and calmer seas as you embark on you college endeavor. From the looks of the athletes in the Island Peoples Project, I think you will have many more noteworthy athletes rising up through the ranks. We will move ahead with the meeting. We have portions of the meeting that are dedicated to the public and specifically today, we have two portions. One is prior, we offer the floor to the public to speak to any of the resolutions that are on the printed agenda, that would be resolutions 619 to 623. After the voting of the resolutions we then again, open the floor to the public to address the Town Board on town related issues. Prior to moving to resolutions, I think we will go through the process and quite a process it is because our Town, County and State officials always outnumber the residents on this trip. If you look around, we have several layers of government and agencies and governmental institutions represented here today and the true effort behind this representation is actually to give you folks who live here on the island opportunity to interact in a one-on-one basis with the government agency of your choice. We have and I am going to read off who is actually here, I won't read specific names but I will read the agencies that are represented. We have Suffolk County Victims Advocate; when your title is announced, would you please raise your hand, so you will be identified if a resident of Fishers Island wants to locate you, the New York Office for the Aging; Newsday is here; the State of New York Department of Motor Vehicles, the Eastern Long Island director; Town of Southold Housing Director; Fires Chief Counsel is represented; the Cutchogue Fire Department is represented; Utopia Homecare; County of Suffolk Division of Real Estate; we have Radio Amateur Communication Emergency representatives; members of the Southold Town Planning Board; representatives of the Suffolk County Legislature; representatives of the New York State DEC, Department of Environmental Conservation, for permits and regional engineer; we have representatives from the Conservation Advisory Committee; the Town's legal assistants are here, our Town Attorney's; the Town Comptroller; New York State Archives; Suffolk County Under Sheriff; Trustee of the Village of Greenport and in a much more official capacity, my mom and when I am playing Supervisor, I get to call her Gail. Thanks for coming, Gail; we have Suffolk County Health Services; Town Zoning Board of Appeals; the DEC spills prevention; we have representatives from the Land Preservation Department; we have representatives from the Town Justice Court; we have a representative from Congressman Bishop's office; Town Building Department; Southold Town Police Department; Code Enforcement; Consumer Affairs; we have Suffolk County Fire Academy; Superintendent of Highways, Peter Harris is here; again New York State Archives; County Offices for the Aging; Southold Town Department Public Works; New York State Ag and Markets; and I believe if I have missed anybody, oh, I have missed a lot of people. There is yet another page. We do have representatives from our Town Accounting Department; Southold Town Conservation Advisory Committee; representatives from the Town's Board of Trustees. Those people are with us today, should anyone need one-on-one communication, please take the opportunity now or during the course of the meeting, take them aside or catch up with them after this meeting and we hope that their presence here is helpful. We will move August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 4 forward with the, excuse me, one more thing before we move forward. I want to thank a bunch of people. First I want to thank Louisa Evans for helping to coordinate this, Justice Evans. And you should know that Louisa does a remarkable job of putting in some important issues to the Town Board that affect Fishers Island as well as participating in issues of town-wide importance. I want to thank Mike Imbriglio, Mike not only for your participation with the Town Emergency Response team but also for setting up the equipment that we are making use of today, the audio equipment for this meeting. So thanks, Mike. I would like to thank Ruthann Woodhull and Joanne Liguori, they are the direct representatives of my office and in fact, they make my office run. And Joanne and Ruthann, and I see Lynne Krauza from the Attorney's Department there as well, thank you for setting up this meeting and allowing for a seamless transition to Fishers Island and a flawless meeting and day here on the Island. Thank you very much. Members of the Southold Town Highway Department, from both the Long Island side as well as Highway Department reps from the Fishers Island side. And many other people who pitched in to make this day a fulfilling and worthwhile day. A great lunch, great ride over and a lot of us have had good interaction with people here on the Island and it has been informative for us and we look forward to a productive and informative meeting. I also wanted to thank the Fishers Island Civic Association Board of Directors for taking the time to meet with me on July 15th, and I look forward to our quarterly meetings, not only the Board of Directors with FICA but also in general, in quarterly meetings with Fishers Island residents. That is one commitment that I made that came out of that meeting. That will yield positive results for Fishers Island in the future and also be very helpful to the Town Board in our daily business. So now we would move forward with our resolutions. Are there any members of the public that would like to address the Town Board on resolutions 619 through 623. If not, we will move ahead with #619. I. REPORTS 1. Southold Town's Program for the Disabled - July Events #619 Moved by Councilman Edwards, seconded by Justice Evans, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby authorizes and directs Supervisor Joshua Y. Horton to accept the donation of Nicholas Spofford of a 1985 Chevrolet F10~ 4 wheel drive~ dark blue truck to the Town of Southold for the purpose of facilitating the non- toxic mosquito control program on Fishers Island. JUSTICE EVANS: I just want to point out this is a Fishers Island resident that has donated their truck. Thank you very much, Bob, that is great. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Absolutely. That goes for on behalf of the entire Town Board, as well, because we do appreciate that donation. Vote of the Town Board: Aye: Councilman Edwards, Councilman Ross, Councilman Wickham, Justice Evans, Supervisor Horton. This resolution was duly ADOPTED. #62O Moved by Councilman Ross, seconded by Councilman Wickham, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby modifies the General Fund Whole Town 2004 budget as follows: To: A. 1680.4.400.400 Computer Consultants $5400.00 August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting A. 1680.2.400.440 Personal Computers Vote of the Town Board: Aye: Councilman Edwards, Justice Evans, Supervisor Horton. This resolution was duly ADOPTED. $5400.00 Councilman Ross, Councilman Wickham, #621 Moved by Justice Evans, seconded by Councilman Wickham, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby amends resolution 615~ adopted at the August 10~ 2004 regular Town Board meeting~ to read as follows: RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to advertise for two (2) consecutive weeks for the position of Technical Coordinator II for the Data Processing Department at a salary of $55,377.85. Vote of the Town Board: Aye: Councilman Edwards, Councilman Ross, Councilman Wickham, Justice Evans, Supervisor Horton. This resolution was duly ADOPTED. #622 Moved by Councilman Wickham, seconded by Justice Evans, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby appoints Adam D. Doroski to the position of Student Intern 1 for the Records Management Department at the rate of $9.54 per hour effective August 12, 2004. Vote of the Town Board: Aye: Councilman Edwards, Councilman Ross, Councilman Wickham, Justice Evans, Supervisor Horton. This resolution was duly ADOPTED. #623 Moved by Councilman Edwards, seconded by Justice Evans, it was RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold authorizes and directs Supervisor Joshua Y. Horton to accept the donation of a handicapped accessible van for use by Southold Town Senior Services~ from the Estate of Joseph Smith, subject to the approval of the Town Attorney. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Again, the Southold Town Board would like to thank the estate of Mr. Smith for the donation of this van. Anything we can do to improve the Human Services in this Town is crucial and we appreciate the help. Vote of the Town Board: Aye: Councilman Edwards, Councilman Ross, Councilman Wickham, Justice Evans, Supervisor Horton. This resolution was duly ADOPTED. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Before we move forward, I also want to take the opportunity to thank, I believe I see them in the audience, Chip DuPont and Tom Dougherty for meeting with the Town Board this morning. They provided thorough review of what I know to be a long, complex and to kind of put it, difficult process to undertake and we appreciate the updates to the Town Board and we also appreciate your leadership in helping to bring that project to fruition. At this point, we do open the floor to the public to address the Town Board on town related business and we just ask that in doing August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 6 so, when you address the Board, you state your name and place of residence clearly into the microphone so that we can incorporate that into our records. Would anyone care to address the Board? DOM1NICK N1NIVAGGI, SUPERINTENDENT, VECTOR CONTROL: I am Dominick Ninivaggi, I am the Superintendent of Vector Control and Public Works and I thought it would be remiss of me not to thank Mr. Spofford for the donation of the vehicle to use in the mosquito control program and to thank the Town, Fishers Island Conservancy, for their cooperation in making this program happen. It is very unique and it couldn't happen without the cooperation we receive. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Thank you, Mr. Ninivaggi. Would anybody else care to address the Board? I see my mom heading up to the mike. What did I do? GAlL HORTON: My name is Gail Horton, I am at 727 First Greenport, New York. And I really don't want to address the Board, I want to (inaudible) and the residents of Fishers Island. When I came here I didn't come for the work session, I got a ride around Fishers Island and was at an inspection of your new museum. And I have to tell you, it blew my socks off. It is absolutely incredible and I have to praise your community for respecting your history so much. If we respect our history and know it, our future is usually pretty good. And then the other thing, many years ago when I was on the Village Board, I came over, I think Mr. Harris was the Supervisor then, and I came over to this annual meeting. I spoke to people and I think I see a few of you, concerning Walsh Park. It had not been constructed, it was in the planning stage and I had quite a bit of experience with affordable housing so I was also taken there today on that tour and I am very impressed with that and I think you need a big hand on both projects and I was very glad to be here today. Thank you. SPEEDY METTLER: My name is Speedy Mettler, I am the past president of the Fishers Island Civic Association and I wanted to ask you on behalf of all of the residents, and I live in New York City, as well as here. I would like to ask you on behalf of all the residents of Fishers Island, would you please explain why the Town Board removed the Fishers Island representative from the Zoning Board? Also, that there are rumors around that our representative on the Planning Board is also going to be removed. I am hoping that Louisa Evans won't be the third casualty here. But I think this community would like an explanation because assuming they are going to continue to tax us, we would expect to be represented. And you know, it is just very confusing. This is a perfect opportunity at a public forum, for all the people who could not be here, to either explain to all of us because we really don't understand what happened, why and where you are headed with all of this because it is quite a shock to many of us. Thank you. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Thank you. We actually, we had a, I think it was quite a productive work session about half an hour ago and we adjourned but over the course of that work session, one of the things that we discussed and we, I had this discussion with the Board of Directors of Fishers Island Civic Association and what that discussion was centered around, first let me address, you mentioned, you referred to a rumor. There was a rumor about a Planning Board member, Mr. Edwards, the Planning Board member from Fishers Island being removed. That is a rumor because that has not been a discussion on the Town Board at all, so that is clearly a rumor. I understand where that rumor may have come from but it is clearly a rumor and conjecture. But in the overall sense of this, I will just explain in as detailed terms as I can, the conversation that we had in the Board today. And that is, what is the best mechanism for providing true representation at the Town Board level, at the Town August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 7 government, I should say, to the residents of Fishers Island. And a couple of ideas and I think the Town Board will take action on them and I will name them off now; that we think will help improve communication and representation to the residents of Fishers Island are as follows: 1. The Town Board is considering, I don't know if consultant is the right word, we will just say a person from Fishers Island, a resident of Fishers Island to communicate directly with all the Boards involving land use in Southold Town, that would be the Zoning Board of Appeals, the elected Board of Trustees (because you don't have a dedicated member on the Board of Trustees, either and Fishers Island is a highly, is a critical and sensitive wetlands area and we feel you could use better representation with the Board of Trustees) and so the conflict was discussed today and I think there was overwhelming support on the Board for this, that is, a person to deal with all the land use Boards in Southold Town from Fishers Island, to provide direct input. Local knowledge and information that is representative of the residents of Fishers Island to those various Boards. I have recommended that idea just in regard to the Zoning Board of Appeals but I think there is wisdom in the concept of having, as you do have a legislator from Fishers Island that is elected town-wide to help guide the Town Board, we think that a representative from Fishers Island could be beneficial to the residents of Fishers Island, also beneficial to the various Boards of Town government and in that we think that that idea has to be taken maybe even beyond the Zoning Board of Appeals so there is a representative that could speak directly to the Trustees, that understand Fishers Island in the way that only Fishers Island resident could understand it. As well, a commitment that I am willing to make, I feel very strongly about, is that if there is a Zoning Board of Appeals application or a Planning Board application from Fishers Island, regardless of how big or small, how controversial, if there is an application that requires a public hearing, I don't think in anybody's good conscience, we can expect the residents of Fishers Island to come to Southold Town Hall on a Wednesday night in February, to a public hearing. It simply doesn't make sense and it simply doesn't give the residents of Fishers Island an opportunity to weigh in on what could be a very sensitive and important matter to the community. So I would implore and I would work with both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, to provide those public hearing opportunities here on Fishers Island. Now, is that every application? I don't know. I would look for the guidance of Justice Evans and members of the ZBA and Planning Board but I think the Town can do a much better job of having hearings that are specific to Fishers Island on Fishers Island because again, the Wednesday night in February scenario in Southold Town Hall just doesn't make sense for the average Fishers Island resident. And I think we, I think there is commitment from the Board to put infrastructure and mechanisms in place to provide that opportunity and I think that would be very helpful. And the other thing that was brought to the attention of Justice Evans was, in regard to, let's say for example, Mr. Edwards position on the Planning Board, Justice Evans brought it to our attention that in order for Mr. Edwards to more fully participate and I believe that he does the best that he can with his given time with the resources that are available but to more fully participate with Southold Town Planning Board that the budgetary, there are budgetary issues to be addressed and that is providing the budgetary resources for Mr. Edwards to travel back and forth. That is quite a commitment and we recognize that commitment that he has to make, so to put those budgetary resources, those financial resources in place to, and also technology was mentioned in regard to the possibility of teleconferencing, so Mr. Edwards would have that opportunity to more directly partake in weekly meetings with the Planning Board. So these are things that the Town Board takes very seriously and that you will see moving on in the upcoming months. Yes, ma'am. August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting UNIDENTIFIED: Everything you said sounds good but you still haven't explained to us why you removed our representative from the ZBA who was doing a more than adequate job. He was doing a terrific job. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Right. UNIDENTIFIED: I for one was a victim, in fact, (inaudible) I had to go back to Long Island three times, sorry, four times over the past nine months in order to get a zoning appeal, permit and properly build it. Because of the confusion, no one on the Board understood it, there was (inaudible) and I have to tell you, the ZBA doesn't meet on Wednesday nights anymore. It meets on Thursday during the day and it is very easy for a Fishers Island representative or a Fishers Island person who wants to be at that meeting to get there and get back the same day. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Okay. I appreciate .... UNIDENTIFIED: So I disagree with your (inaudible). SUPERVISOR HORTON: Thanks a lot. I appreciate your comments and there is certainly room for disagreement in the discussion. And I think each member of the Town Board had their own reason for why they would make an appointment to a Board, whether it be the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, appointment to the Land Preservation Commission. I mean, as elected representatives of the Town, that is one of the sacred rights that we have as legislators, is to make appointments that we feel will fairly reflect the government that the Board wants to see implemented and I for one felt that I elected to put Mr. DiNizio on the Zoning Board of Appeals because I thought Mr. DiNizio brought a tremendous wealth and we can disagree on this and I, you know, I appreciate and accept that but I thought that Mr. DiNizio brings a wealth of knowledge and balance from his view that I thought was crucial at this point in Southold Town history to the Zoning Board of Appeals. And I feel very strongly about that. And that is why, I for one, made this decision. But again, I think that we can deal more directly with the bigger issue, which is the voice of Fishers Island and that is, I think, the voice of Fishers Island can be more clearly heard, more fairly represented by a person who is dedicated specifically to Fishers Island to interact with our Boards and land use agencies. And you will see the Town Board take those steps. JUSTICE EVANS: Can I just say a few words on that? SUPERVISOR HORTON: Certainly. JUSTICE EVANS: I did not vote to have George Horning moved off the Board but I do think that it is important that we move on from there. I would love to have a representative back on the Board, I am not sure that we will with the present makeup of the Board. But I also think it important not to just have someone to be able to take the Fishers Island point of view over to the Town, I think it is important that the person also knows what the ZBA does, knows the laws of the ZBA. Knows the laws of the Planning Board does, knows what their mission is, so that the people out here benefit from their knowledge, too. So I think just having a person on the Island to take knowledge to those Boards isn't good enough. I think we need some, or several people, that can play the dual role, not only taking the information over but providing information back here on how those department, those Boards work. August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 9 SUPERVISOR HORTON: I think most of the Board shares Justice Evans sentiment. Would anybody else care to address the Board on town related issues? If not, we will be around for probably another 45 minutes. You can take us aside one-on-one and speak with us. We are here, we have the time. Yes, sir. UNIDENTIFIED: I just want to follow up with one more question, it is not related to what you already addressed. I would like to get a clarification because I have not been on a civic board in a couple of years but maybe you can explain to us all, I understand there is a clip tax on real estate. A 2 % tax that we pay when we sell our real estate on this Island, when it changes hands. I would like to know does any of that money ever come back to Fishers Island and if so, in what form? SUPERVISOR HORTON: There are properties in Fishers Island, that is a town wide tax. That applies to, and I believe each of the five East End towns has it, it is called a 2 %, it is called Peconic Transfer Tax. That is it. It has several different names, but it is a 2 % real estate transfer tax and that transfer tax funds, in large part, in addition to many state and federal grants that we have been able to get over the last couple of years; funds in large part, preservation efforts. And one thing, another reason we brought Land Preservation, members of our Land Preservation Department and Land Preservation Commission here today is because we think it is important that residents of Fishers Island make it very clear, if there are properties that can be preserved through this fund, that fund will be used to preserve those properties. To date, the Town Board has not turned down a single land preservation opportunity. If one comes from Fishers Island, it will be quickly acted on through the Land Preservation Commission and Land Preservation Department, in conjunction with the Town Board. There have been preservation projects here on Fishers Island but I believe most of them have been private, through conservation easements. Through the museum, through private efforts and Fishers Island ..... JUSTICE EVANS: Peter Burr is our representative on the Land Preservation Committee and I don't, maybe Peter can speak to some of the problems. I don't think it is the Town is not willing, I think we need to find people on the Island that are interested in participating in this program but Peter might .... PETER BURR, LAND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE: Let me just correct, Land Preservation has been very helpful and very accommodating to our needs. My guess is that Fishers Island has probably generated close to $1,000,000 of 2% money since its inception and it is true that we have not done a deal, if you will, with Land Preservation since that time but not because of Land Preservation or the Town having any difficulties, it is the fact that we haven't brought anything to the table for us to review on the Land Preservation Committee. So the issue is, that the last transaction, as Supervisor Horton said, was probably the Fitzgerald property, which was done with similar money except it was prior to the 2% approval, if you will. So that was a transaction that generated about $345,000 I think was the number on the table for the Fitzgerald property but short of that, Speedy, we have had a couple of applications that still have not been pursued and we have had conversations with people on both ends of the Island, we have done an easement. The Nielsen easement was done within the last 12 months, that was a donation to the Town, no money was required and so I think probably it is incumbent on us and the homeowners and those that own the land, if they are interested in this kind of transaction, we are prepared to receive it. August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 10 JUSTICE EVANS: I think many people are a little leery of selling property to the Town but there are mechanisms out there, the Nielsen's property was a gift. The Town doesn't own that, it is an easement, they cannot develop on that piece of property and that is what Peter has been working with property owners on, selling easements so that there is no more development of properties. We are fortunate to have the museum and other organizations out here that do that already but there is money in the Town and I think if people are interested or know someone that might want to do that, they should contact Peter and he can help you out with it, as well as the rest of our Land Preservation Department. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Right. It is a, as far as getting involved with the program and getting information about it, that information is extremely accessible on the Town's website. You do have a rep from Fishers Island, Mr. Burr and also my office is accessible to point you in the right direction. But the Town is very willing and we actually have made several communications or urgings to Louisa, to see how we can raise awareness to bring landowners to the table. We are very willing and excited to do some preservation work out here. Most recently, I think it was a year ago, at this meeting a year ago, we announced in appreciation the private easement that was done by a landowner. And that is how most of the conservation has taken place here on Fishers Island, so it is taking its natural course that way. But we are here to further promote that. Are there any other .... yes, sir? PETER BRINCKERHOFF: Peter Brinckerhoff, resident of Fishers Island and Riverside, Connecticut. Plum Island, it was sort of in the news with the book about 257. There are various points of view as to the merits of the facility but there seems to be some concern about the safety issues there. Can you enlighten us in regard to, has the Town Board taken any of these issues under advisement to try get the Federal government to pay attention to the concerns of people within the radius that seems to be 25 miles? SUPERVISOR HORTON: Yes, thank you for bringing that up. My efforts over the past few years and quite frankly for the first time and as generation of Plum Island, it has been 20 years, I have brought our Federal delegates, our United States Senators and all of the Congressional delegation in the House on Long Island, I have brought those people, I have brought Plum Island onto their radar. As you understand, Plum Island is a federally regulated and federally owned and operated facility, so our jurisdiction there is minimal but I have made it my business, because I am a supporter of Plum Island, I have worked at Plum Island, Plum Island employs more than 100 people in Southold Town. It generates more than 25 million dollars in economic benefit in their contribution to the Town through various services and the work that takes place in Plum Island. Also it provides what I personally believe as significant national security to our domestic food production. So I have made it my business to become very, to open up the lines of communication with Plum Island in a way that they haven't been opened up before. One thing that Plum Island has fallen victim to over the years and it may be their own fault or not, I don't know, I can't speak to that but I know that Plum Island has been a political punching bag when politicians don't have an issue to forge ahead on. That is one of the ugly tendencies of politicians sometimes but to that end, two years ago about, it was two years ago this month, a number of experienced workers from Plum Island went out on strike and they went out on strike because the contractor at Plum Island wasn't negotiating in good faith. And the Federal government, in my view, subsidized that strike, to bring unskilled, inexperienced workers to run the facility. I took a very strong stand on that and I actually managed to get a personal meeting with Secretary Vennemann's undersecretary, to bring his attention to, to bring this issue to the Federal August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 11 government. Within a month of that meeting the contractor that was there at the time was relieved, a new contractor to run the facility was brought in (tape change) back to work not only because they live in Southold Town and they are a part of our community but because they are the people who know the facility. They are the people that are trained there and worked there for many, many years and as a result, I believe it was imperative to have those people back to work. And since Plum Island has come under the Department of Homeland Security, millions of dollars have been sunk into security there. And instead of me speaking to the specifics of it because I am not an authority and I don't feel I would fairly represent the upgrades and improvements that have been made in the facility, what I will offer, extend to anybody here is get in touch with me through Louisa, Justice Evans, I will ensure that either the Director of Plum Island comes here and has a Fishers Island meeting with you to answer all of your questions or I can arrange for as many residents as would like to, to actually take a trip to Plum Island and meet not only with the centers Director but also the scientists and the staff that run the facility. I can make either of those two or both happen and I am happy to do it. I think it would be very beneficial to both the residents and to the Island. I haven't read Lab 257. I know a lot of people that were mentioned in it. MR. BRINCKERHOFF: It was a good read. Thank you very much for what you have done and for the offers. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Absolutely. And hopefully, we can .... I hope you take me up on that because I would like to see if we can get the Centers Director over here to meet with you and speak and maybe she can bring some of her scientists who actually explain the work that goes on there in full detail. MR. BRINCKERHOFF: I will get in touch with Louisa. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Wonderful. Thank you very much. Would anyone else care to address the Board? Yes, ma'am. CYNTHIA RILEY: Cynthia Riley. I am vice-president of (inaudible) so thank you for the little, kind words about my (inaudible) earlier. Regarding Plum Island, I know at one time they had their own fire department, fully trained in bio-hazard and the idiosyncriosies of the site and the last I knew, they had one fire fighter on Island. Is there any role that Southold would have to take if a fire broke out on Plum Island and are Southold firefighters equipped to deal with that? SUPERVISOR HORTON: Two things that I can I can, I will address to the best of my ability. One, Plum Island has beefed up their, you are right, there was a point of time in the 90's where the Emergency Services specific to Plum Island were greatly reduced. I believe the Federal government has more fully funded a program to provide those services on Plum Island. One thing and I see Bob Scott is here, not only is he a Tax Assessor for the Town but he is an Orient resident and also a longtime member of the Orient Fire Department, as you know, Southold is comprised of several fire departments, Orient through Laurel. And so it would be the Orient Fire Department that, if in the event there were a need for mutual aid, it would be the Orient Fire Department that would be first in line to provide that and I have worked with the Chief of the Orient Fire Department through Congressman Bishop's office to provide inter-agency training and enhanced communication if in the event Orient was called to assist. Because Orient, very rightfully so, took the position: we are not August 12, 2004 Fishers Island Town Board Meeting 12 equipped; we are not trained, we are not knowledgeable about how to fight a fire inside a facility on Plum Island and I think the Federal government heard them loud and clear and I think what they have done is work to increase their own fire protection services and open the line of communication with the Orient Fire Department. I don't think they are 100% there yet but I think there is significant movement in the right direction there. MS. RILEY: The other thing that you said, you are a supporter of Plum Island. Fine, I understand the economic benefits to individuals in the Town and the Town of Southold and of course, if we are learning things in the facility that can help protect our livestock, that is great. The one thing I have had a hard time getting is actually a handle on the diseases that we have managed to contain because of Plum Island or the vaccines. Plum Island won't return my calls but I would think it would be interesting to see what in the last 10 years came out of Plum Island that actually does protect our livestock. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Absolutely. And that gets back to the recommendation that I made, which would be have the Center's director either come here or a number of residents go there. Either way or both. I think that you should see the presentation that they are capable of giving to describe the work, the intricate and important work that goes on, on Plum Island. And I think that you would be best served by having these people, these scientists at Plum Island, explain it to you, not me. MS. RILEY: If we want to set up such a thing, you will assist us in setting it up? SUPERVISOR HORTON: I will set it up for you. MS. RILEY: Okay. SUPERVISOR HORTON: Just tell me when and where and how many. Would anyone else care to address the Board? (No response) Well, we certainly appreciate the opportunity to be here. Again, please keep in touch with my office. You can do it through Louisa, you can call me directly, you can e-mail me, many of you have my e-mail address, I have corresponded with many of you. Again, we do appreciate the opportunity to be here. We do appreciate the input and I think that this was a productive meeting for us and I hope it was productive for you. And again, congratulations in advance for your terminal in New London. We look forward to pulling in and stepping foot on the new terminal in the winter or the spring. So thank you very much. We look forward to speaking with you soon. I will be over here on a quarterly basis, you can communicate with Louisa as to when I will be here, if you want to meet up with me and get in touch on your own turf. Thanks. Moved by Councilman Wickham, seconded by Supervisor Horton, it was RESOLVED that this Town Board meeting be and hereby is declared recessed. Elizabeth A. Neville Southold Town Hall