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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-1976 "",r ,'.1' . . r,' '-y",' \. , .. '.~.~~,-T"""':'----:-~---:-'-'---r".-.-:--~---~'~~--'--'~-----:-:-~"""'-'-"""""O~--~~~.'-'To' () ~~A Il L..\ '(, "-, '\ ' li ,.' l I . ......,.,...... "':"r"-';:'Y."~""'~~~~-""'~- . '-(:- ;~, ;~:&'~'-,.,a."""'~t J "'j j /\ //'" I \ \. I \ ~"'~"'9~l"-~""':"'~"'~'lJII!I'..."..."_._~~,.,,,~,,~..,.~7." ~1'!""""~-~'~~~P'" "'" V ~,,'-..\:~':"".hL~~"""';:..s.~'h .,...._.,".>t.~."""-;--;;.:...r"'~~..:;:,~1.V'.~..:;..,"... I ) ( \"'\ nJ /\ \,\("'),,,~_. ~~ ~ \ I".n, \ I.) .,~. ,'<'._......,..!"._r "..""~.........,..,'''" ""'_"'.~;"'~~;',",<;:,.:.a:""-""' . f i ! \ r\ / /\ \ r"'\ ! ' \~', (, ) r{ ,J \ \.,",\ (, '" ) f~ J) '\: ' \. \ l (,or __"-"" C"__r '._~~-,,,,,~~.,.:..\ ' '. \( \ i )f I \ \ i )'\\ l \ ! / '\ \ / l :-'"..."~ ....,...,'.~""~.~'ry , '~-'\ .iC'~--~--) ! }, l _ t, \ \/./\ \")(. )r! / \ \j (')(' ".."t-"-"""'M..,.jJ",,_~.~~..~~,.,..,_L \.-<i'c-., ".,.L.2t,,,,,,,,,.,~~\,..., f I' ~' n ~'Rr S !' S' l A". ~., '~D' ., ,. "Vl" "" ' ~" "c ' " ~&1J [". '... J<a '\\j CIVIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL 'REPORT 1975-, 1916 , ,- -~' . . FISHERS ISI,.Am> CIVIC ASSOCIATION AllNUAL UPOIl'1'- 1975-19'16 , ANNUAL MERTING , TUESDAY . JULY B.1976 - 8 P... A'J' '!'HE SCHOOL l:f f ~~ 11'.1. CiTio Association President' aepo~ . 11'.1. Civic Association Treasurer's Report Conservation Advbo17 COlllllitt.ee aeport Blue Cross and Connecticut Xedioa1 Servioe .Vill~ Green Coamittee AI . - FlDeO aepor. F.I.Perry Dietricrt P.I. Pi~e District F.I. Pire Department 11'.1. Garbaae and Retuse District H.L.Fereuson Museum and H.Lee Fereuson Sanctuar,r Island Health Project,Inc. Ialand People's PrOject,Inc. LobBter.en~ Association ,J. Rodent Control Schoc~ Dietr:liot TOwn Juetioe and Southol~ Town Board Ke.ber Fishers Island Historioal Projeot GUEST SPEAKElh Mns.Flora Fairohild,.Coordinator tor Developllent Pro~eo.u at M1stic Seaport~ will ~ive a slide talk ~ivin~ a aeneral orervia. ot the oollection and pr~ams ot thie maritime muaeua. DATES TO REMElmER WALKATHOB - benetit IFF - Sunday, Jul7 25 FIRE HOUSE AmroAL OPEN HOUSE- Sunday, Aueuet 8 , 11 A.K.- 1 P.K. IJ.ICTlOll of FERRY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS - 'l'Uesday ,Aueuat 10 (All ele~ora or the Town and all real estate ownere in 1l'errJ D$8triot elicible) 'DOWN FAftERS MEETING -<"THURSDAY AUGUST 12 FERRY DISTRlq:r llTJDGET MEETING - -nIDAy,AUGUST 20 Cover ot this'isaue ctrIC! Report a..i~ed bY Kra. Patricia Greenleaf ot t~! 1iahere Ieland Union Free School NOTE, Please bring this REPORT to "etin~ .a reterence ai4 in ..kinD ana Ullilel'iI"4nd1~ queadOM. . " ,..- ...._'-~~,~~._/f>- ""', ~;,,!,,\~~'~~~----"'"-_ . . The Fishofs Island Civic Association, Inc. FISHERS ISLAND, NEW YORK 06390 .PRESTDENT'S REPORT '", ~ ~~ r '" ,'-.....-. (" "--, .~ '.. . \, Our Assooiation's official and impressive soundir.~ tank i8 " to promote the eoonomio,oi~o and eooial welfaro of the island ". ~$ hold a minimum of fo~ quarte~ly aeetings of the Board and four public meetingo at whioh attendanoe hae been averaeine about thirty persons.Au the only island or~anization tr.y- ine to keep an e7e on all looal developments and problems.our functiona miea' be ooapared to those of a Chamber of Comceroe or League of Women Votere. At our pub1io meetines we invite representatives of looal organisations to ex- plain their operations and problems and urea both winter and suamer residents to pose questions and open up new matters for disoussion.!d: hoo committ..e to .tud3 and ~~on speoial problems we would be e1ad to help organise and oooperat. with. Our annual Report,of whioh I hope all familiee have obtained a 00P7 presents the only overall pioture of island aotivities and tries to. focus the atten1tl.on of all islanders on our oommon prOblems and the tutlUle of anm island d.ar to us all.What makes theee entirely voluntar.y Reports possible is the splendid oooperation reoeived from all reaponaible offioiala.To theee we express hearty thankao OUr achievements are,l fear, rather modest in terms of our ambitions. One faotor 1a our minimum bank balanoe.We ho~e that our reoent membership notio.. will boost our 1975/76 total of 240 family and 120 individual memberships and enoouraee enouah extra oontributions to keep our due. at their ~ level. Let ae ROW touoh on Some of this year's aotivitiesl First,I p~ tribute to the effioient and oonsoientious Mra. Evelyn Clarke, Seo'7/Treaa. of our Assooiation'a Blue CroBa/Conneotiout Medioa1 Servioes Group proer&lll..This essential servioe 18 on a sound basis in spite of burdensOIIe inoreaaes in ra~es.ln her report eba waG too modeat to mention tbe burden of last minute telephonin~ to members who have not paid on time.To relieve her of a very unweloolle task, thu Board haa authorizod he::' to out off a delinquenll.. llroll the Group after oonBultation with a Direotor. We understand how hard it 18 for BOlle families to ..et paymente on timo but our ASiJooiation has no funds to subsidize nor can we dip into reserves and hopo for reimbursement. Those dropped may be reinatated. HEALTH Health insuranoe leads automatioally to the atill unsolved problem of' the Island Health Projeotl seourine a year-round dootor or workine out Some viable alternative with the vary oooperative Lawrenoe and Me~orial HOBpital.Dr. Hooh deservea a round of applause for helpin~ out tbis winter and the Roosevelt Hosp11;al doctors are again on duty tbis sUlDlller. The extraordinary auooea.. of the 8l-hour EJIIereenoy Medioal Trainine courso for Ambulanoe Squad and o1lher vo1untesrtl haa been an ~I)lot!lnt forward etep to improved emer~n07 aid. Mortl power to suoh volunteer.. At the reQuest of Mr. Henry Kini: tbl! Civio AftsOQiation haa written various 1ettertl to the Governora of New TorR and Connect10ut and other officials. The . . -2.- oommon objeotive, to secur", transfer of Fiahera Isla;),; froLl .. Sutfolk Count;y Federal Health Dietriot to the Connec~icut oue that Berves islander... Wh.ther a~ federal funds may becom3 availabl9 to the iAland is an unknown. but Mr. Kin~ has worke1 hard thro~h a bureaucratic illaz~ to effect this most sensible 8witch which we hope will 800n be 81'vrovad. COAST GUARD ~t last Ju~'a annual m3etin~ m~ ~redoceasor Mrs. Rafferty ex>>res8ed our conoern over the repor'~ed in-r,ention o~ the Go""t Guard to close its Fishers Island Station fl'om 1 Novemb&r to A!,ril 30.0ur chiet' 'JOnCernll were prospeotive loss of an emar~enoy ",edical e'J,ocuatio,l boat and the cE!oaa"tion of the Station's voluntary 24-hour watch "" the i!11and f'e.c our 1'i1'l6 ",noJ "'mbl.llanoe systellso " , i i 'I ,I, Our follow-up included" viflt in S,~,,\t"mbel' b~ r,;.,. King a..d myself to Admiral Rea,Commandant of the 31'3 COh8t Gu~rd Di3triot,on Go, vernor's Island. Al thou~h the Admi 1'11.1 could not have bosn more cOl'dial and undel'standine of our island's >>roblems, "acasonalize.tion" ffll.~ under way and oonfirmed on 1 Oct- ober~ The >>l'imar~ reauon ~a~,&oonomy and the ca's l'ationala that a sin~ls New London base was more cost-effective and proviSed the servicin~ ca>>abilit,y for the new 41' radar-~quipp~d oraft unavailable at Fishers. The Coast Guard would maintain their boat at the ialqnd frcm April 1 to Octob8r 31 each year~ with a crew but no families living on the island durin& those months. The three CG residences opposite the Ferr;y t<lrminal are ,up for sale. Emphasizing that the CG's primary responsibilities,search and reeoue and law entorcement,must taka prace(ance,the Admiral assured us that durin~ the winter two CG boats,one 41' radar-equippod ul;d the other 40',would be avail- able from New London for emergency eVtou~tions.lf both were unavailable, an 82t oraft would be next 010, oall~ COliet Guara taste were the basis of his estimate that it would take approximately 22 minutes from the time of phone natifioation to arriv~l of the omG~~ency boat at th~ island.The Admiral added that the Now London Station would bll inntruoted to work out details with representatives of our Ambulanoe Squado l"". \ Dissatisfaction over any delay in evacuatin~ ceri:lus emergeno;y 0&8e8 led to exploration initiated 't.y tho Fire Deparlmont of ',hat type boat mi'ht be aoquired by the ieland '-""d how i ~ could he finanoad.Fortunatel,y, the Depart- ment obtained on loan from Suffolk County a polic& boat,not radar-equipped, for winter &mergeno;.r uPs liS Celllo:l'f hsd in the F1;,'e Chief's r&port. I now under- stand the loan period has b"9n oxtel'lde~. .,0 t'>a,t; tono f)ood for borrowine pri- vately owned bosta proQises to Q8 miniwal~ 110 ahall not for~et the helpfulness of Mr. Gada and Mr. LR~hlin and othors in lCnnine thdir boats in paat e~er- gencies The ability of the Coact Guard's meatihl'l HI'! low time estimate or a rea.- sonable approaoh thereto,wac not ra311y teate~ this Yinter~On a firet non- emereenoy oall arrival time was in 80~e 90 mi~ut3s.0nly one other CG evacua.- tion took plaoe when their bont happoned to be at the ~eland.Som. 8 to 10 evacuationlltrere oared fo~' by the police bo:d;~ Since returnina in April, theCG boat hall been used for moat evacuations. The U3& of the loaned. Coun'tJi boat is ligli te4 1n hea'\!)' weather, it l,ould seeM sl'f,ropria'te to try to establbh for next winter ef:sotive w~rking arrangements with the New London CG oralt. . LOBSTERJNG J~ .' , , \ , , ! HARBOR (-;.. L.' 'h cr. LEASH LAW -<.. \ Fishers Island lobatermsn have suffered from illeasl lobaterin~ in New York State waters by non-rs~identn sa well sa by increased stealin~ from lob- ster pots. Their Island Assooiation sought backinz from the Civic Assooiatioa. in particular, to get thJ commercial lobator pera,it wordin~ chanied to make it more difficult at least for' non-Raw Y:orj;.e~fl to obtain N.T.State licenssso Correspondence with Asoemblyrahn Perry Dur.fE.s and Mr. 'I'.!lormina,Director of Marine and Coastal Reaourceo,hrouJht helI>ful replies.As Mr. Erpenbeokts report indic.1~a revision of the exiGting N.Y. law is befors the le~islature. Hopefully it uill so tighten re~idoncy requiremento that only bona fide N.Y. State residents will be able to obtain licenses. It any islanders see Conn- eetcut rCl~ifltered boata olar.'mine or lobB'terina: in iBla'ld waters,you oan help by callillil a oom.tabl" C~. the Srl17:) Police" '.',' ',.; A,.." r \ I, ,'I r,. "..,_ Our Harbormaater is Kenneth EatfR.:i'Qe.He haa a 19~ HElko to help perform the taak of keepin,s boats olear of the clmnnol ~41d eway from the piers.Part of his problem results from the fact that there ia no denignated West Harbor s~ ohoraee designatod on the chart.The Stato Folica and our local oonstables have been offered and do use his boat to deal with ~ossjble illegal shell-fisbing and lobsterin~.Tbe State Conservation Department and the Town of Southold' cooperate witb tho s~.epolioe~ This summer economy m3~auros heve reduced our State Police to one familiar face- our old friend Troope,.. Do" Cc,[I11,be]] who will wor!: with our const"bles Otis ITorn e.r,d Dick GrebEl~ Thu:-intJ thE' lv1s-C ~'0ar thd Town 07: Southold ha.s tJ;-,€lYi d,el\..!tXod with petitioYls Ilnd countel'-:potitions for nnd ",,,,"inst I' Leash La" for do",,,. ,\t Civic Ass'n. meetinl;B llnd one publIo "'"e,ting caIlod by Sout.hol,; Board mep.lber Justice Doyen the qu,",,,tiol1 hns come up ".;ain And ""ain. Unrloubtedly free-rullnin" do,~a,sinr:l,y c)r in packaf;ce.n aCH,re,f1~ht,bite,.. strew gl:-lrbaza ana de?Jtro~/ hj Sirl€! rK8~i.n.;;; in the Cipr1nk;.They can also "rt:tat17 annoy your fenow bathers "nrJ piot,id'er3 an the 11'JHches.Gro"'p9 of <logs at the I~oat Ofrie~ and i'jlon~ th~ Ft)l't Wr'i:.;b ~i l'Ok,a liRvd been 8- meriRce to children and automobilo traf'f.ie, Two exi s ti n.. laws p',,,,,,,,i .lmdf\,. :,j vp, :1h:y ? 30c'~lu"e l.'Oth the State Ln\f lUld Jot Town OrcU nRnce :L'~q'.Jil'"':'Id a~"~-~'no,l cOrl);ila5nt.,') :For n<d,ion t(') r.8 tflken.On a small island lifEliGh'hourlinoGfi i)~a-8-':i~nc}ud(~~r"'ru:,f3iiJ,tl:in~; COffil)laint.f:l aa;ainst vereona "i.th whom you ha'.l'O to live oil"cE""mahle tGI'!!W. On 8 June the TOwn ~~C'(ik i,{F~ (J,l-FJl;-{;ion out. of OU.!" Iwnds by !'~d~.ptinG' a. Leash Law.Briefly sumLl!l.riz.!)d,tlw la'" iltoterii tlw.;; do,,;s,oXCGpt on tl"" c.wners' and con- sentin~ nei~~bore' prernize~t must ho on a leash or in the oompany of a person at least 12 years of *,.e whQ1 ee.n contl.'ol the dog. Dogo running at lar~() are subject to soizurt' e.nd impoudmon't,'V;le Ifnr also provides fOl' vroseoution of owners at dogs which howl habituall.r, bark lOUdly or damage other poople'", propert~.Violations carry finas up to $250 or 15 daJ'e imprisonment or both. Enforcement i~ by Doe Ward6~a and tbe Town Justico. I understand the Dog Warden duty haa been assigned to our constables. This la1l may eeem to many more suited to an urban community. May I express the hope that consideration for fellow islanders and the wisdom of our Juetioe will limit the nead for entoroemnnt aotion under tho law. "I,' , l).~ C" ~, , .~ . I..N~~~, . ., r I " l -Jj^-.Y., , , il . II . I '..... ',.' ..~...j ..,. ". I d. r ::'. ,. ,", ., I (",' - ! r" I ( -4- APPEALS You may have r.oted that in the list of Datos to Remember the tradtional House Tour is omitted.No organization soueht to be the bene/ioiar" so it was decided to skip for this year thia extra appeal to your ~.nsr08ity.Laat year's profits of $1722 vere g6ven to the Island People's Projeot.Comments have been made to Direotors on the laree nv~ber of appeals for special islan~ oauses. frequently without an acoo.~tine for funds previously raised or & budee~ tor the next year. Last summer's Library appeal vas a model exposition. The Board of Dir~otora believes that if all or&anizations followed the same model,pro- speotive donors would be appreoiative and have a oounder basis for meaaurine their oontributions. SCHOOL Cui!' Association has not in the past comm.;mted on our Sohool,so vi tal to the present and future of our ieland.Developments in recent years now warrant a brief review,particularly for su~mer residents who cannot at~tend Sohool Board meetinee.The 1975/76 budget of $525,000 was a jump of almost 25 % over the previous year's $423,000 and yea adopted by a vote of 58 to 33.The ori~inal bu~t proposed for 1976/77 was $ 583,000 and waa defsated,64 to 60.A revissd bu~t of $575,000 was adopted by a vote of 85 to 80. In the past three years the approximate cost per pupil has risen from $ 4,230 to $ 5,516 to $7,667 1 ,c_ictor the oomin~ year.The deoline in children of school see from 100 in 1974/75 ~. to 95 in 1975/76 to my personal guesstimate of 75 in 1976/77,plus inflation. ,', '" - help explain the per capi ts increases. The depa1'ture of the Coast Guard re- moved some 3 or 4 children from the school this past year. 1 J -.\ The School was desi~~ed to acoommodate mora than double the estimated 1976/77 attendance. How to cope with this prOblem must conoern all taxpayers; those who oan vote and thOL3 who oannot.That the Board of Education and our Prinoipal Dr. Haase appreciate their concern is implicit in two modest sen- tences in the Sohool reportl "Many concerna by taxpayers were generally mate known to the Board of Education.These conoerns will be oonsidered in the pre- paration of the 1977/78 budget ". Hard and positive thinkinll will be needecli. TAXES In the past three years total Fishers Island real estate taxes have in- oreased from $724,000 to $ 774,000,sn increase of 7 %, to $880,00,8 further inoreaae of 12 %. The 19,'6/77 achool budget increase of some 10 % almost inevitably means at least 8S larlle a jump in 1977 t&x8S. Tho school budeet -'-'1. amounted to 60 % of out' total taxes in 1976.TheTown _~d .2~,,:,,~ h~i'~l!a~_ and the Town General Funda accounted for 20 %. The Island F:lrefGarba"e and Ferry Districts consumed the rtlmai nin,. 20 %. Before we ~Ollrl too loudl~' and believe ;1'" "1''' ',ein",; tax",l to death,con_ sider an article in the Suffolk Time~ of Mllrch 4,1976 whioh summarized a rel'utable Tax Research reportc uain", 1973/75 data. That rei,ort a'lIlrded Southold the di.stinction of havin.. the lO1i'est true 1'e8.1 estflte tax rate am on" some 2,000 jurisdiotions levying municipal taxea in the New York- New Jersey metropolitan district. That report unfortunately cannot erase the problem of taxes from our minds. We note with l'leasure that tra Fire Dietcrict report includes a financial account- ine.Some years aeo there was an annual Grievance Day at which islanders could present any assessment complainta before Town officials on the island. A tiny PO Bulle'in Board notice informs ue that complaints must be now made before the Board of AsseSsment Review at the Assaeaor1a Office in Southold on July 20. r I, ~.. (,_!, (, r ( ..... 1'"\. i.' </ J r.j (... , ," ,,' 1, ' ;:---, ( .. 7 ( \, -, ), l~ ~ .,' \.....A.. I') ,'. j_' ... I'" , / I( , 'f ,,- '\ .. ." " \...--" (,' l' t..( . I \.1 \, {I..~. " (,f. I.! . "'''' -\,. II ., , " , , , -I I, _j. '--<'-'-'-~r"-C:IJ-..';t:5r .'""/:. -~.''7''-~' "f>>;'.' ;t'~-\:.-gt..- -5- One bud~et austerity reduction this year may keep ~ou busy slapping your srma and le~s. For the first time in my memory the mosquito oontrol pro~ralll, $ 6,000 for the island " has beel1 suspended. Larva control 0111 pools and swam!, areas,olearint.: of drajna~e ditches and the lifoif' maoMee will not take plaoe this year. I hope that in readin<< the roports included in this annual Civio Assooiation Report all will realize the interest,tho loyalty and the hours spent. Our island ticks because of the many volunteers of sll ~., dedioated winter and sImmer residents, nho serve on Boards and attend meetin&s, bake for oake sales,fi~ht tires (while oontraotora absorb the oost of their fire-fighting employees' hours at fires)~run the Fire Department and the Ambulanoe Squad and perform so eenerously the many taaks neo~asary to the into~al well-bein5 of our Island. Respeotfully submitted, John P. Ghillard,President BOARD OF DlRECTORS-197~L1€. 6""7: Martha Fer~lJon Sally For~aon v - P John Gaillard 6,~. Ed Hornine,Vioe-President Bu. John Pendleton '5 Ted Stedman 0,,, _,C7;, , Mary Wood Carol Gallaher,Seoretar,y/Treasurer Wti(, ( -.I V-t' Nil';;> C -" I 1 -l.G_!t\ "- -,,-,-, ~ '" ,I. C. A! t r I ^ /' '----f O-\_.....~...... . , ' (" I I U ' . "I. V'[ Th. A.h.rs 1.land Civic Auociation, lAC. FISHERS ISLAND, NIiY YORK 06390 FINANCIAL REPORT 1975-1976 Dalance on hand as of July I, 1976 Total Deposits Printing and Postage Olue Cross Custodian Secretary TOldn Fathers Newspaper Office Supplies & Typewriter repair Annual Report Miscellaneous Ye11o~)page Ad Service Charge Rodent Control Dues ContI' ibut ions Total Expenses $1,015.00 150.00 $311.38 400.00 379.21 56.43 31.88 43.53 52..76 34.47 32~1O 2.37 262.30 Balance as of July 1, 1976 Savings Account as of June 1976 I , L. I ,f. .1., 1, Carol O. Gallaher $1,492.25 1,165.00 $l,571.9fi $1085.29 451.10 '" {" Secretary/Treasurer I . .',- vJ:\~ / ~ ~ t Or.'O , '~." .,l (/ , .- .: , - ,) "j l.l ~,\"' -, (.~ f '" ~ . ./ ~!, . 1 \ ;! ' \ if -, , " , J_ 'f ../"..) '. < "'. ., , _\ r 'I I ' \.' .'j IJ ,I! \.. I ~ . ^', ^, CIVIC ASSOCIATION CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Keeping watch for con$ervation problems that lIlay need action on behalt ot the Island, the Committee's chief concern this year has,nevertheless, remained the question whioh led to its opeation: namely, the Navy dred~ing and dumping project for deepening the 'l'hames River channel for a new olass of submarines. An October let~er informod all islanders of (in encourserin.: lIUl'OeIlS in the Association'c law suit, tha zood news that the U.S. Court of Al.peals had reversed in part'the District's C09rt.s A.dver:-o dooiaion "hieh h...d allowed the Navy to complate the first phase of its projeot in 197'1/75 by dreda;in.. from the bridge to the river mouth and durop Lhe pollut"d "'1'011 at the New London duropin" ..-round. Findin~ serious deficiencies ill the navy's Finnl Enyironmental Impact Statellent of December 1973.the Apl)eala' Court directed suapenaJon of further dred~ino: and dumpin" pend1n.. submiSSion by the Ur,vy of a SUPI,lement I,;:lvin.. detailed Information (1) on ..11 a.,oh p,'oj&cts in tl;" .ar.." ,'nd t.heir cumul~tiv" i.mp...ct on the ooean's environment hnd (2) on all of tho alternative dumpin.. sites, to~ether with an objective evaluation of th...dr rolative l:1t'rits. Not until April 1976 did the Na'7 issue the firet two volumes of the required Supplement, totalling some 1000 pages and citin~ some 281 technical PlPers.Trying to absorb this massive report gave eome Committee members head..ohes~ Its con- clusions were simple enough; to dredge and, dump the next inorement in its pro- "ram,1.8 million cubic yards of ths more polluted spoil from the bridge to the submarine bass area,~e again at '~he New London si'ta. An ocean dieposal site for a further 3.8 million cubio yarda to be dwuped by 1985 was left undesignated. The Navy1s rationalsl the on-goin~ monitoring had not detected any lon" or short-term adverse environmental Gffect~ frow the first dlli~ping and evaluation of 9 alternatives indioated the Nelf London site "the most environmentally aooeJltable." Mass alone did no't lead UI' to accept 'Lhet conclusion as valid.On June 9 and 10 1976 the Navy and the Corps of En.;:ineol'J held public hearinliS at Greeilort and Groton,attended respectivel~ by ~aelf and John GaJllard.We both made statements opPOSing itl not the dreJ~in~ for a national sectwity pro<<1'am but the redesie- nation of the nelf London ai te at the .jllncticn of Lon" Ial"nd and Fishers rslan' Sounds.Our concern in 1974 and no~ oonte~~l on the unknown,lona-term environ- mental impact of such massive durrpina in cloee proximity to our island. Considerable cynicism we3 "xp~eGc0d at Groovort ~ver the Supplement's conclu- sion so conveniently maint:oinin\€ the ctatu~' qU(' ,Amon", op:\,onents was the 10,,1s- lati're aide at Congressman Pi!w ,..ho l'el8.yoli the latter's recommen,lation that the Navy's dumping permit be revokod am! f'ur'Lhor examil1l'ttion of the project be undertaken At Groton John Gaillard'a detailed analysis focussed on the key to the Nav.r's deciSion, 8. site disp088l evaluation table namin" New London first and plaoing East Hole well doun its liat. Hia oriticisDlil,all dratTn from data in the Supplement itself,found the Navy's eVEll\la~iol1 of liated factors af.fectin~ suitability of sites vulnerable to ll&riou8 doubt". Amon" hie oonclusi,ms Ifas that the EllstHole, about mid-way between FiB~era and Block 1s1an&3 was pref3rable to New London as a containment Bite for polluted spoil~ The dUlDpin~ at New London has left a hump of spoil at a 58 foot depth subjact to arosion and some dispersal, while the 2)0 \.oeoatcCeffeE~O fl8~ft !flie'1 ~If IltM;'~m:h%~1t'I~H6l1'~'d ty bet ore spoil would "..-..--. r.,... .,-1 t.~. , FISHERS ISLAND CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE There is some optimism in the world of Biochemists, Geochemists, Conservationists, Ocean engineers, Politicians and Lawyers. The good bacteria are eating the bad, but I have found myself hard put to separate the plus from the minuses. The petroleum balls rolling around in the ocean apparently act as a good culture medium gathering coliform as they go, but they have receded before rounding Montauk Point and the latest report we've heard from Suffolk County water experts is that our water quality is good. Apparently, a strong southwest wind is reported to have blown them in shore from the Chesapeake Bay area. Our thanks to Mary Russell whose many attempts to resign as the Advisory Committee Chiirman was finally accepted on the condition she remain on the committee as a most valued member. The NRDC suit and New York 2nd Circuit court injunction causing the Army Corps. of Engineers to submit a supplemental EIS of about 600 pages have caused your President, John Gaillard, NRDC, your conservation advisory committee as well as other concerned persons some heavy reading and two hot June nights of hearings. Again the Navy is justifying use of the New London dump site for Thames River dredged spoil. The lack of tests on storm movement, drift, currents, dispersal and containment and inadequate discussions of alternate sites and methods of disposal have put us right back to where we were in 1973. NOAA, as agent for the Corps of Engineers, has cut back on funding of monitoring and we have grave concern for future adherence to water quality requirements. We note that ocean currents and heavy storms go unrecorded and bottom scouring is not yet thoroughly studied. We can . . 2. foresee the need for years of major monitoring which is costly and time consuming. We are looking into the possibility of joining national organizations interested in carrying on the monitoring or in seeing that NOAA does it for us. We are presently attempting to work out a system for on-spot testing in a modest way. count, for example, must -1: ,-' ..,:- ," ;., /l~"' -, ""r *" '\, t._,_> ::. , ,~,..."" Minor-l Cesiums (radio has also been reported and should be checked. Coliform be checked within a few hours to be effective. j\., Jf,. active ) kelp Any new dredging projects contemplated in the area, the committee felt, should be looked into by the civic association and suggestions made for new methods of disposal in some manner on land. The Committee also is concerned for erosion of the island beaches and shoreline and suggest working with FIDCO in this area. Prevention, in particular, could be stressed more. Anyone owning tidal wetlands on the Island should have received a notice of public information meetings with the opportunity to examine and correct the maps of the area. We hope to attend several meetings so please contact us if you would care to go. The first one is July 15th in Riverside at 2 p.m. We decided we are not equipped to handle issues &f..--na-t"iona-J.issues of national concern such as tanker movement, nuclear energy and national defense unless directly affecting our island, yet I would like to personally urge you to write your Congressmen if you have an opportunity and urge them to vote for safety measures for nuclear plants. wi thin a radius of 30 miles or less we have three plants with another three. soon in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. Northeast utilities has a monitoring system to check cumulative radiation at Fishers Island which is picked up in Hartford every 15 minutes. There is no danger now, Northeast says, but charcoal filters and coolant water systems do discharge a minute amount. Perhaps by the year 2,000 when an expected . 3. ~5--2looo nuclear plants are operating worldwide, we may have to worry about radioactivity adding up. It would seem better to improve on safety measures now. Please give us your suggestions and notify us of any unusual air water and coastal pollutions, also plant and sea life abnormalities. 11 .J&l..fu R K~rYr Natalie R. Rafferty, Chairman Committee E.A. Matthiessen Mrs. F.B. McKown C. Roosevelt T. A. Parrott L. Thatcher M. Russell I , t -2- Another tar~t was the fact that although the Corps did naae,unlike the Navy, the East Hole as a possible disp08al alternative eite,neither the Navy nor the Corps,despite all the expensive research co~ducted,ha4 had desienated an ofticial alternative site ~ainst the contineenoy that monitorine at New London showei adverse environmental etteots and led the Court to bar further dumpini there. It seems unconscionable for the Navy to have repeated in this Supplement that it would take three years more to iather the data neceesary to desienate another site. At the, same hearin~ the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection uried olosin.. ot the New London site and desiznation of the East Hole,as did the Groton diatrict State Senator Schneller. The text of the N.Y. State Department ot Environmental Conservation is not yet in our hands but Mr. Butzel had been 8Utb- ol'iz8d to say Rt the meetin.. that it had reRched 8, simi1a.r conclusion.Mr. Buteel, our attorney, also considers the East Role preferable. I "1"", C I have cRlled a meetin.. of our Committee for this weekend to decide, under the " above circumatances, whether and how best to urll:e th... Environmental Proteotion Aeency to press the ff';vy',.j,dthe Co:t'ps;1'ellow defendants in the suit, to desienate the East Hole for eliS,pOSAl of the next spoil inct'ement,slIbjeot all:a1n to proper monitorln~.Suoh a positive approaoh by all parties oould offer sn equitable solu- '" tion,provide tor the N'",y's needs and avoid further li ti"a tion. ,~ \.. ;\-, ~", (\ t 1 II \ i l' 'I" 'j ,f . (.-''' Muoh as we dislike the idea,dumpinll: in cQ8,stal waters still appears the pre- ferred method for dumpin~ spoil.Indeed the Supplement dismissed as impraotical in the Thames River oase other methods disoussed. For eoonomic and other reasons they are very unlikely in the near future. Until then it will be of ereat oonoern to the ieland that monitoring and testine of ooastal waters and adherenoe to EPA standards oontinue~ Chemioals,nuolear wastesttraoe metals,shiftin~ o~ spoil oaused by currents are t~me oonsuming and so costly to monitor that we oan only hope to oooperate with other eroups to see thnt the monitorine is effioiently oonduoted. As the new art oontinues to maturs,we esn hops for more accurate results than those reoorded to date. Any local projeots oontemplated in the area should be looked into and sueees- tions made for using new methods of disposing of spoil ssfely on shore~ Additional suegestions for our conoern arel the erosion of shoreline and beaohes, checkine th equality of island waters and joinin~ with other ~roups in ur..ing the most up-t~d"te"s;"fei'y' me"sures 011 nuolear plants in use or the LI100 plants now being areued over in Suffolk County. Northeast Utilities has an air-monitorine system in operation on Fiehera Ieland~ J I Anyone owning tidal wetlands on the inland should be aware of Artiole 25-0302 cYf the N.Y. State..En1l'ironmental Coneervation Law. A notioe was sent to all owners of suoh land a,nnouncing a public informn tion ,meetine wi th an opport'1':!i t,y to in- -,-.,. speot ths maps.On.. of our Committee members will attend on July 1:5'.~ 'Tt.~~.. ~b The Committee deoided to confine itse1f to"looal issuss in plrfnoiple and not try C~: to handle issues of national ooncern.Please give us your Bu~ee8tions and notify us of any abnormal air ~d water pOllution,or ooastal and se~life conditions. COMMITTRE MEMRreR~ Natalie R.Rafferty,Chairman Mr. E;K.Ma~I~&8.n,Mrs.F.B.Mc Kown,Mr. T.A. ParrotttMr.C.Roosevelt,Mrs.T.W.Russell, Mr. M.L. Thatoher and Mr. J.P. Geillard,ee officio. 1, ! \...! :. \', ,,'."..1, t "---- .~.... I . \ \, ,\f" ~ ,l . }..t If {" " I! '. .' ,~ ' , , BLUE CROSS MID CONYECTICUT MEDICAL SERVICES --- 1 9 7 6 Clroup membership in Connecticut Blue CrOlls and Connecticut Iledioal Services is available to !I1:\Yone who is a member of The Fishers Island Civic Association. Olr checkbook balancE as of June 2 is $387.55. This represents premiums' paid in advance by Bome of our members. As of June 1, we have 117 Blue Cross members and 52 (over 65) members. We have 108 CMS members and 51 (CMS 65) members. Sane of our members carry Blue Cross on1;r. MsmbeI'ship in either or both is avail- able to Group members. Rates are as fo110W8: '1\., I -- , 1'll Blue Cross OMS Total Husband and w:l..fe $ 46.77 " $ 15.05 $ 61.82 '?t ';. ",} Husband and w:l..fe 1 or more children 46.77 17.90 64.67 Single 19.211 5.95 25.19 OIrer 65 5.36 2.95 8.31 In December of 75, the Sooial Security Administration announced a 13% increase in the Iledicare Deductible for 1976. Fran $92 to $104. Blue Cross has been paying the $92 and will ca'ltinue to but it leaves a difference of $12 to be borne by the member if he should go into the hospital. In consideration of this Blue Cross declared that they would pick up this difference for an addi tional 36~ per ma'lth effective June 1. And so for at least this year we are covered and, hopeful1;r, it will revert back to tho $92. Note: All Blue Cross 65 members in the Clroup are now members of tho BC(loh) plan. As you knOll', our bllHnR dat.e was changed from the 23rd of the month to the lOth--requesting paymmt by the 21st. About 90% of our members pay on time. It would be helpful if everyone didl Thank Y()\1. Custodian THE VILLAGE GREEN COMMITTEE The Village Green Committee endeavors to keep Fishers Island attraGtive and cared for. We have accomplished variou51 projects of which you have heard from time to time during past years. Our present project is to try to bring order and some planting to what was to have been an enclosed garden area, which is seen as you enter the School. The original plans for this garden were charming but much too expensive for the School to contemplate. Therefore, the area wes left with several loads of Chocomount-type stones scattered about and some unsteady flagstones laid out in a sort of path, and some old bushes planted but never watered. Ide have a very attract iue, very simplp. plan lJhich was drawn up by Mrs. McCance. We hope to start 'Jork immp.diataly after school closes. The cost of $352 is being shared- School $180 and the Committee, $172, its last funds. C[]~11~ITTEF_ Mrs. Erarrl A. Matthiessen, Prp.sident ~1rs. Perry Ed'dsrrJs, Vice-President Mrs. ',enneth EdlJarrlR Mrs. Charles Farrington Mrs. H. l_se Ferguson, Jr. Miss Sally Ferguson Mr. Bnd Mrs. Edwin Horning Mrs. Robert J. Miller Mrs. Bernard Rafferty t-1r. nagley 1~8id rlrs. Pet.r:r Sanq81' FISHERS ISJ.AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ~()~'G ImpORT TO FW:i;;;iW ISLf..ND CIVIC ASSOCIATION: Over the p:lst six months, the operating leadarship in FIDCO hew been expanded to ll.:L\!Ue ::;1 a~t1ve yctL'1ger gro1..'P. Areas of interest have broad- ened. Anything Ilffectin~ the d"'3irclAli~y of the Iolond for summer vacationing or for year a;,'ot:nd l1vir,g, 113 a rosoozw.blo "l'bjoet for Rctive consideration by the ot:arating Committee. Thill flpring FIDCO resurfaced over two mileI' of dirt roads rot the east end. Theee were the Clay Point road IUld the roe-d to the Isabella Beach turn-around. L8arning from the work done this spring, it !lIlticipates resurfaCing all other dirt rvads ovel:' the next three years. Major renovation work was done on the piers 01 the West Harbor yaoht club marina. No substs.ntial further work should be needed for several years. At the ye.cl1t chili and mal'!aa, a special effort is being made to improve service to yacht club members and to visiting yachtsmen. An addition to the yacM club building is under cO.:lsideration. , ~ 'J ' In compHar.ce with the dem!l.ild by the Ste.te, l''IDCO has developed ud obtllJ;:ed [tete t1,l'proval for a new eewage system for the Fort area. A decls).,,!;. b~' thoSE' Hving in that area il3 requirodby summer. - .- ',\~. \., , Merger negotiations between the !we water companies are continuing. Only through a single company with common interests will it be possible to adequately maintain and tc L"Lpro'lc, '\'-'hare nCC()SBury, the wator system on the Island. The objective of Frnco hi to matte Flehers lsl:md a better place to 11,-e. Your fmggestions arc weloome. tT&nlJsn Noyes, ~rr. President FISHERS ISLAND FERRY DISTRICT (I , . . The Commissioners report that revenues actually received under the tariff schedule which went into effect February 15, 1975,have generally met expectations. The escalation of wage costs under the 1976 operating contract, therefore, has been absorbed without the need for higher tariffs. The Commissioners hope and anticipate that no changes in tariff rates will be required at least during the remainder of 1976. As of March 1, 1976 the Ferry District paid the last install- ment of the Olinda financing and became debt free. On June 29, 1976, Legislation to permit the financing of a new ferry boat to replace the Mystic Isle passed the Assembly in Albany, having previously passed the Senate. A number of Fishers Island people with voting residences in New York State were thoughtful enough to write letters to Albany in support of this Legislation. Their assistance is greatly appreciated by the Commissioners, who take this opportunity also to thank them on behalf of many other members of the Community who have expressed support for the project. The bills, of course, must be signed by the Governor to become law. It is the intention of the Commissioners that any boat purchased would have a lower over-all operating cost, includinq debt service payments, than the Mystic Isle over the coming years. Preliminary engineering of a new boat is in an advanced stage. This design however, will be modified if and as necessary to meet the objective l~ ,,- I of lower over~all operating costs, and any decision to go ahead will '\"" \ l\.1 be submitted to a referendl,1m based on a prior explanation to the .\,' Community of re'1e~antraas-.' it.,. :'" h\ As to possible disposition of the Mystic ~ , inquiries in the London shipping market have produced no results to date. An expression of interest in taking the vessel in trade toward the purchase price of a new vessel has been received from a shipbuilding yard, however. Despite constant co-operation from the regional office of the New York State Department of Transportation, no basis for a federal or state grant toward the cost of a new boat has been found. The Commissioners continue to welcome comments and suggestions from the Community as to the scheduling of trips and have been gratified to receive some favorable c~nments concerning the summer 1976 scheduling. Having enlarged the usual "small print" on the printed schedule, however, and thereby apparently having enlarged the potential for confusion, an attempt will be made to simplify the printed format in the future. . . Last year mention was made of the possibility of qualifying for a grant to finance the.repaving'of the runways of Elizabeth Airport., The Federal Airport Development Aid Program expired as of June 30, 1975. Legislation to restore it is still pending in the Congress; so no progress has been made in spite of the support of the regional office of the state Department of Transportation. The state appropriation for the replacement of the deteriorated harbor entrance works at Silver Eel Pond passed the legislature, and received clearance by the Corps of Engineers, but has been delayed at the Division of the-BUdget. The regional office of the D.O.T. recognizes the hazard to safety involved and the escalation of costs as time passes and has assured the Commissioners that the processing problem should soon be solved. . The 1977 Ferry District budget will be presented to the Community on August 20, 1976 at the regular public meeting held for that purpose. Board of Commissioners Fishers Island Ferry District \",. \ ! 'I' r "'y-' /0 . 6I::."U~HERS ISLAND FSRE DUiTRICT "ISHlER. I.LAND, NIEW yaRK aallea C'O'ULtn!98t:""oI1rs: i\enneth L Edwards, Ch(J,'man Jarr '. A. ?Is:,off f.!":,hard S. Baker, Sr. Alfred R. Grebe. Sr. W. Gordon Ahman 'l'REA6URER' 5 ~N(JAr. REPORT For Year 1975 RECEIPTS: ----- JI'ax Rav$;:~t.'te PElote.l C.r P,':i.L,g .fl....,,;) Rental of Town Justioe Offioe Interest and Earnings Insurance Clulm Prooeeds Insurano~ Rofunds Sale of Apparatus 'lute.1 Receipts Balance at Beglrilliug of Year Total Roceipts and Balance 0ISBURSELEN~: Curre~t Exp~n~~: Poreonal Ssrvlc.a Hy<lral,;t, REtntale InsuX'anco Soclal S~c~rlty Tax MscU-:::.:.l ExpeIll.le V~R - Appa r~ta6 and EQu1pment M&R - B~41dlng and property Telepl:.(:meo amI. Al:;'l~lll System El^"ctzolc Eller'gy Fuel 'i/F Tr!.inlr1g v.nd Inspectlons Ae 9' n 0.' Fii';,> L_"tr1.::tl3 Mootln.;:> Election and A11tert1.z1ng ExpenS3 Prlntlng of B:l<-Laws Ge.solene en~ Oil Dues a~d Tr~asuror's Bond Office E:r.pan'!!3 Total Current Expense Purchase ()f Et;.d1plllent Deht~ B~r-il',,::;"'-~: RE>demp ~loiiof .Bor.'.C1.s Interast on Bon~s Total Debt Service $54. 824. 2'{ 125.00 500.00 205.68 244.25 384.00 1,108.00 $57.391.20 7.330.7~ $1.560.00 6.495.06 3,932.00 79.64 78. 95 7.136.83 4.716.02 1.502.32 1,260.55 2,306.74 T50.94 ~'55. 20 165.60 252.00 503.49 :t59.00 131.0~ #31,465.39 10.569.40 $8,800.00 1.509.25 10.309.25 10,000.00 '62. 344. 04 2,377,91 Treuaf6rr(~ to Reserve Fund Total Payments from General Fund Balenc.6 December 31, 1975 Total Payments and Balance ...... 2"'I'eanrer lInd 8s(.-,'staf'1; E. Perry Edwards "') " \ r'l...,.).;",.1" ',.'\ ,\ \, .'\ ,64.721.95 r,~,. -. .' }.[ / . '~ .. ~. (1." .' e64, 721.95 FISHERS hi1Ji...AND FIRt'!.: DISTRICT ~1.HItIl. IIILAND. N;:W VDRI( CUI..O OommfsBCOflf,r.: Kenneth L. Edwards, Chairman Jamas A. Palsholf Richard S. Baker, Sr. Alfred R. Grebe, Sr. W. Gordon Ahman Contlnu~ 2'rfaBlWer and Beoretat"J/ E. Pair}' Edwards TREASURER t S ANNUi',L REPORT f_cr' Yeal." 1975 RESERVE FUND: Balance at Beginning of YGsr Transferred from neneral I'Und Interest Earned Balance December 31, 1975 tlO,59J..18 10,000.00 1.009.54 J21.603.72 ReQ~oottully Bubmitted, FISHERS ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT .::> .. .-.:L/ ~ ,:-/_vf/i.r4U1fUCto/Tr9as. V *1***********11***************** The Fishers Island Fire District is a legal entity established by New York State law and governed by a Board of Fire Commissioners consisting of five me~)ers elected for three year terms. The board has the responsibility and authority to raise money by taxation to provide for certain functions of a fire district. Some of these are: provide and maintain fire f:!.ghting apparatus, provide and maintain the fire station, lease or furnish alarm systems, hydrant services, communications systems, etc., as required for fire and emergency purposes. An annual bUdget is prepared and voted upon by the resi- dents of the fire district. Training programs for fire and emer- gency services are funded by the district, &,d all officers and members of the Fire Department are subject to appointment by the Board of Fire Commissioners. .., A...... S' 9'-0~ Kenneth L. Edwards, Chairman Board of Fire Commissioners FISI-lERS ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT FISHERS ISLAND, NEW YORK 06390 1976 .) I:':'..., !:': One year ago our report to the Civic Assodation stressed the problem that had ,just arisen of the winter closing lilf the Coast Guard station on Fishers Island. Without them we had no one to sound our alarms and no emergency service for the transportation of patients to New London. The first. problem was solved by the employment of an answering service in Groton, Connecticut. When a fire call is made the tele- phone rIngs at the answedng service, the Fire House, the Chief's home, Dick's Garare and the Utility Company. The alarm is actuated by the answering service if the situation warrants caning out the entire depart.ment. The problem of water transportation was solved by the loan of a vessel from Suffolk County Department of Emergency Prepard- ness. However, this did not come about until other possibiJ Hies had been investigated. ThIs vessel is used when no other trans- portation is available. Constant inspection is made of thIs ves- sel to be SUre it is ready for immediate use. Primarily this year will be known a.s "The Year of E. M. T." in the Department and on the Island. Emertjency Medical Technician traini.ng was sponsored by the Department to cope with the medical situation on the Island, particularly in the winter months. It was put on by professional staff people at Lawrence and Memorial Hospitals and was open to the pubLic. The course requirerl 100 hours, not. including study. A total of 29 participat.ed, comprised of 17 firemen and 12 others. Funding for this WitS divided between Suffolk County and your Volunteer Fire Department. The reBul t.s were wonderful. All 29 passed l.he final written examination, some- thing never before recorded in the many Conneotiout courses that. have been helri over the years. In addition, one of our st.udent.s had the hiE.hest eXllmi nat. ion gritde ever recorderi. The stat'I' of doctors and nurses c'une to the Island and were ret.urned to NeH Lonrjon eaoh week by the Fire Dep'trtment boat. late at nic;ht. There were a t.ota.l of 70 calls handloed by the Department in the past year. 19 were fire calls and .51 were for the Ambulance. In addition t.here were :3 false alarms. We hope everyone on the Island wi 11 attend our HOUSe t.o be he J d at the Pire House on Sunday Augus t 11,00 A.M. to 1,00 P.M. Light refreshm~nts will be there will be truck ri des for children and "dul t.s. ah]e to vi.f>w our pnt.i.IY~ bijil{lin_-: iLnd 8.1.1 apparat.Ufi rlp.monqtr.'1t~on 0f home fIre extinguisherf';. Altl1"lUgh our e'prl ~)mpnt i.s hein,:; improverl each year, WP. sti-Il have -3" long way to (';0 to rea.ch our various goals. 'Therefor,,:! tole plan t'1 "",nd our an Anpea] for Punds toward the end ()f July. As uSl.1al we wi.ll be dnr~n'_j' ~ Dr: on you, our ~l)n3 tan tl..v 10yal frir:mdn, t.o h~lj1 UIiI. Annual Open 8th fr()ln served and You wi 11 be .'Hid se8 ;1 HOBF:RT F:. '.AU, , r::I!HP FIRE -Dial 3JJ 1i:~1F.'lr:F:NCY 1\11BUf..ANr::E Y( NEIJICAL ASS [:3'1'ANCE -Dial)i4. 333 FISHERS' ISLAND GARBAGE AND REFUSE DISTRICT Our contract with Quinn and Co. seems to be working very well and when the Town Board was on the Island last Summer it was very pleased with the con- dition of our operation. We would like to mention that Quinn and Co. hae a phone listing (211) and if anyone has any questions or complaints concerning the collection of garbage they should call this number. Aleo if you are here out of season, call 211 for pick-up. Because of State and Count y restrict ions on solid l~aste methods of d ie- poeel, all residents are again asked not to place any weste of any kind at the land fill garbage site. This area is now kept locked and is sol~ for the use of Quinn and Company. We would like to bring it to the attention of all property owners that the Garbage Truck is high and wide and it is the responsibility of home owners to keep trees and brush cut back far enough for this equipment to have clear- ance. This would also be essential in case of a Fire emergency. We I,Jould also like to remind everyone that the Garbage District is supply- ing an erea in the old gun pits just past the School for the disposal of burn- able material and would like to emphasize that the Environmental Control Board will not allow us to dispose of anything metal in this area. We would also like to ask all persons using this area to help us keep this area in an orderly condition, since loie all have to 'pay the maintenance charges ourselves. Residents and contractors wishing to dispose of non-burnable materials may contact Francis Doyen, as the Town maintains an area for this in an old mortar pit just inside And on the left of the old Fort Wright entrance. Aoard of Commissioners , \:-:,.,.\" J,.., Raymond Doyen, Chairman Arthur Walsh, Treasurer , l,1 \ Gordon Ahman, Secretary , \ r-",-~ j~, r . (.J.' '... 1,. ...." .~ i~l ,fA \ ,'.,.. J.1 /.... j~, re "" ,-- ' ) \ 1 ~ 1_ \ I ~ ,1 ;, ~ C,,~.k):1 ~ ,/ I \ '. f, ..1' " , I '\t ,t. !L "I.'. I"~ I i ~t '/' '~ THE HENRY L. FERGUSON MUSEUM THE H. LEE FERGUSON BIRD SANCTUARY Each year the Museum and Bird Sanctuary are proving to be of greater value tD those who live on or visit Fishsrs Island. During 1975 well over 1000 persons visited the Museum, not including the students from the Fishers Island School who go in groups from time to tims to see and study the exhibits. Many bird watchers visit the Sanctuary, and Dthers find it a quiet and restful place tD relax. laet July a YDung couple decided it was the place where they wanted tD bs married. Last summer the Historical CDmmittee (Mrs. Thomas W. Russell, Jr. and Charles B. FergusDn) assisted by other members of the Museum BDard, arranged a most interesting historical exhibit cDnsisting Df early Island records, photo- graphe and newspaper clippings gDing back almost tD the time when the Winthrops owned the Ieland in the 17th Centurv. Ths Museum IJas crowded with people WhD were facinatad by mucll that was Dn display. An important project continues which will probably be finished this year. Mrs. MariDn FergueDn Briggs has been classifying and dating the large collection Df Indian artifacts which blere dug upDn Fishers Island by Hanry L. Ferguson, Harold J. Baker and Shirley Fulton. She IJrDte her M.A. Thesis based on the wDrk she has done, and has presented the Museum with a CDPY Df this Thesis- a book of over 300 pages. Those who want to read this bODk may do so at the Museum, and will find much of facinating interest in it. FDr instancs, in Dur report to ths Civic ASsDciatiDn a year ago it was stated that some of the art- ifach in Dur cDllection were probsbly 3000 years old. Mrs. Briggs has nDW diacovered that we were very coneervetive in Dur estimate, and that some of the' "points" that have been fDund on Fishers were made over 7,ClOO years ago, or prior to 5,000 B.C. when Fishers Island was a psrt Df the mainland dus to the fect that the sea level of the Atlantic Ocean wss there about 350 fset bslow what it is today. Thoae who are interested can find much impDrtant data, about prehistoric Fishera Island in Mrs. Briggs' Thesis. The officsrs of the Museum and Sanctuary are: Henry W. Hobson, Preeident; Charles B. Ferguson, Vice-President; Mra. H.lee Ferguson, Jr., Secretary; E. Perry Edwerds, Treasurer; Edwin H. Horning, Curet or. The Custodian is Mre. Edwin H. Horning. The Museum is open during the summer on week days from 10 to 12 a.m. Those WhD wieh to make, an appointment to visit the Museum at other times may do so bV calling Mr. or Mrs. Horning- Telephona 293. While the upkeep of the Museum fabric is providsd by ths intersst frDm an endowment set up by Jansen Noyes, Sr., the cost of new and impDrtent projects (such as the classification Df our Indian collection, the expaneion of Dur his- torical material, the maintenance and care of the Sanctuary, and providing the custodian, etc), must be met by the annual dues frDm members and contributiDns from thDse who reali2e the value tD Fishers Island of having a fine Museum and Sanctuary as part of the life of our Island. Those whD wish tD becDme members of Dr tD make a gift lo the Museum may dD so by speaking to Dne Df the officere listed above, Dr to the Custodian at the Museum. We have discovered that many individuals on the Island have histDrical , and Dther material, which wDuld be of interest as part Df the several exhibits in the Museum. Each year Dne Dr more children CDme to the Museum beering a dead bird he or she found, snd asking wh~ther it wDuld be a useful addition to the Museum's remarkable Bird Collection. We hDpe adults will follow these children's example and think of the Museum as a depository fDr interesting articles hsving to do with Fishers Island which they may have. The Museum and Sanctuary belong to all of us, and we can all share in improving them. Henry W. HDbson (. I ,... 'I",:. Ii ,I ISL.AND HEALTH PROJECT, INC. BOX 344 FISHE.RS ISLAND. NEW YORK 06390 . . ',I. . i' I ". ,".,-_ \. .' This summer The Projoct ~i11 be providing medical services on the Island similar to those provided last summer, that is, there will be doctors from Roosevel-~ Hospital in New York City rotating on essentially a weekly b~Jis through the end of September. While not an ideal situation, the experience last year proved that the Island was adequately covered from a medical standpoint during the peak SUm;".ler months. As you will see from the foregoing, The Project has not been successful in obtaining the services of a full-time resident physician on a yeaL" round basis, The Project has advertised in various journals and has interviewed two applicants for the position, but for various reasons satisfactory arrangements could not be made. Accordingly, we have gone to the Roosevelt Hospital rotation once again. You may rest assured that the Directors of The Project will continue to search for a permanent solution to the Island health problem. We wish to thank all of you who contributed so generously to The Project during the past year. It was only through your fine support that The Project could obtain the needed equipment and supplies to assure that the doctors will have what is needed to provide medical services. This summer the Doctor's hours will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Please telephone 244 for appointments. Due to the short term stay of each doctor, we ask your cooperation in settling your bill at the time of your visit by check or cash. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Doctor Hoch for his willingness to pitch in during the year to assure that medical services are available. A more detailed report, inclUding finances. will be sent to all residents shortly. The Board welcomes any comments or suggestions you may have. -~jj( ISLAND PEOPLE'S PROJECT Box 523 ~ Fishers Island, New York 06390 ~ ~~~ .."'..- - J"t'nllg 1976 On JulY' 5. ;;ho IolliJld "?<loplo I s Proj<:lot R(l(l!'EHltional Program, direotod by John 0..:1 .)'::mat Pooton will b3gin. This popular aotivity is in its ninth Y'on~. All ohildren on the Island from 4 - 13 yeers who ~~o monbera maY' ?nrtioipato. There will be Arts, Crafts end G~mc3 6.~ily and on PridaY3, Speoial Events. An open swim for pro-oohocl non owi~ers will b~ held as new program at 11:00 - l~:30 at Dook Bonch. Afternoons, swimming olasses for the other uges will bo tram 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Speoial oourses for Advanood swim~ers Advanced Life-saving and Adult owim n1'o offerod. 1t6'1'1 Red Oross material will be used for all courses. Tennis lessons will bo givon afternoono 1:00 - 4:00 at the Oourt near the school. PIsano be prompt ~or lessons. Charge will be made if not oancellod in advanoo. Softball gameo will bo Qddcd this year fo~ young people at the Ball Di~~ond TuoodQY& and ThursdaY's from 4:00 - ;:30 oonduoted bY' aides. Aisoc as borore, tha Adult Aotivities will be held on Thursday nighto ~t the sohool gym. Sailing instruotion will be resmuod. Five boats aro available on a daily basis to Island People's Project mombers. The Ba~~e Walks by Mr. Edwin H. Roz.ning, aur~to~ of the Bird Museum, ar~ open to mCEbars or all ng0s ann begin at the Museum at 2:30 p.m. We~~osdayr,. Middle Eastern DIl....l0/l taught by Itro. FrarJll: Kor7HIll, Jr. will take place through Jul;V uJ:; the lbion Chapel, l'ro~daYll amd Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. 'l'1t':ll ohm'lgo oc.n be Illr;c1o if by popular req'lest. Aerobio danoe will bo ar~lcuno~d for August later. A three week typing coursa will be held during the middle ot the summer. Notioo will be found on tho P.O. bulletin board in advanoe. Our Walkathon will be held on July 25th at 8 a.m. Walkers will be asking for sponsors and W~ hope th~y ~nll have your support. Please watoh for tha/33 lmlkel"s uhon YOll are driving on that day. All the aforementiO!:lGd tletlvitioll are sponsol'ed by the Island People's P~ojeot, ~ non-profit oducational organization, ohartered bY' Hew York State. , ""~ ISLAND PEOPLE'S PROJECT Box 523 A Fishers Island, New York 06390 . ~~!J~.A ~~ -2- - Also, an important part of thG Project is the Island Craft Shop which'provides an outlet for the Island people to show and sell their handmades and some tood ouoh as baked goods, oasseroles, candies and jams etc. largely mado by sp$cial order. Pree lectures will be offered again OM various popUlar topio.. Please watch the bulletin board at th~ Post Offioe for inform- ation on these talks. All the activities are available tor everyone on Fishers Island. In order to take part in our program, a membership tor Family, $15.00 or Individual $10.00 is required. Dance and typing oourses will be $10.00. All olasses must have 10 peoplo to be tormed. Looking forward to seeing YOU thi3 summerl For the Oommittee cf the Island People's Project Trustees Hrs. Helen Buokner Mrs. John C. ~an!l Mrs. Oatherine Jenssen Mrs. Stephen T. Kelney Mr. Prank: Kernan Mrs. Donald W. Sinolair Mr. John S. W. Sporford Conmlittee Mrs. StephGn T. Kelsey, President Mrs. Oatherine Jonssen, Vice-president IUaB Sally Ferguson, Secretary Mre. John O. Evans, Recreation Mrs. William R. Glendon, Craft Shop Mre. Nich!!!,l)l lira,. h Mr3. Ronald Zang)~3tti, Special Events . JrtslJtrs Jslaoo Ltbslermtn's Assl1riatton. Jilt. Fishers Island, New York 06390 On behalf of the Fishers Island Lobstermen's Association, I would like to report the following: The Association has met at different times during the winter to discuss ways for protecting the lobster industry in New York State. Delegates were sent to a meeting on Long Island in December 1975. This meeting was called by the Director of Marine and Coastal Resources of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Our purpose was to voice opinions with regard to improving conservation laws relative to the lobster industry in New York State. We are particularly concerned with the matter of increasing violations of the present conservation laws and the need for more efficient law enforcement. The Town of Southold has offered assistance along with the New York State Police for increased patrolling of our waters. The legislature is working on a bill which will more clearly establish residency requirements and violations from non-residents of New York State. We hope this will help clean up what we feel to be deplorable conditions in regard to violations apparently being committed at present. . Respectfully submitted. Richard Erpenbeck, Secretary ., i . RODENT CONTROL Fishers Island supports a large rodent population. This is natural because enough food is available in our wooded areas and along our he acheD to support the rodents. In addition, a certain amount of trash and gnr~auo is available around habitations b~Rre care is not taken or where ~u8ntitie8 are left when people leave without having it picked up. It is the civic duty of each of us to combat rodents constantly. Thore is a reluctance on the part of many people to even admit that rats exist on their property. This is ideal - for the rats - as they c,m breed and spread to adjoining I1roperties loJithout hinrleranr.e. l\lso, I h,we many requests for "bait" or feeders and then no one ever comes to pick up the materials and mimeographed instructions on their use. Last year about 300 pounds of "bait" was distributed by the Civic f1ssociation, including that us Ad in 15 feedArs that are maintained a11. year in tIle garbage area and at three other lo,:at;ions. Only about I,D peorle obtained this free "bait". About 30 feeder stations bJere sold during the year at cost ($6.00). In addition several spring traps have tJeen borrowp,d for arees where the feeders are not practical. It is hoped that every individual who notes rodent activities around theh property will avail themselves of the free bait and help us to control this problem. A.D. Oal"son ,\\, ~\ , . , ) ,1/, " I " "'." '."...._'~...;,'... ..-,.. "r ---,---~.~--:::-....."'t".~:,~..,,".'.. . T . FISHERS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY 1975-76 This has been a "year of many happenings" in the Fishers Island School District. These .happenings, as will be indicated in this report, made for ,a productive and successful school year. This was a year for many positive gains for education in our school district. ENROLLMENT AND STAFF Enrollments for the 1975-76 school year were as follows: Nursery - Grade Six Grades Seven - Twelve 46 students 49 students The staff consists of twelve full-time teachers, five part-time teachers, one business clerk, one part-time office worker, one full-time and one part-time custodian, and a district principal. During the progress of the school year, there has been a concern for the drop in student enrollment. Also, there is some indication that there could be an additional loss of students during the summer of 1976. This is due to the fact that some families, particularly those with a large number of children, will be moving from the Island. The true enrollment figures can only be determined in September 1976 when school opens. Because of the lack of enrollment in the early ages, the Nursery program will be eliminated for the 1976-77 school year. 1976-77 BUDGET There was difficulty in preparing the 1976-77 budget because of the loss of State Aid. State Aid is, at best, unsatisfactory and seems to continue a trend of throwing a heavier burden on the local property owner for the task of supporting proper public education. On May 18, 1976 the budget was defeated (60 to 64). A modified bUdget was prepared by the Board of Education, and on June 10,1976, the bUdget was successfully passed (85 to 80). Many concerns by the taxpayer were generally made ,known to the Board of Education. These concerns will be considered in the preparatiol of the 1977-78 bUdget. A negotiated contract between the BC'-lfd of Education and the Fishers Island Teachers' Association was completed on November 25, 1975. This contract is for a period of two years, ending on June 30, 1977. . ,." " ,1_.' i ' : CURRICULUM II ,.' Evaluations and reviews were conducted in all areas of education, 'especially in the academic areas of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Business. The course Project Advance, an English program which meets the course requirements of Grade 12 and College Freshmen, was introduced in September 1975. Probably one of the most important programs to be introduced was the remedial reading course for Grades 5 - 11. The expansion of our gUidance program has 'given direction for a total educational program --- testing program, college preparation, curriculum needs, and pers'onal counseling to students and parents. A representative from the Bureau of Business Education of the New York State Education Department made a supervisory visit to our school. The purpose of this visitation was to observe and to recommend how our business department could be improved. New courses in Social Studies --- Sociology and Psychology --- will be introduced in September 1976. A future emphasis will stress areas of reading and writing. EXTRA-CURRICUIAR Many interesting programs occurred during the school year: the high school (Grades 7 - 12) visited Boston for a Bicentennial experience; our senior class made a trip to London, England, during the Easter vacation; the elementary school attended the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus in Providence; there was a student exchange program with the Scarsdale Junior High School; and other outstanding events were highlighted with the Gymnastic Show, Science Fair, Art Show, Christmas Play and a Bicentennial Musical. Athletics, as usual, played an important part in the students' lives. Education could only be a challenge, and it is ours to continue and uphold ... the people, the Board of Education and the school staff. Continued support for education in our school district will provide the opportunity for all of us to succeed. BOARD OF EDUCATION Arthur A. Greenleaf, President Richard S. Baker Carol O. Gallaher Elizabeth Peishoff Mary L. Strunk William R. Haase, District Principal ~ - '\ V vt.... c \' ' \ I.,," I. v', I \., ,l \., -, ''',1 ;_" ,( "~I I '",. ,-1 t" , . , " /l.j ,./ , I .\\ \ ' , i ~, I I : , .REPORT OF THE TOWN JUSTICE During the past year your TOIdn Jusl;icI' attended approximately and Town Board meeting per month. TouJn ordinances 'that were voter! into tau thai; rli;:ectly affect Fishers Island are a dog leash law Bnd a building code. Should anyone wish to have these ordinances explained, copies of.them arc available at the Town Justice's office located at the MobIl Station. In the area of crime, tl1lO misdemeanors and 30 violation cases for more minor offences were processed. Your Town Justice is available at his office from SAM to 5PM each weekday and has most motor vehicle and town building department forms on hand. IL)~ .-\ ," \ ~r i~~.';;. }.O\--,_.j,T- 'I ..,' -"' '. ,. . : . ''-~ ._.~.H I '^ tJ -".' \ ~ 40." .'..,. . , \ , ('vI:; , '.1 .1'. . \ , ,iF "'I" J I '" tl ~? '/'J _ it:,; " , .- ~ .. ;\ '..' Respectfully submitted Francis T. Doyen " ~, ~,t. \.' \ !-- - ". I.,' .'j t-"."-.__', , (:' ~" ,. _.: I, _,i Town Justice& Southold TOLlO BOard /'1smber 'I, ,I " \.'1, !, 1,1. , /.,', . FISHERS ISLAND HISTORICAL PROJECT . This history (past and present) of Fishers Island and its people, is now being compiled. It will provide an on-going (I hope) record as LJSll as enjoyment for those who follClI us. The portfolio of in- formation will be available in 8ither ~h8 to~n or the school library. If you wisll to have tile story of your family's arrival; Ishmd experiences; individual or cooperative contributions to this commun- ity; and interesting data about some phase of Island life incorporated into the ~~rtfolio, please call me at 670 or write c/o Box 116. All details can be LJDrked out At that time. Everyone of us has something to contribute. I think you will be amazed at the wealth of material already ~ol18ctnd or in the process of being gathered. Copies of any nr all information can be duplicated, so each of us can keep his Dlun valued !:18l1lornbili.a" (Mrs. R.L.) Dorothy W. Hoadley