The Southold Historical Society no longer wants to keep the L’Hommedieu Barn which now sits on the corner of Main Road and Maple Lane. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

The Southold Historical Society is looking to get rid of a century’s old barn nearly 15 years after investing more than $50,000 in the structure’s restoration.

The historical society acquired the 18^th century L’Hommedieu Barn in 2003 from Southold Town. The Town Board at the time decided it could not continue to maintain the historic building, which once belonged to Ezra L’Hommedieu, a Southold lawyer who became a delegate to the Continental Congress and held several other public service positions, said historical society director Geoffrey Fleming.

When the historical society took stewardship of the barn, it was moved from Horton’s Lane near Town Hall to an empty one-acre lot abutting the south side of the Maple Lane Museum Complex, located on the corner of Main Road and Maple Lane.

For more than a decade the L’Hommedieu Barn has remained on the property housing old farming equipment, surrounded by 12 other historical buildings owned by the historical society.

Now the historical society is considering putting the one-acre lot on the market and selling the L’Hommedieu Barn if the town doesn’t want it back, Mr. Fleming said.

Herb Adler, president of the historical society’s board of directors, said the cost associated with maintaining the buildings have become increasingly difficult to bare, adding the society is “keeping its options open” when it comes to retaining a healthy fund balance.

“We have too many buildings,” Mr. Adler said. “It is getting harder and harder to take care of them. This barn is really not a critical item.”

At a Town Board work session earlier this month, Supervisor Scott Russell said he has reservations about the Town reclaiming ownership of the barn.

“One concern I have if the town takes it back is we’ll have another building to maintain,” he said. “Our expertise is not in the maintenance of historical structures.”

Town Councilwoman Louisa Evans agreed that upkeep and the cost of relocating the building back to town-owned land would not be financially savvy, adding that the barn would probably interest a third-party buyer.

“It is in decent shape someone might want to move it,” she said.

Before deciding on whether to take back the L’Hommedieu Barn, the board requested the historical society provide members with more information about its history and current condition.

As of April 29, the Town had not yet received that information, according to the Supervisor’s office.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Town Supervisor Scott Russell, left, congratulates former councilman Chris Talbot at the Soundview Inn on Election Day 2009. The two will return to the Greenport restaurant May 21 for a nominating convention that will determine who will get the Republican nomination for supervisor this year. (Credit: Tim Kelly file)

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell is facing a challenge for the Republican nomination in this November’s town election.

Former councilman Chris Talbot, who served four years alongside Mr. Russell on the Southold Town Board, has also met with the GOP screening committee and a floor vote at the May 21 nominating convention is expected to determine who will get the nod. 

Southold Town Republican Committee chairman Pete McGreevy confirmed this week that both men have screened, but said no determination has been made.

Mr. Talbot, who did not respond to requests for comment this week, was first elected councilman in 2009 but did not seek re-election at the end of his only four-year term. At his final Town Board meeting, the Cutchogue resident was applauded by his fellow board members, including Mr. Russell, for his dedication to small business, conservation and working toward a more efficient government.

“Chris, I do want to tell you you’re a better man than me,” Mr. Russell said in December 2013. “Chris did exactly what he said he was going to do; run for office, step in, make a difference and then leave. You rarely see in politics someone who sticks to his word. His approach to everything was with his uncompromising values — sometimes painful, but that is besides the point — he is a real man of integrity.”

Mr. Russell, also from Cutchogue, wrote in an email Friday that he has been aware of Mr. Talbot’s desire to replace him on the ballot for several weeks, but added that he still aims to receive the nomination for a fourth term as supervisor.

“I hope that I can count on the full support of the committee, but recognize that Chris has received the support of the committee in the past to run as a councilman,” Mr. Russell wrote. “It certainly makes for an interesting nominating convention.”

The supervisor has experienced personal setbacks in his two most recent terms in office, even taking a brief leave of absence following a domestic disturbance at his home in May 2011. He also dealt with domestic issues in 2014 and was criticized after he fell asleep toward the end of a Town Board meeting last October.

But he has also been quick to point to several successes of the board during his latest term, including purchases of farmland development rights and environmentally fragile parcels, maintaining a strong credit rating, and guiding the town through several major storm events.

Mr. Russell — who won his first two bids for re-election in landslides in 2007 and 2011 — initially defeated Democratic candidate Bill Edwards in 2005 to succeed Josh Horton as town supervisor.

In April, Mr. McGreevy said the committee had “full faith and support in Scott Russell,” but that no official decision on which candidates to back had been made. This week he stopped short of committing to either candidate, only saying that the screening committee will meet again this week and the nominee will not be decided until the convention.

In his only campaign, Mr. Talbot earned a narrow victory as the second-highest vote getter (3,234 votes) behind Democrat Al Krupski (3,695) and ahead of Republican Albie De Kerillis (3,128) and Democrat Jeri Woodhouse (3,033). In his final year in office, he screened with county Republicans for the state Assembly but did not receive the nomination.

It is not unprecedented in recent years for the Southold GOP to pass over an incumbent candidate in a town election. In 2013, the committee did not support the re-election bids of Judge William Price and Trustee Dave Bergen. Mr. Price instead ran a successful campaign as a Democrat and Mr. Bergen was later appointed back to the Board of Trustees to fill a vacant seat.

Town Democrats are expected to nominate town plans examiner Damon Rallis for supervisor at their nominating convention later this month. They have not yet publicly released the names of others seeking spots on the ballot.

Eight town seats, all controlled by Republicans, will be up for grabs in the Nov. 3 election. Judge Rudolph Bruer and Trustee Jim King, both first elected in 1995, have both stated they will not seek re-election.

Mr. Bruer’s open seat is the only justice position on the ballot this year, but there are two trustee seats being decided, with Mr. Bergen seeking re-election for his seat.

On the Town Board, incumbent council members Jill Doherty and Bill Ruland will all seek re-election.

The terms of tax receiver George Sullivan and assessor Rich Caggiano are also up this year and both are seeking re-election.

Mr. Russell is not the only local town supervisor facing a challenge within his own party this year. Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter will square off with Councilwoman Jodi Giglio at their town GOP’s nominating convention later this month.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Southold Town Republican Committee chairman Peter McGreevy, left, with candidates Richard Caggiano, Jill Doherty, Scott Russell, Dave Bergen and Glenn Goldsmith. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

The Southold Town Republican Committee has selected a familiar roster of names to serve as its candidates in this year’s town election.

Of the eight Republican candidates on the ticket, seven have run for office before, including all six incumbents who sought re-election. Town Supervisor Scott Russell, and Town Board members Jill Doherty and Bill Ruland, top the ballot. Mattituck attorney William Goggins is once again the party’s choice for Town Justice. 

“It’s a strong slate,” said GOP chairman Peter McGreevy after the announcement at the Soundview Restaurant in Greenport. “These are good candidates with experience and a good background in Southold Town.”

Despite a challenge from former councilman and fellow Cutchogue resident Chris Talbot, Mr. Russell, who was first elected supervisor in 2005, secured the support of the committee to seek another term.

“I’m now looking forward to letting the voters put their trust in me to elect me to another four years so I can continue to do the job I’ve been doing,” the supervisor said. He pointed to continuing to preserve land initiatives and following a path of conservative fiscal management as goals for his fourth term in office.

Mr. McGreevy said each of the candidates received strong support from the committee during the vote Thursday.

“They’re all familiar with the issues and are in the best position to address the needs of the people of Southold Town,” he said.

Ms. Doherty, who is seeking a second term on the Town Board after previously serving as Trustee, listed finding affordable housing solutions for people of all ages and continuing to update the town code to improve quality of life issues as goals of her campaign.

“I like to hear from the constituents, to get their side on the issues, and then make sure we do things that make it easier for them to live here,” the New Suffolk resident said.

The one first-time nominee on the GOP ballot this year is Trustee candidate Glenn Goldsmith of Mattituck, who will run alongside incumbent Dave Bergen of Cutchogue. The spot opened up after 20-year Trustee Jim King announced he would not seek re-election this year.

A 38-year-old Southold native, who works for his family business, Goldsmith’s Boat Shop, and at Sea Tow, Mr. Goldmsith said he’s familiar with the town’s waterways and wants to make sure his children are able to enjoy it the same way he always has.

“I grew up on these waters and I’ve seen the changes take place,” he said. “We need to make sure we protect it for the future.”

Mr. Goggins, who lost to longtime incumbent William Price in the 2013 Justice race, is the only other non-incumbent on the GOP ticket. He will run in place of retiring Judge Rudolph Bruer.  Mr. Goggins was not in attendance at the convention Thursday as he was attending his son’s Officers Commissioning Ceremony in the United States Marine Corps.

After winning a special election for Town Assessor in 2013, Rich Caggiano of Southold received the nomination for his first full term.

“I really like the job,” he said. “I like the staff and I enjoy working with the people. When you’re able to help people, they appreciate it, and that’s what I like most about it.”

Tax Receiver George Sullivan, who is recovering at home from an illness that had him hospitalized earlier this year, was also selected to run for re-election. The Southold resident was unable to attend Thursday’s convention.

The Southold Town Democratic Committee will choose its slate Tuesday evening.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Southold Town residents can expect the property tax refund checks they receive from New York State for the next three years to be a little larger than the ones they got in 2014. 

The program, known as the New York State Property Tax Freeze Credit, led to the issuance of small checks last year to residents of school districts that did not pierce the property tax cap.

This year it has been expanded to include local municipalities that complied with the property tax cap. To be eligible in 2016, taxing districts will have to submit an efficiency plan showing a strategy to trim spending by 1 percent next year. For Southold Town, that means $323,000 in proposed cuts, according to Supervisor Scott Russell.

Southold has until June 1 to submit its 2016 efficiency plan for approval by the New York State Division of Budget, according to comptroller John Cushman, who added that the plan does not have to be implemented.

The checks are issued in the fall of each year.

Mr. Russell said all cuts need to be quantifiable, which has made for a challenging process. He said, however, that he believes the town will propose a large enough cut that it is likely to receive approval from the state.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Bunker fish on Nassau Point Sunday morning. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Bunker fish lined the bay shores of Southold Town Sunday morning, days after the latest massive fish kill reports in Riverhead and Southampton towns. 

Town officials and a local biologist investigating recent die-offs said they weren’t certain if the dead fish made their way out from Riverhead or if it points to a more localized issue in Southold Town.

Fish could be counted by the dozens on beaches at the end of Camp Mineola and Marratooka roads in Mattituck and at New Suffolk Beach Sunday. Hundreds of fish could be seen lining the shoreline of Nassau Point in Cutchogue.

• How a fish kill unfolds: Scroll down to see

A dead bunker fish floating near the shoreline on Nassau Point Sunday morning. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Southold Town Trustee Dave Bergen said he had received reports of dead bunker inside James Creek in Mattituck, but that they had floated away by Sunday morning. He said he did find some fish kill nearby around Strong’s Marina and was also told there were dead fish in West Creek.

“Most of the fish were badly decomposed so it was hard to tell anything, but my best guess is that they died from lack of oxygen,” he said. “There could be other contributing factors which impact this, which can only be determined with scientific testing.”

On Saturday, Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter called the fish die-off in the Peconic Estuary a “critical situation.”

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Sunday that there had not yet been serious enough reports in his town but officials are “in the process of lining up private contractors to be available in case we have an event in Southold and need to act quickly.”

Fish lined the shore as far as the eye could see on the western side of Nassau Point Sunday, but inspections of beaches in Peconic and Southold did not turn up bunker. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Christopher Gobler, a biologist at Stony Brook University, said he hasn’t monitored the situation in Southold and didn’t want to speculate where in the bay fish washing to shore there might have died. He blamed the recent die-offs in neighboring towns on low oxygen levels in nearby waters caused by a recent algae bloom.

Mr. Gobler said oxygen levels in the Peconic Estuaries began dropping Wednesday night as the algae became more dense. By Friday, readings from the County Road 105 bridge showed zero oxygen in the water for the fish to breathe.

He said that while some have been quick to blame the incidents on natural circumstances, that’s only partly true.

“There are some parts of it that are natural and other parts that are not natural,” he said, adding that testing in the middle of last week showed a spike in nitrogen levels in parts of the Peconic Estuary. Shallow creeks and tributaries of the Peconic River are especially vulnerable to algae blooms because the nitrogen gets concentrated in one area, he said.

The kills come weeks after a separate massive die-off of diamondback terrapin turtles, which has also been linked to toxic shellfish likely caused by the algae — also known as red or brown tide.

PSEG construction on Shelter Island. (Credit: Shelter Island Reporter, file)

In a unanimous vote, the Shelter Island Town Board passed legislation Friday afternoon banning electrical substations on the island. 

This now places the responsibility on the power company, PSEG, to construct an underwater cable from the North Fork — an effort that failed spectacularly two years ago — to the Island that will ensure reliable backup electricity. 

Only three days after Shelter Island residents packed the Town Hall meeting room to hear PSEG’s detailed plan for a facility at the old Highway Barn site on South Ferry Road, the board passed a resolution banning all substations since, the legislation states, “a substation is industrial in nature and is not compatible with the rural, residential nature of Shelter Island.”

The resolution went on to recommend the building of an “underwater cable as a good solution to the electric reliability issues.”

The legislation is unequivocal about rejecting an effort to build a substation anywhere on the Island. The community roundly opposed the plan for the South Ferry Road site when it was proposed on three occasions by PSEG. Another site at town-owned property near New York Avenue and West Neck Road south of Ice Pond was suggested by the power company but never pursued, the same as building a substation at the Recycling Center.

Southold Supervisor Scott Russell responded forcefully to the idea that another attempt be made to link Shelter Island to a substation on the North Fork. “It’s never going to happen,” Mr. Russell said.

He had met with PSEG officials some time ago and delivered that message and said Monday that “we’re sticking to our guns here.” His administration will do whatever is necessary to block a cable from the Crescent Beach area under the bay to a Southold substation, he added.

“We gave them an opportunity,” the supervisor said, referring to the initial attempt by Long Island Power Authority and its subcontractor, Bortech, to drill for a cable.

Complaints from Southold residents about noise, dirt and other problems during Bortech’s failed attempt in the summer of 2013 won’t be repeated, Mr. Russell said. “Our battle is not with PSEG,” he added. “It’s with Shelter Island.”

Asked for comment, Jeffrey Weir, a spokesman for PSEG, said in a statement: “We are committed to providing Shelter Island with the safe, reliable and resilient power that it absolutely needs and we are examining all of our options.”

After the unanimous vote, Councilman Paul Shepherd said he had voted for the ban with “reservations.” Mr. Shepherd said he was “disturbed by the conclusion in that resolution that somehow a substation was not the best solution for Shelter Island, at least from a technical point of view.”

Mr. Shepherd believes a substation “still remains the best thing for us,” but finding a place for one is a challenge.

Nevertheless, he voted with his colleagues to pass the resolution.

a.clancy@sireporter.com

More than 30 people spoke at a public hearing on Southold Town’s short-term rental law Tuesday night.

For months the town has been in the process of legislating short-term rentals, which have been causing concern amid a growing number of websites such as Airbnb.com that allow homeowners to lease their houses for as little as one or two nights.

As proposed, Southold town’s law would limit rentals in residentially zoned properties to a seven-night minimum.

No action was taken following the 2 1/2 hour hearing.

Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the Town Board will now weigh the public comments and decide if any changes to the law are necessary. If any significant changes are made, then another hearing would need to be scheduled before a vote is held.

If approved, the law would not go into effect for 60 days.

The Southold Town Board is sending its short-term rental law back to the town’s code committee.

Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Tuesday that the wide range of opinions and suggestions offered by the more than 30 speakers at a 2 1/2 hour hearing June 2 has forced the town to take another look at the bill.

“We’ve heard from a lot of people and the Town Board has discussed it and we’ve decided to send it back to committee,” Mr. Russell said at the start of Tuesday’s meeting. The board later unanimously approved a motion to send the local law back to the town code committee.

The proposed town code amendment would have limited rentals in residentially zoned properties to a seven-night minimum if approved.

Mr. Russell said after the meeting he will ask the code committee, of which he is a member, to consider extending that length of time to 14 nights.

For months the town has been in the process of legislating short-term rentals, which have been causing concern amid a growing number of websites such as Airbnb.com that allow homeowners to lease their houses for as little as one or two nights.

The reluctance to approve the amendment Tuesday means a law will likely not be on the books this fall. Once the town’s code committee makes its revisions, another hearing will need to be held. Once the resolution is finally approved, the law will not go into effect for another 60 days.

Peconic resident Peter Terranova thanked the Town Board for sending the amendment back to the code committee.

“Had the local law been passed tonight I would have said that since home rentals of less than 30 days is considered a business by Suffolk County the town … would be sending a signal that residential zones are now open for business,” he said.

Anne Murray of East Marion seconded Mr. Terranova’s sentiment.

“We really need to have permits for this,” she said. “There’s nothing as this law is written that would prevent a hedge fund from buying up homes and starting a rental business.”

Mr. Russell said not all the points made during the public hearing can be considered when the law is kicked back to the code committee. He pointed to recommendations that the town create a rental registry and conducting an economic analysis as being infeasible.

“The data doesn’t exist,” he said.

The issue will be discussed at the town’s next code committee, Mr. Russell said. The date of that meeting has not yet been set.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Lone star ticks at different stages of their life cycle, with recently hatched larvae at right. (Credit: Centers for Disease Control)

Find an area with a deer problem, and you’ll probably also find a tick problem. That holds especially true for the North Fork.

But how can Southold Town deal with tick-borne illnesses when managing the deer population has proven to be difficult and complicated?

Finding that answer is the goal of a new exploratory town tick committee now in the works.

This week, town officials started efforts to recruit qualified individuals for the committee, said Supervisor Scott Russell.

“What we’re proposing is almost like a working group,” he said. “We’re asking the committee to evaluate anything that has been implemented with regard to tick control.”

Suffolk County has its own countywide Tick Control Advisory Committee, but now Southold officials are hoping to form a more localized group.

In particular, Southold is so narrow and dense that it is difficult to meet certain tick-management regulations.

Mr. Russell said he recognizes “frustration” over the town’s previous attempts to control the local deer population — especially last year’s controversial deer cull.

“The more deer you have, the more ticks you have and the more tick-borne illness,” he said. “But obviously, since the deer issue is going to take some time … tick management is something we can start focusing on right away.”

Five to seven volunteers will comprise the anti-tick team, and the town wants individuals with specific qualifications, including a wildlife biologist and a public health expert.Members of the tick committee would serve on a set four-month timeframe, Mr. Russell said.

Mr. Russell hopes to have the team up and running in four to six weeks. The town would only pay for travel reimbursement for the committee members.

John Rasweiler, a Cutchogue resident and member of Suffolk County’s tick committee, said the area’s tick population is a major concern that must be addressed.

“I would call it a full-fledged public health crisis or emergency,” he said.

Blacklegged and lone-star ticks, which live on the bodies of the North Fork’s deer, can carry Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and other illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

These ticks are particularly dangerous because they are most likely to transmit disease in their nymph stage — just before they become adults. A ticks nymph can be as small as a poppy seed, according to the CDC’s website.

Mr. Rasweiler described several large-scale methods for addressing the tick explosion on the East End, including deer culls through hunting, spraying a tick-killing pesticide called permethrin and the “4-poster system” now being used on Shelter Island.

That system uses bins of corn to attract deer. While the deer feed, their necks and ears rub against paint rollers doused with permethrin, killing any ticks that may be attached.

Mr. Rasweiler, however, was unconvinced that 4-poster devices are the solution to Southold’s tick problems.

“These are very clever devices, and a number of years ago, I was one of the people that advocated for us to use them,” he said. “But then I began to educate myself on them, and there are a number of seriously problems with them.”

For one, each device can cost about $5,000 per year, he said. And since the devices attract so many deer, Mr. Rasweiler said the vegetation in the area could be completely stripped by grazing animals.

Mr. Russell said the committee would be careful to consider potential costs of any potential tick-management system, including 4-poster devices like those on Shelter Island.

“What would it cost to implement a similar project throughout Southold town?”  he said. “We need to evaluate every option not just on effectiveness, but also on whether we can afford it.”

But Mr. Rasweiler stressed that any efforts to lower tick infestation must go hand-in-hand with plan to deal with the deer population.

“Unless you treat 90 percent of the deer, you’re probably wasting your time and money,” he said.

clisinski@timesreview.com

With news late last month that the New York State Legislature extended the 2-percent property tax cap another four years, we took a look back at the property tax warrants — the amount of property taxes collected by the town each year, including school, town, county and other taxes — in the two North Fork towns to see if taxes had increased at a lesser rate since the law was enacted.

We found that not only had the tax warrant increased at a slower pace in Southold and Riverhead towns since 2012, it did so at a significant rate.

Below is the percentage by which the tax warrant increased overall in each town in the four years before the law was enacted and in the four years since:

Bu not everyone is in support of the tax cap extension.

Local school officials say having to manage their budgets within the constraints of the property tax cap has caused problems within their districts.

And the rate to which property tax increases have declined since the cap was enacted has not been as steep with most local school districts as it has other municipalities.

In fact, one district, Greenport, has seen more of an increase in its tax levy these past four years than it did in the four years prior.

Below is the percentage by which the tax levy has increased overall in each district in the four years before the law was enacted and in the four years since:

A Sierra Research Institute poll released in May reported that 73 percent of the 695 registered voters polled agreed that the tax cap accomplished what was intended in that property taxpayers are not seeing large annual increases.

The survey also found that 43 percent favored keeping the tax cap as it is, 36 percent favored keeping it but with changes to give school districts and local governments more flexibility to increase property taxes, and only 17 percent favored eliminating it.

Meanwhile a research and data report from the Empire Center for Public Policy, which describes itself as “an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in Albany, New York,”  found that since the tax cap went into effect, school tax levies have risen by an average of just 2.2 percent annually—the lowest in any four-year period since 1982.

The tax cap was first enacted in June of 2011 and limits the percentage a tax levy can rise to two percent or the cost of living, whichever is less.

It applies to all school districts and local governments, including counties, towns, villages and special districts, such as fire districts.

The tax cap also includes some exemptions, such as school capital projects, pension increases over two percent and civil “tort” awards against a municipality.

tgannon@timesreview.com

Members of the Southold Town code committee discuss a new minimum stay for short-term renters at its meeting Wednesday. (Credit: Paul Squire)

Southold Town residents wanting to rent out their homes to vacationers may soon have to book longer stays than expected to stay legal.

The Southold Town Board will now contemplate a short-term rental law that sets 14 nights as the minimum stay after its code committee altered the law’s draft during a Wednesday meeting.

The law had originally set the minimum stay at seven nights.

At the committee meeting, Town Board member Robert Ghosio said the one-week minimum  “doesn’t really accomplish a whole lot.

“It gives these people the opportunity to have weekend rentals every single week,” he said. “If we stay with seven nights, I don’t think [the law] has any bite.”

The proposed law applies only to residential homes being rented out— most of which are listed on home-sharing websites such as Airbnb and Home Away — and not to accessory apartments, hotels or beds-and-breakfasts. Those uses have their own regulations under the town code.

Fines for violators could range from $1,500 to $8,000, said assistant town attorney Stephen Kiely. If passed later this year, the law could go into effect around Thanksgiving.

For months, the Town Board has been debating how to handle short-term rentals, a hot-button issue in cities across the country and in Southold Town specifically. In June, more than dozens of residents crowded into Town Hall during a public hearing on the proposed law to share their varying opinions to the board.

Some feared a steady stream of changing renters will disrupt the character of local neighborhoods, while others argued such rentals are a key part of the area’s tourist economy.

“This thing [short-term renting] has hit like a tsunami and it’s going to keep rolling through,” said Southold resident Susan Larese during Wednesday’s meeting. “People are treating these homes as businesses, and it really is affecting the nature and the quality of our lives.”

Mr. Kiely said 65 percent of the comments he received from the public are in favor of a two-week minimum.

Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the town is trying to “balance out the economic benefits of these short-term rentals and at the same time address the community’s concerns.”

The town may choose to limit transient rentals to business districts, Mr. Kiely said.

“That’s where they belong, in those districts,” he said, “but if there’s a street with five houses in an [residential] district and they want to put one of these in, it’s not appropriate.”

The committee also discussed how to identify properties that are in violation of the proposed rules. Under the law, any homes listed on sites like Airbnb would be presumed to be short-term rentals. That provision of the code would allow the town to be “proactive” in its enforcement, Mr. Kiely said.

But that will have to wait. The town has only one code enforcement officer currently employed, though the Town Board will discuss adding a part-time officer at Tuesday’s meeting.

As a result, the law will be “complaint-driven at the outset, so the problem houses will be the ones caught up,” Mr. Kiely said.

The Town Board will discuss the amended law at its work session on Tuesday. 

psquire@timesreview.com

The three Democratic candidates running for Southold Town Board issued a joint statement Wednesday night calling on the town to abandon its plans for a 14-night minimum stay requirement on short-term rentals, a law the candidates blasted as “unenforceable” and harmful to the local economy. 

Town supervisor candidate Damon Rallis and Town Board hopefuls Albie De Kerillis and Debbie O’Kane said the town should instead consider a short-term rental permit process with provisions for safety inspections, occupancy limits and payment of county taxes.

“For more than a year, the Southold Town Board has discussed legislation aimed at addressing short term rentals within the Town of Southold,” the statement reads. “Through various drafts and proposals, the Town Board has fallen short of addressing the true needs of our community. It is our opinion that the current draft proposal is not only unenforceable, but can have a negative impact on our local economy and the community at large.”

Southold Town’s original draft law called for a seven-night minimum stay requirement, but it was expanded to 14 nights following a public hearing in June. A hearing on the new proposal was held Tuesday night, with many short-term landlords and members of the community against the law turning up to voice their concerns during the nearly four-hour meeting.

The Town Board is likely to vote on the proposed law at its Aug. 25 meeting; it would not go into effect for another 90 days.

In their statement, the Democratic candidates said their own proposal would establish a registry for short-term rentals and place a limit on the number of permits issued. They added that the revenue generated from a short-term rental permit process could also be used to hire additional code enforcement staff or be placed into a dedicated fund for affordable housing initiatives.

“We believe that this is the type of proactive approach that town government should be taking when addressing the unique issues we face here in Southold Town,” the statement reads.

Town Supervisor Scott Russell defended the draft legislation, saying the process to create it had been lengthy and it was carefully considered.

“This has not been an easy issue for the Town Board,” Mr. Russell said. “Any action we might take to address this issue will have broad implications … We have carefully considered the long-term impact these commercial operations have on residential communities, good and bad,” he added.

In an email Thursday, Mr. Russell criticized the Democratic candidates for not voicing their concerns during the two short-term rental public hearings, and he urged the three candidates to attend the Aug. 25 meeting when the vote is expected to take place.

“We have had countless code committee meetings and two public hearings. Our opponents have yet to participate in any of those discussions,” Mr. Russell wrote.  “They now offer a position that is almost a word-for-word position already espoused by the attorney hired to represent owners of short-term rentals.”

Last month, the town’s code committee discussed how to identify properties that are in violation of the proposed rules. Under the law, any homes listed on sites like Airbnb.com would be presumed to be short-term rentals. That provision of the code would allow the town to be “proactive” in its enforcement, assistant town attorney Stephen Kiely said last month.  Fines for violators could range from $1,500 to $8,000, Mr. Kiely added.

The town has only one code enforcement officer currently employed, though the Town Board has discussed adding a second part-time code enforcement officer.

Asked to elaborate on why he believes the Town Board’s short-term rental plan is unenforceable, Mr. Rallis told The Suffolk Times the proposal relies too heavily on online evidence.

“It would seem that we will have code enforcement staff monitoring websites to make sure that owners are only offering their properties for the minimum stay,” he wrote in an email. “If there is online evidence that they are offering their property for a shorter length of time, we would prosecute them. So, we simply rely on online evidence? I don’t think that really solves any problems and there are so many ways to get around the minimum.

“The current [proposal] has no real enforcement arm,” Mr. Rallis added.

Mr. Russell called his opponent’s position a “cynical view.” He also did not agree with the assertion by Mr. Rallis and his running mates that their proposal is a more practical solution to the issue of short-term rentals.

“How would such a code, which requires regular verification of conditions such as payment of taxes, occupancy limits, annual inspections and renewals be any more enforceable than a code which simply no longer permits commercial uses being conducted in residential zones?” Mr. Russell asked. “Why would it be any more honored than the current draft code?”

Caption: Southold Town Democratic Committee candidates (from left) Debbie O’Kane, Damon Rallis and Albie De Kerillis. (Grant Parpan file photo.)

gparpan@timesreview.com

The Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library held a gala Saturday night to celebrate 100 years of service to the community. 

All three floors of the building were transformed into an elegant candlelit space with displays highlighting the history of the library and its place in the community.

Attendees enjoyed sumptuous foods, wines and live music while viewing the works of several local artists.

On hand to present proclamations and offer congratulations were State Senator Ken LaValle, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, Vanessa Pino Lockel from Governor Cuomo’s office and Southold Town supervisor Scott Russell. Dennis Noncarrow spoke on behalf of Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, who was unable to attend.

Library director Jennifer Fowler was thrilled to share the news that a letter from President Obama had arrived by special delivery just in time for the party.

Legislator Al Krupski reminisced about spending long and enjoyable hours at the library as a child.  

“This library has always been important to my family,” he said.

And Dennis Noncarrow summed it all up by saying, “This is some successful library!”

The centennial celebration time capsule display. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Sharon Carita, Supervisor of Technical Services, left, and Diane Pautke, Circulation staff member. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The anniversary cake. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Raffle prizes donated by dozens of local businesses. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Senator Ken LaValle with artist Ellen Wiener. Her artwork can be seen in the background. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Senator LaValle with county legislator Al Krupski. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Library director Jennifer Fowler shows off a letter from President Obama which arrived by special delivery. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Al Krupski presents Jennifer Fowler with a proclamation. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The crowd watches the presentations. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Vanessa Pino Lockel, Suffolk County Representative to Governor Cuomo, presents a proclamation sent by the governor. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell with Jennifer Fowler. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Dennis Noncarrow presents a proclamation on behalf of Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, who could not attend. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The letter from President Obama. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Mary Bartolotta and Andrew Janes perform upstairs. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

See performs downstairs. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

From left: Board member Paula Hepner, librarian Dawn Manwaring, and Alix Ninfo, vice president of the Board of Trustees. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The Suffolk Times will host a pair of public debates Thursday, Oct. 15, featuring candidates for Southold Town supervisor and Town Board.

The two-hour event will be held at 7 p.m. at Peconic Landing in Greenport. Executive editor Grant Parpan and editor Joseph Pinciaro will serve as co-moderators.

Questions will be prepared by newspaper staff and readers are encouraged to suggest topics in advance of the event by emailing gparpan@timesreview.com. Each candidate will be afforded time to respond to every question and to each other.

The first hour of the event will feature candidates for Town Board, including incumbent Republicans Jill Doherty and Bill Ruland, along with Democratic challengers Albie de Kerillis and Debbie O’Kane. In the second hour, Republican Town Supervisor Scott Russell and Democratic challenger Damon Rallis will field questions from the moderators.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

[Related: Southold Republicans announce their election slate]

[Related: Southold Democrats announce their election slate]

Nearly 21 acres in Orient will be protected from development in perpetuity after the Peconic Land Trust recently partnered with Southold Town to purchase the land — and the development rights that go with it — from a longtime farming family. 

Farmland, woods and wetlands south of Main Road were all bought from Elbert and Harriet Edwards for $1.09 million in the middle of August, with Southold chipping in $700,000 from its Community Preservation Fund to help cover the cost.

The land, located just west of Latham Sand & Gravel, abuts another nine acres owned by Peconic Land Trust, and is close to another 600 contiguous acres that are also protected through state and county agreements.

“This was a very obvious addition to a very impressive collective between everybody — the state, the county, the town — and of course we own the property next door,” said land trust vice president Tim Caulfield. “So this is part of a really good assemblage in Orient.”

Since its inception in 1983, the Peconic Land Trust has partnered with municipalities and landowners to protect more than 11,000 acres of land. The CPF was established in the late 1990s as a tax on real estate transactions in the five East End towns. As of late, using CPF dollars for water quality projects has been considered, though that would need voter approval.

By partnering with towns and other levels of government — and managing them and leasing the land to farmers and other private groups — the land trust frees up CPF dollars the town can then spend on other projects.

“This property represents the heart of what the CPF is intended for — to preserve the agricultural and natural resources of our town,” said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. “The town will continue to work with families, communities and organizations like the Peconic Land Trust to invest in our agricultural land through the CPF for the benefit of the people of our town and future generations.”

As more land becomes preserved, Mr. Caulfield said, keeping it actively used as farmland has remained a challenge. As a result, the group’s mission over the past eight to 10 years has shifted to not only preserving land, but preserving farmers.

The acreage purchased in Orient last month has been leased by an active farmer and will continue to be leased to him.

The $1.09 million price tag came with an agreement with the sellers that includes a three-year payment for the land. The land trust has since started a capital campaign to raise $450,000, which will cover closing and acquisitions costs, Mr. Caulfield said. He said $75,000 has already been raised.

Photo Caption: Peconic Land Trust partnered with Southold Town to purchase this land in Orient for $1.09 million. (Credit: Peconic Land Trust)

jpinciaro@timesreview.com

“Sustainability” is more than a tagline or a campaign slogan for the Democratic candidates this fall. It’s going to be part of their spot on the ballot.

Hundreds of signatures have backed the creation of a new independent nominating petition, “Sustainable Southold,” which in some cases will add an extra line on the ballot for the candidates.

“The idea here is to give people the option to vote not necessarily for the party, but to vote for the platform and in my opinion, vote for the people,” said Damon Rallis, the Democratic candidate for supervisor.

Mr. Rallis will be facing off against incumbent Scott Russell, who is running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines. Along with Mr. Russell, Councilman Bill Ruland and Councilwoman Jill Doherty are seeking re-election on the same lines.

Democratic candidates Debbie O’Kane and Albie de Kerillis will face off against the incumbent Republicans.

According to the Board of Elections, candidates will run on the Sustainable Southold line only if they have the backing of a single major party. If they are backed by two parties, there will only be a Sustainable Southold indicia, or emblem, on the ballot next to one of the major parties that supports the candidate.

That means only the Democratic candidates for Trustee — Nick Krupski and Matthew Kappell — will technically run on a Sustainable Southold line. The rest of the candidates, including Mr. Rallis, have the backing of at least two other major parties.

Mr. Rallis pointed to the birth and domination of the short-lived United Southold party as a reason for filing the petition.

United Southold was formed during the 1993 election season and included a cross-section of candidates from the two major parties.

The Republican and Democratic parties responded at the time by cross-endorsing candidates of their own parties to keep US out of office. But the effort failed as Tom Wickham led a sweep of the ticket that year; every US candidate who ran, won. The party took the supervisor’s seat, two town board seats, the town justice post and three trustee seats.

Mr. Rallis, however, recognized the largest difference between the two efforts: while US has candidates from both sides of the aisle, Sustainable Southold is comprised solely of Democrats.

Mr. Rallis said he’s had enough of rubber stamp endorsements by the Conservative and Independence Parties for Republican candidates as of late. Since Democrat Josh Horton won his 2003 term as supervisor in town, only one Democratic candidate for town council or supervisor has earned the nomination of either the Conservative Party or the Independence Party. Democrat Bob Maguin earned the Independence Party nod in 2009 — a line on which he earned 105 votes — and still only came away with 24 percent of the overall vote.

“Just like it did back in ’93, this shines a light on, not one-party rule, but one-group rule,” said Mr. Rallis.

In Southold, 387 signatures were required for an independent nominating petition this year. According to Mr. Rallis, the group rallied close to 650 signatures in total.

As for the message — sustainability — the candidates are pointing to environmental and affordable housing concerns as some of the biggest issues facing Southold.

In a prepared statement, Ms. O’Kane pointed to “overdevelopment, congested roads, degradation of our bays, creeks and drinking water, a lack of affordable housing, and the need for greater job opportunities” as major problems Southold Town must deal with.

“We found overwhelming support from town residents for this issue-based ballot line,” she said.

jpinciaro@timesreview.com

The candidates for Southold Town supervisor will be the guests of an open forum hosted by New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund on Monday evening to discuss environmental issues facing the East End. 

Republican Town Supervisor Scott Russell and Democratic challenger Damon Rallis are scheduled to discuss the issues at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Cutchogue from 6 to 8 p.m. Topics will include nitrogen overload, wastewater treatment, coastal resiliency, natural resource protection and modernizing the energy grid.

Members from the Conservation Fund and the North Fork Environmental Council, including president Bill Toedter, will also be present at the forum.

The Conservation Fund focuses on educating New Yorkers about environmental issues and the environmental decision making processes at the local, regional, state and federal government levels.

Southold Town, Suffolk County and environmentalists have a new ally in their fight to preserve Plum Island: New York State.

Elected officials from Southold Town and Suffolk County joined several advocacy groups Monday to urge a New York State Assembly committee to preserve Plum Island, which the federal government owns and plans to sell.

“I think it is critical that we join forces and fight this ill-advised sale of the island,” said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. “We need to do everything we can to keep it the way it is.”

It seems the committee agreed.

Based on the concerns raised at Monday’s public hearing before the state assembly’s Standing Committee of Environmental Conservation, state officials will draft a “battle plan,” in the words of State Senator Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), for how they can fight to preserve the area as open space and avoid damaging its unique, diverse ecology.

Once they have that plan, state lawmakers will begin to put pressure on the federal government to meet local’s wishes.

“Currently the property could be sold to a private entity, like Donald Trump to build a golf course,” said Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo who represents the North Fork.“We need to force them to come up with some sort of conservation plan.”

Mr. Russell, along with Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor and former Legislator Ed Romaine opened the roughly five-hour hearing as roughly 40 people watched from the audience.

Representatives from several non-governmental groups, including the Preserve Plum Island Coalition and the North Fork Environmental Council, also spoke at Monday’s meeting, also discussed how to keep Plum Island as open space.

The 840-acre island off Orient Point now houses a Department of Homeland Security animal-disease research center. That facility employs about 400 people, half of whom are Long Island residents, according to Mr. Palumbo.

But in 2008, a federal act authorized the construction of a new National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. Since that will replace the Plum Island center, the government is required by the law to sell Plum Island in the next five to seven years.

Opponents are concerned the island could be developed, thereby destroying the land’s natural habitats. Currently, Plum Island is home to undisturbed wetlands and hundreds of species, including piping plovers, which are endangered in the state.

“There will never be another Plum Island, and there will never be other opportunities to simultaneously protect this remarkable national treasure at the confluence of two national estuaries while developing an innovative opportunity to promote cutting-edge research,” said Robert DeLuca, president of Group for the East End.

Supporters of conservation brought up strategies to stop the sale of the island, including lobbying Congress to revoke the act putting Plum Island up for sale, designating the island as property for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, selling it to New York State or a non-profit group that will focus on preservation, or — if necessary — filing a lawsuit against the government.

“This is the number one biological hotspot for the entire state of New York,” said Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), who is the chairman of the committee. “This has to be a priority.”

As he spoke, someone in the audience applauded.

Efforts are also underway in the federal government to reverse course on a Plum Island sale. U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) introduced a bill in April to reverse the 2008 law that mandated the sale of Plum Island.

On Monday, a legislative assistant Kevin Dowling spoke on Mr. Zeldin’s behalf to support the island’s conservation.

“The congressman stands firm for local control,” he said. “The Town of Southold, which has jurisdiction over this island, has made it clear: no private development should be permitted on the island, sale or no sale.”

In 2013, Southold Town voted to set its own zoning regulations on the island in an attempt to push for preservation in light of the pending federal sale.

During Monday’s hearing, Mr. Russell suggested forming a partnership with Long Island universities to establish a new research center on Plum Island should the government facility close.

“Southold very much wants to see it stay as a research facility,” Mr. Russell said during his testimony. “It’s a research facility of international importance.”

Mr. Palumbo said the state would try to block the sale to the wrong owner.

“The town can zone it all they want,” he said.“We want to try to block the sale completely.”

Comments will be accepted until next week via email and snail mail for those who could not attend Monday’s hearing.

“I think it’s a start,” Mr. Palumbo said of the committee’s decision.“I think now we’ve got bipartisan support and this is something we can all join hands about … and get a comprehensive plan together so if it is sold, it’s not a detriment to the environment.”

“If we can’t stop it, we will have a Plan B,” he said.

clisinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: From left to right: Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward Romaine address a state assembly committee about preserving Plum Island.

Wastewater treatment, water quality and natural resource protection were among the issues discussed by the candidates for Southold Town supervisor at an environmental forum at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Cutchogue Monday night.

Hosted by the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, the forum was moderated by North Fork Environmental Council president Bill Toedter. Republican Town Supervisor Scott Russell and Democratic challenger Damon Rallis took turns answering questions, with only one candidate allowed in the room at a time.

“We think it’s very important to compare apples to apples about what people are saying about these issues and for you to come away with your own conclusions,” Mr. Toedter told the crowd of about 50 people.

Joshua Klainberg, senior vice president of NYLCV, said his group believes “candidates should have the freedom and flexibility to talk about in longer form the issues that they’re concerned about the most.”

“It’s a forum, not a debate,” he said. “There are a lot of debates that happen out there and as watchers of debates style trumps substance and you kind of lose what the issues are all about.”

Prior to Monday’s forum, each candidate was given a list of about 10 questions, which Mr. Toedter said was created through a collective effort among community groups. Of those questions, several were chosen. In addition, audience questions were submitted in writing just prior to the forum and there was also an opportunity for residents to ask questions from the floor.

This is what each candidate had to say:

On septic, fertilizer and pesticide issues and ways to improve water quality:
Damon Rallis: We need to work with our regional partners throughout the county, particularly on the East End … We have major development projects in front of us — The Heritage is one right now. If that project has to move forward, it’s possible, in fact truth, that the town can insist that they put in some sort of treatment system on site to handle their own wastewater … We can’t keep saying: ‘This is the county’s problem.’ We have to do it here ourselves … Fertilizers: All of these things tie together. We need to do more to educate the public, whether we’re talking about septic systems, the use of fertilizers, native plants. We need to educate the public about what they can do to preserve our water quality … We could also be doing more to look for subsidies, incentives, so the individual homeowner can afford to put in one of these alternate treatment systems.
Scott Russell: I’ve talked to the planning director about creating a water resource management committee … With regard to pesticides and fertilizers, there’s a program run through Cornell Cooperative Extension called Agriculture Environment Management … They come in and meet with the farmers to discuss best management practices. Why is it beneficial to the farmer? Because he can reduce cost by utilizing fertilizer at an optimum time and doesn’t have to use so much … By working with these groups and developing a management plan with the farmers, I think it could lead to a great deal of success in the town. One of the problems with this program is it may be a little underfunded and I think the East End towns and the county should create a consortium.

On helping to increase children’s and young adults’ awareness about protecting the environment and showing them that professional opportunities exist locally:
Rallis: We don’t do enough in Southold Town for our youth. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about education on the environment, prevention education for drugs and alcohol, or just providing them something to do so that they don’t sort of go in the wrong direction … We recently talked about making a zone change from residential to commercial. I sort of wondered why we would consider that when we have so many empty commercial properties. Maybe we could offer some incentives to bring some industry back here.
Russell: Shortly after I became supervisor, I reconvened the town’s youth bureau. We’ve had a great working relationship with the schools and gotten students involved with several environmental initiatives. One group developed a recycling brochure. Another was the creation of the environmental club at Greenport High School … Phillip Beltz is retiring over the next few weeks … He’s taken on the youth bureau and his program has grown. My concern with his retirement, the program might languish, or frankly, it might die … What I’d like to do in the budget I’m proposing Wednesday is to call for a part-time youth bureau director.

On coastal issues and protecting marine ecosystems:
Rallis: In Southold, we’ve got to stop believing we’re this municipality that’s inside a bubble and we can address all of our problems on our own … We need to do more to prevent further development in coastal erosion hazardous areas. We’ve talked about the illegal clearing of wetlands. The bottom line is code enforcement, code enforcement, code enforcement. People will continue to do bad things if you do not stop them.
Russell: Our natural resource chapter of our Comprehensive Master Plan calls for the creation of a coastal resilience management plan … Most of the houses built are pre-existing nonconforming structures. They were built long before zoning was in place … Maybe the fact that the front porch is set back only 30 feet from the bulkhead isn’t as important as where that septic system is or updated to a new sanitary system … We need to change the code. Right now, we define knockdowns as 75 percent or more structure … If you’re going to reconstruct a structure that’s on the same footprint and same height, we should probably recognize it provided that you install a new sanitary system and provided you install it well outside that area — set it back as far as you can … You can reduce your buffers with smart vegetation and reduce the runoff into the bay.

On permitting peaker plant construction:
Rallis: To be honest, I would really have to investigate it more before I took a stand on it.
Russell: I supported a proposal for a peaker plant down at the landfill. They don’t run all of the time … They aren’t producing the amount of carbon a traditional facility would. They’re nominally used only at critical times, but we all have to remember it’s $50 million worth of real property going on down there. I don’t think it’s going to happen at this point. PSEG has pulled back on the construction of new facilities, but it’s $50 million. I don’t have a lot of ways of growing the tax base. One of the ways I can do that is encouraging investment … Fifteen acres of the landfill will be leased up and covered with a photovoltaic array of about 5 acres per megawatt.

On minimizing invasive species and educating the public and town employees about active management practices:
Rallis: Education is key … Similar to wastewater treatment on major development projects, I think we could do more. We have a right as a municipality to ensure that these folks are using native species. We don’t need green lawns everywhere. One of the most detrimental invasive species is our deer population … We have to make sure we’re listening to the experts, whether it’s the deer management committee, Audubon Society, Defend H20.
Russell: Phragmites is very difficult to remove and generally requires hand digging. Southold has a no spray policy — we don’t allow pesticides on town lands … We do need to step up management.

On how the town’s land preservation committee is doing:
Rallis: They are doing a great job preserving farmland and open space, but the Community Preservation Fund is more than preserving farmland and open space. Assemblyman Fred Thiele suggested recently that we look into using 20 percent of our CPF funding for water quality issues. I don’t think it’s a bad idea.
Russell: We’ve been [producing management plans], but we need to step up that and I think the land preservation committee realizes that … New York state has a $5 million environmental protection bond that’s being proposed — it’s been three years and no action. We need it … If we’re successful in creating an East End Septic System Repair District, we’re going to need resources … One of our weaknesses is management, but we’re going to step up our game and get better.

On the town banning single-use plastic bags:
Rallis: I came out in support of a plastic bag ban … It’s the right thing to do. People need a little push once in awhile. Do we want to make people’s lives miserable? No … But let’s face it. It’s a small step. We could take a leadership role here. Other towns have done it … Petitions have been brought to the Town Board. Clearly there are people who want it. I think at the very least we can direct Town Hall staff to create legislation, bring it to a public hearing and let the Town Board vote on it.
Russell: I don’t support a ban at this point. I think Suffolk County is in an excellent position to affect real change and provide a level playing field. Suffolk County has tools that Southold Town doesn’t have, such as a user tax … Alternatives such as paper or compostable plastic is about nine times more in cost than single use bags … I think it’s unrealistic, and I know you’ll disagree, that people will change their buying habits overnight.

On addressing noise complaints, especially live music during the summer:
Rallis: I hear it. It annoys me. It bothers me. I deal with it … I’m sure everyone read The Suffolk Times editorial about the rental law, but they got into the noise ordinance. There were quite a few complaints since we enacted that law and there’s only been 13 violations issued to two different entities. There’s a problem there. There’s no excuses for that … Changing the noise ordinance — I don’t think that’s necessarily the approach … I have a few ideas. As crazy as it sounds, it worked in New York City: issuing cabaret licenses. You can say what type of music you can have outside. There’s nothing wrong with an acoustic guitar outside. I can’t hear that. What I can hear is the DJ … Why not start giving fines in the first place. It’s ridiculous to say you’re going to look at the code and figure out ways to change it if you’re not enforcing it.
Russell: The noise code has a glitch and excludes specials events … We need to revisit that and close that loophole. Of course it’s easier said than done because we don’t want to catch the Strawberry Festival … We also need enforcement, but I need to get the police department tools. The budget I’m proposing Wednesday will put noise meters in every police car … so that we can take immediate readings and if there’s a violation we can enforce it in court. Training is a critical component to that … A lot of it is perceptions about the code and false expectations or high hopes, but I’m willing to revisit the code, although I do think that other than the glitch with the special events, we could probably achieve more just through enforcement.

On creating legislation to address smoke concerns coming from fire pits:
Rallis: I’ve had a lot of bonfires on the beach. I don’t want to change our historic quality of life here, but I also don’t want things to get out of control. I think that’s something we need to look into.
Russell: I would hesitate to regulate people using their properties as they see fit … I think we have so many other environmental issues that really need to take center stage.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Photo: Republican Town Supervisor Scott Russell, right, and Democratic challenger Damon Rallis spoke separately at Monday’s forum. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo)

Many governments and school district across New York State are struggling with a lack of reserves and rising financial uncertainty, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Office.

But Southold Town and Greenport Village are not among them.

A report detailing fiscal conditions for municipalities state-wide shows both Southold and Greenport are in solid financial state, with indicators showing the town and village aren’t in financial trouble.

“There’s not a lot of secrets to it,” said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. “We do go literally over the budget line by line, dollar by dollar … We don’t spend money we don’t have and we don’t spend money we do have.”

The report is based on “financial indicators making up what we deem to be the best gauge of a municipality’s fiscal health,” with towns earning points for poor fiscal policy, Mr. Butry said. The report lags behind one fiscal year, so the most recent 2015 report released last week reflects data from the 2014 fiscal year.

Both Southold and Greenport have “fiscal stress” scores below 7 percent; the Comptroller’s Office states municipalities with scores around 45 percent are “susceptible” to stress.

Other municipalities are struggling within the constraints of the tax levy cap, which limits how much municipalities can increase what they collect in taxes. Some, like Riverhead Town, have been burning through their reserves to cover budget gaps.

“Most municipalities are walking a fine line with their reserve,” said Brian Butry, a spokesperson for Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

But Southold Town has “very healthy” reserves of cash set aside.

“That’s what you want to see,” Mr. Butry said.

Southold Town did post a $93,000 deficit in its 2014 budget, but Supervisor Scott Russell said the shortfall was due to the walloping of snow the North Fork took that winter, which forced Southold Town to pay extra overtime for highway workers.

“When you have storm like that … you’d be surprised to know how much salt costs us,” Mr. Russell added. Mr. Butry said the deficit appears to be a “one-off” event.

Mr. Russell said the Town saved money by taking a hard-line stance with unions who worked with the town to cut down on costs. The town has also managed to stay under the state’s tax levy cap, which limits how much municipalities can increase what they collect in taxes.

That fiscal stability is what helped entice Moody’s to upgrade the town’s bonds to Aa1 rating, the second-highest possible designation.

The tax cap hasn’t completely stopped upgrades to the town’s infrastructure, but it has slowed the Town Board’s ability to raise money, he said.

“We need a new Town Hall. The police department is very old and outdated, but to build these things you rely on bonds and those lead to debt service which become a fixed part of your budget,” Mr. Russell said.

Town Comptroller John Cushman credited the Town Board and Mr. Russell for being “responsible.”

“Some of these other towns want to play games,” Mr. Cushman said. “The Town Board is responsible when they come up with a budget … It’s called leadership. Moody’s picked up on that when they upgraded our bonds.”

In Greenport Village’s report, the state identified an abundance of reserves as something that could be addressed, but otherwise saw little issue with the village’s financial situation.

Greenport Mayor George Hubbard said the village has taken steps this year to spend some of that extra reserves on road repairs.

In total, the Village has spent about $600,000 of its remaining reserves on the two infrastructure projects.

“Using the money you have makes your rating better,” Mr. Hubbard said.

Local school districts also fared well under the Comptroller’s latest rating, with all North Fork districts staying within the state’s recommendations for acceptable fiscal stress.

psquire@timesreview.com

Photo Credit: Tetsumo, flickr