New downtown docks, a new town beach in South Jamesport and a new street name are all on the town's to-do list following the Riverhead Town Board regular meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The board approved naming Maple Avenue "PFC Garfield Langhorn Avenue," in memory of the Riverhead Vietnam War hero.
Langhorn was killed in action on Jan. 15, 1969, when he threw himself on a live grenade to protect fellow soldiers on a rescue operation in Pleiku Province. He was 20 years old. Langhorn was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor, becoming at that time the only Suffolk County recipient of the award.
Langhorn, a 1967 graduate of Riverhead High School, grew up on Maple Avenue.
Downtown docks
Riverhead is seeking bids for the purchase and installation of new docks on the Peconic Riverfront downtown for use by small boats such as those used by rowing clubs. The dock project is being funded by a $90,000 Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Grant Program and is aimed at improving public access to the waterfront. Bid specs are available online at the town's website or at the Town Clerk's office. Bids are due by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011.
New town beach in South Jamesport
Riverhead is moving forward with improvements to Miamogue beach, at the end of South Jamesport Avenue. The Town Board Tuesday awarded a $175,971 contract to Brian V. Klug Landscaper of Speonk, to construct an unpaved parking lot and boardwalk at the 2.3-acre site.
The town bought the property in 2008 from Robert Patchell, owner of the adjacent Motel on the Bay and Bayview Restaurant, for $2 million, using money from the Community Preservation Fund and a state grant.
Hearing on dog surrender ban
A plan to relieve the town of its obligation to accept dogs voluntarily surrendered by their owners was challenged by a member of the Riverhead animal advisory committee at yesterday's public hearing.
Michele Janlewicz of Calverton asked the board to consider modifying the ban so that decisions can be made "on a case by case basis."
Currently the town code requires the animal control officer to accept dogs brought in by their owners upon payment of a $25 fee.
"We're trying to address the problem of unwanted dogs, where someone has bought a dog for bad purposes and then when that doesn't work out, they dump it at the shelter," Councilman James Wooten, the Town Board's liaison to the animal shelter said. "I'm not going to say this will eliminate it enirely, but we're trying to eliminate the practice," he said.
Southold does not accept voluntary surrenders, Wooten said. Brookhaven does, but there's a months-long waiting list.
The unwanted animals become a burden on the taxpayers, the councilman said.
Janlewicz said the ban was not the recommendation of the animal advisory committee. The town needs to provide an alternative solution, she said.
Councilman John Dunleavy said he favored adding an exception to the town code to allow the town shelter to take in a dog left homeless when its owner passes away. Wooten said that is a responsibility already given to the town by state law.
Lowe's to pay excavation fees
Lowe's Home Centers will pay $8,600 to Riverhead Town for the removal of 2,000 cubic yards of sand and soil from the Route 58 site where E.W. Howell is constructing a 100,000-square-foot retail store for the home improvement giant. The contractor is also importing 2,300 cubic yards of soils to the site. It will pay the town $2 per yard on 4,300 cubic yards.
Construction got underway this spring, following the demolition of the old Suffolk Life building, vacant since 2008.
Sand buy
The Riverhead highway department is buying up to 2,000 cubic yards of sand at $10 per yard from Guillo Contracting Corp. of Calverton. Guillo Contracting was the lowest of three quotes obtained by the highway superintendent, according to a Town Board resolution adopted at Tuesday's meeting.
Public hearings set
The definition of an "accessory" building, structure or use would be refined under a proposed town code amendment scheduled for a public hearing Oct.18 at 7:10 p.m.
"Accessory" is currently defined byt he code as "a building, structure or use customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal building or use, located ont he same lot as such principal building or use."
The amendment would refine the definition so that the "area, extent and purpose" of the accessory use is one that is subordinate to and "customarily found as an incident to the principal structure or use and contributes to the comfort, convenience or need" of the occupants of the principal use/structure.
Members of the Town Board recently expressed frustration with the town Zoning Board of Appeals for its ruling that a wine-tasting room is allowed as an "accessory" use to an antique shop. The ZBA ruled that the zoning code provision stating that wine-tasting rooms are "specifically permitted" as accessory uses in the Rural Corridor zoning use district, meant that use was allowed as an accessory to all uses permitted as-of-right in the RC zone. That decision upset civic groups and some board members, who said it was illogical, since the as-of-right uses included things like residences, churches and playgrounds.
The Town Board also set an Oct. 18 public hearing on a proposed town code amendment redefining "agricultural production" to conform to the definition in the state agriculture and markets law. That hearing is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Much appreciated
The Town Board presented Lisa Drozd of Wedel Signs in Riverhead and Bianca Sullivan of Colorful Gardens in Calverton and Jamesport with certificates of appreciation for their voluntarism and generosity. Drozd donated a new sign for the World Trade Center Memorial in Calverton (see prior story) and Sullivan donated flowers and plants for the newly refurbished downtown comfort station, which will be open for the Riverhead Country Fair this weekend for the first time in 20 years, Supervisor Sean Walter said.
Photo captions:
Top: Town Board presented a certificate of appreciation to Lisa Drozd of Wedel Signs in Riverhead for the new sign she donated for the World Trade Center Memorial in Calverton. Pictured, from left: Supervisor Sean Walter, Councilman George Gabrielsen, Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, Councilman John Dunleavy, Councilman James Wooten and Bianca Sullivan.
Bottom: Town Board presented a certificate of appreciation to Bianca Sullivan of Colorful Gardens for flowers and plants she donated for the downtown comfort station. Pictured, from left: Councilman George Gabrielsen, Supervisor Sean Walter, Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, Councilman John Dunleavy, Councilman James Wooten and Bianca Sullivan.