Town board wrap-up: July 3 — Building & planning chief hired away from consultants

Riverhead has a building and planning administrator.

The town board voted Tuesday to appoint Jefferson Murphree to the newly created position. He will oversee both the building and planning departments, Supervisor Sean Walter said.

Putting the two departments under one administrator “makes sense,” Walter said.

Murphree held a similar position with the Town of Southampton for 13 years, the supervisor said.

He left Southampton Town in January to become director of environmental planning at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., known as VHB, the Hauppauge-based consulting firm Riverhead retained last year to update the land use plan for the Calverton Enterprise Park.

Walter said the town had about 30 resumes submitted for the position “after a nationwide search.” He said 10 applicants were “very qualified” and of those five people “accepted an interview.”

The supervisor said in an interview Thursday long-time planning director Rick Hanley would report to Murphree.

Murphree, a Sag Harbor resident, starts in his new position on Monday, Walter said. His office will be in the building department, across the street from town hall, for now, but the plan is to “co-locate” the building and planning department offices, according to the supervisor.

Murphree will be paid an annual salary of $110,000.

In other action Tuesday, the town board:

• authorized a new retainer agreement with Riverhead’s long-time labor counsel, Richard Zuckerman of the Melville-based law firm Lamb and Barnksky LLP. In the three-year agreement, which runs from Jun 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, the town agrees to pay the firm an annual retainer of $40,000 for the first year, $41,000 for the second year and $42,000 for the third year. The agreement covers collective bargaining negotiations with the CSEA, PBA and Superior Officers Association. It does not cover representation at arbitration or administrative hearing or any other matters

• authorized a professional services agreement with PMKB Consulting Associates LLC, for an economic impact analysis of the Calverton sewer district sewage treatment plant upgrade, which will be included in the community development agency’s application for funding through the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. The town will pay the consultant an amount not to exceed $10,000 for the services scoped out in a proposal submitted to the town June 26. Noted Long Island economist Pearl Kamer is the president of PKMB Consulting Associates, which is based in Syosset.

• authorized an amendment to the town’s existing contract with BFJ Planning, providing for the payment of an additional amount not to exceed $10,000 for services in connection with the Route 25A corridor study for which the town contracted in August of 2011. The original contract amount was $44,000, and the contract by its terms was to end April 30. The amendment extends the contract through August, to allow completion of the final zoning study, which has been reviewed and changed a number of times by the town board. The board also approved a budget adjustment of $54,000 from the fund balance to the planning department to allow for the payment of BFJ’s fee. Councilwoman Jodi Giglio voted against the contract amendment.

• tabled Wading River corridor study resolutions taking steps toward implementing the recommendations of BFJ Planning in the Route 25A corridor, including resolutions calling public hearings on the proposed zoning code, map and plan changes. The measures were tabled to allow board members an opportunity to review and further discuss their contents.

• called public hearings on changes to the town’s vehicle and traffic code that would make St. John’s Place a two-way street and prohibit left-hand turns onto Northville Turnpike from East Avenue southbound. Both hearings are scheduled for Aug. 7.

• ratified the authorization for the sale of non-resident beach permits by Fisherman’s Deli, located at 1315 West Main St., (annual and daily), Warrens’ Tackle Center, located at 548 Main Road, Aquebogue and The Grind Cafe, located at 2034 North Country Road, Wading River (daily).

• approved the special event permit of Sports Authority, Route 58, for a sidewalk sale event from July 4 through Aug. 25.

• approved the special event permit of Old Steeple Community Church, Main Road, Aquebogue, for its annual antique fair Aug. 25 (rain date Sept.3)

• approved the special event permit of Forgotten Friends of Long Island for a summer festival and adoption day at the Garden of Eve Organic Farm, at 4558 Sound Avenue, Riverhead on Aug. 18 (rain date Aug. 19).

• approved the special event permit of Kent Animal Shelter for a 5K run/walk at Martha Clara Vineyards, 6025 Sound Avenue, Riverhead on Sept. 23.

• approved a fireworks permit for the Jamesport Fire Department for Saturday, July 14 at approximately 10 p.m.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, board members presented Riverhead High School students Erik Divan and Daniel O’Neill with a proclamation honoring them for winning the 2012 SRAA National Rowing Championship. Both boys are members of the East End Rowing Club.