The single “no” vote by Councilman John Dunleavy prevented the reappointment of Councilman Jim Wooten as a town marriage officer at the Riverhead Town Board special meeting this afternoon, though both men said the issue was resolved after the meeting.
“I took a hard look at this and I have to vote – I don’t think it’s our job to give another councilman a part-time job, so I’m voting no,” Dunleavy said during the meeting.
Wooten abstained. Supervisor Sean Walter and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio voted for the resolution. With Councilman George Gabrielsen absent, the resolution failed 2-1.
“I just want to clarify, if anyone thinks I took the job as marriage officer for a part-time job, or that I took the extra insurance because I don’t have kids that have insurance, that’s absolutely a lie,” Wooten responded. “I took the job because [Town Clerk Diane Wilhelm] was overwhelmed with weddings, and there’s very few people in the Town of Riverhead – herself, and a couple of judges that do it – has helped out on weekends and stuff when she can’t do it. And, for the most part, I don’t charge town residents, so it’s not like I’m there to make money…and quite frankly, I enjoy the ceremonies.”
“And you’re the guy that has the black suit,” the supervisor joked.
Dunleavy said he spoke to Wooten after the meeting and learned Wooten has charged a total of three non-residents for their ceremonies but waives the $75 fee for town residents. Dunleavy said that was not clear beforehand.
“Next time I will vote yes,” he said.
In other business:
– The board voted 3-1 to commence legal action against Glass Greenhouses Farm Market for operating outside of its allowable use. Wooten cast the dissenting vote. Giglio said afterward she did not realize the resolution, which only stated the property address but did not state the owner’s name, pertained to the Glass Greenhouses Farm Market. She said she would ask the town attorney not to act before the matter can be brought up for another vote.
– The board voted to award a bid to Borrego Solar Systems Inc. to install a solar array at the town’s Youngs Avenue capped landfill. The deal is expected to net the town more than $100,000 per year, according to officials.
“If George was here I would congratulate him because this will bring in a lot of money to the Town of Riverhead, so I’ll vote yes,” Councilwoman Jodi Giglio said.
– The board voted to advertise a Request for Proposals for Solar Photovoltaic Energy Projects on town-owned properties, mostly municipal parking lots.
“Yes, I just hope we don’t put them all over,” Walter said. He has been critical of the appearance of solar carports proposed for municipal parking lots around town.
“It’s our choice where they want them to go, they’re just going to tell us what’s suitable and what’s not suitable,” Dunleavy said.
– The board presented deputy town attorney Anne Marie Prudenti with an award for her part in the drafting of the EPCAL planning legislation.
“Between Anne Marie and Fred Thiele, they were the authors of the EPCAL planning legislation, and as the board and some of the others may know, we had about 50 drafts back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, and Anne-Marie and Fred were toiling away,” Walter said. “This is our gold watch, if you will, and we really appreciate everything you’ve done for the Town of Riverhead.”
“Thank you very much. Truly, thank you,” Prudenti said.
– Sound Park Heights Civic Association president Eric Biegler suggested the board try to facilitate more communication regarding reviews of businesses that may be in violation of town zoning laws before it takes legal action against them.
“Maybe an understanding being made with the planning board, and possibly the zoning board of appeals, and yourselves – if that was adopted and discussed and talked about ahead of time, when these farm stands come up for review, it would save the taxpayers money and not have to go to litigation,” Biegler said.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Micah Danney
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