The sale of EPCAL makes fiscal sense for the Town of Riverhead — here’s why

Upon reading Uncle Riverhead’s most recent offering, I am compelled to respond.

To begin, I am quite disappointed at the some of the terms used to refer to our committee people. Referencing people who volunteer their time serving on a board with no pay as “clueless” — really, Uncle Riverhead? How does that help to get people to step up and volunteer? Let’s try and keep this civil, a conversation about the facts. It is what the residents of Riverhead deserve.

First you implied that votes were bought at $500,000 apiece. Is this because of a negotiated addition such as lights for a ball field or other park improvement? Just like the school district is looking to do. A win-win if we improve our public spaces without the burden of raising taxes.

So, Uncle Riverhead let’s continue the talk. Let me first ask you where you have been all this time? I ask because you have lived here for years. Where were you when a prior town board voted to reclaim the town landfill (the dump)? The other towns chose to cap their dumps. This simple decision has hung an anchor around the this town’s budget of to the tune of $52 million dollars.

Next I ask Uncle Riverhead were you in town when that past town board, years ago, went on a spending spree borrowing from future Community Preservation Fund revenues, burdening the residents for generations with a CPF debt in the millions? The other towns on the East End managed their CPF account more wisely. This enabled our surrounding towns the ability to get state legislation offering a CPF tax exemption to first-time homebuyers. Riverhead missed out on this and could not get this break for our community. Why? Because we owe too much from borrowing. So our children lost out on the first-time homebuyer break. Again I ask, where was Uncle Riverhead?

Where was Uncle Riverhead when we were fighting to protect our children and community from the homeless sex offender trailer? I’m sure you must remember that. It was basically dumped in our backyard within walking distance to our library and elementary schools. They were allowed to roam freely, coming and going as they pleased. Never heard from Uncle Riverhead and never saw him at the many meetings that I attended as I fought this unfair act, an act imposed on us silently, tucked away in a grove of trees. Uncle Riverhead, who had a position that could have helped his town protect our children, was silent.

So let’s talk, Uncle Riverhead. In my position as one of the town assessors, I deal with many people of our great town daily. I meet and speak with the blue collar worker, the senior living on a fixed income, the young couple trying to make ends meet, the people that are having a hard time selling. These residents are worried about how they will pay their tax bill, not simply trying to decide what account to take it from.

Currently the remaining landfill debt, with interest,is just over $21 million. This year’s landfill debt payment is just over $3.2 million — a payment that we the taxpayers have to make. On top of that, the town’s police officers and superior officers contracts have to be settled. Add to that the other town employees’ contract that has to be settled this year. There is no kicking the can down the road anymore. Let’s not forget there is the issue of overcrowding in our town court, a situation which is simply unsafe and needs to be addressed.

So, Uncle Riverhead where have you been with watching out for all of the above? Because the biggest problem is where is the money going to come from to pay all this? I will tell you where it will come from without the sale of EPCAL: the struggling taxpayer,“ that’s where.

Uncle Riverhead, for a man who has served most of your professional career in the public sector, I think your anti-EPCAL deal stance is not in the best interest of the majority of this town. You loosely state Triple Five is not capable of completing the task at hand. You and I don’t know what the final outcome will be. However you continue to beat that drum, while forgetting about those who are struggling and looking for relief. Most of those people do not have the nice pension you have. Sadly most may not be able to retire but will have to work into their very senior years.

I can say very honestly that those who I have talked to want to see this sale happen. Very few are negative, they are just too busy with family and work to get to meetings and speak. You state that the $40 million sale price is a “shameful price.” Is it? Out of the 1,600 acres only 600 are developable. The rest is restricted by the DEC. Any use of that land will require them getting that changed. Add the additional costs to have that addressed. Plus there is the cost of doing all the infrastructure, which will run into the millions. Currently that land is not taxable, because it is owned by the town and off the rolls. Being off the rolls this year alone cost the hardworking people to have to dig into their pockets for $4.3 million. That’s a lot of money to make up. This sale will also generate $725,000 in CPF revenue — $725,000 that the hardworking people of our great community won’t have to dig into their pockets to pay.

With this sale:
1) We can pay off that landfill debt.
2) We can make the much needed additions to our courts.
3) We can get some relief from the prior out-of-control borrowIng of CPF.
4) We can settle the long-running union contract negotiations without taxpayers having to reach into their pockets.
5) We can take the cost and burden of the town maintaining this property off the people’s shoulders and put it on the new land owner.

I am always happy to have the discussion when it remains civil. This board has in front of them quite possibly the biggest decision to be made in the town’s recent history. No one wants to choose wrong, Uncle Riverhead.

I myself am excited at the possibility of removing the landfill debt, improving the town court facility, allowing our town employees a current contract, relief from the CPF issues and tax relief for our struggling, hard-working residents. Add to that a lighted ball field or a new swing at a park. And, hey, maybe the thought that our educated next generation could have the ability to earn a stem degree and choose to stay in their hometown.

Mason Haas is a Riverhead Town assessor and a resident of Jamesport.