Town board wrap: ‘No’ to county’s request for part of Riverside Drive, ‘yes’ to school resource officer, more

Riverhead won’t give up a 2,183-foot section of Riverside Drive that bisects county parkland on the east side of Route 105.

The county requested the highway superintendent discontinue the paved section of roadway that enters the Indian Island golf course. State law authorizes the highway superintendent to abandon a street that is “unnecessary for highway purposes.”

The proposed abandonment drew community opposition during a July 17 town board public hearing. Residents who said they use the road to access the river for fishing, objected to giving control of the road over to the county in the belief that the county would cut off its use and prevent access to the Peconic River.

Last night the town board voted 4-0 to approve the resolution denying the county’s request. Councilwoman Jodi Giglio abstained because her husband has a contract with the county for a concession at the Riverhead golf course.

In other action Tuesday night, the board:

• authorized the supervisor to sign an agreement with the Riverhead Central School District to supply a school resource officer to the district. The primary assignment of the SRO will be at the high school, with assignments to other district schools possible. The SRO will provide security and surveillance and take such law enforcement action as required, according to the agreement. The town and the school district will split the cost of the SRO equally, except for payment of overtime, for which the district will be responsible if the overtime costs are a result of an assignment covered by the officer at the discretion of the school district. The SRO will be selected by a four-person interview comprising two members appointed by the school district and two members appointed by the police department.
• approved a new article of the town code regulating the cultivation of bamboo; 
• accepted the resignation of former South Jamesport resident Larry Simms from the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency; Simms moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after his appointment to the IDA board and was no longer eligible to serve, according to town officials;
• awarded a contract for comprehensive energy management services Johnson Controls of Syosset, pursuant to a request for proposals issued by the town in June. The company will perform a free energy audit and make energy conservation suggestions to the town.

The town board, sitting as the board of the Riverhead Community Development Agency, accepted into the hearing record the additional submissions of Triple Five Group in connection with the application of Calverton Aviation and Technology to be designated a qualified and eligible sponsor for the purpose of purchasing from the CDA and developing more than 1,600 acres of vacant land inside the Calverton Enterprise Park. See separate story.

Also Tuesday night, the board voted down a measure to put a four-year supervisor term on the ballot again in November. See separate story.