Action on town square project, downtown parking garage: April 2 Town Board wrap-up

The Town Board took several actions at its April 2 meeting related to the development of the town square on East Main Street and a parking garage on First Street.

The board approved a $21,720 contract with VHB Engineering, Surveying & Landscape Architects of Hauppauge to survey the three lots on East Main Street purchased by the town in 2021. The town demolished the buildings on two of the lots and plans to sell the building that stands on the third lot to its designated master developer for the town square, J. Petrocelli Contracting.

The services to be provided include a conventional survey and terrestrial laser scanning services. 

The board also authorized a $7,500 contract with the Raynor Group of Water Mill for surveying services “in connection with the Riverhead downtown area in furtherance of the Riverhead Town Square Project.” Information about the location of the area to be surveyed was not provided and no contract was attached to the board resolution.

The board authorized an intermunicipal agreement with Suffolk County for Jumpstart grant funding in the amount of $2 million for the First Street parking garage.

Finally, the board issued a determination under the State Environmental Quality Review Act as to “pre-construction activities for the First Street Parking Garage” finding that the “pre-construction activities” constitute an unlisted action requiring no further environmental review.

In other action Tuesday, the Town Board:

• Authorized the solicitation of sealed bids for a sanitary system for Veterans Memorial Park.
• Authorized a retainer agreement with the law firm of Smith Finkelstein Lundberg Isler and Yakaboski to commence two separate condemnation proceedings against properties that were not identified in the resolution or attached agreement.
• Authorized a new retainer agreement with the law firm of Volz & Vigliotta, which is representing the town in litigation against CMA Mine on Osborn Avenue, to provide an increase in the hourly rate paid to the firm from $200 to $250 for attorney services rendered and $150 per hour for paralegal services.
• Authorized a law firm representing the town in a property tax proceeding to hire an appraisal firm for a fee not to exceed $37,500. The resolution did not identify the property tax proceeding. 
• Approved a contract with Riverhead CAP to provide police to support  compliance checks and other services, paid for by CAP with federal grant funding.
• Approved special event permits for the Community Mosaic street-painting festival on May 26 (rain date May 27) and the Jamesport Fire Department  bazaar, which will be held Tuesday, July 16 through Saturday, July 20.
• Accepted an audit by the accounting firm PKF O’Connor Davies of the Riverhead Town Justice Court financial statement for the year 2023.