The Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association has two new directors and three returning directors after a crowded election and tie breaking vote by its board of directors last month.
The Business Improvement District’s membership elected Mark McLaughlin, Assembly Member Jodi Giglio’s district manager, and Linda Lombardi of M&T Bank to tenant seats, as well as Sean Kenna of Cucina 25, the board’s president, to an owner seat, at its election on June 20. One tenant seat and one owner seat were still empty by the end of the night, as candidates ended up tying for the remaining seats.
The BIDMA board met last Thursday and decided to conduct a secret ballot vote to break the ties instead of holding a second election, according to BIDMA Executive Director Kristy Verity. The board ended up appointing Amanda Capobianco of Richmond Realty Corp., who tied with Ed Tuccio of Tweeds for an owner seat and Larry Oxman of East End Commercial Real Estate, who tied with social worker Laura Fanning for a tenant seat, Verity said.
Competition for seats on the board of directors was strong this year, with four people on the ballot for owner seats and five for tenant seats. There were also write-in votes for Steve Wirth and Cheri Wirth of Digger’s Ales N’ Eats, and for Dee Muma of Dark Horse Restaurant.
McLaughlin and Capobianco are new to the board, while Kenna, Oxman and Lombardi are returning board members. BIDMA directors serve two year terms. Five of the board’s directors are elected by the owners of commercial buildings and five directors elected by their tenants; three directors are appointed.
The BIDMA, a nonprofit organization, runs the Business Improvement District, a special taxing district funded by tax dollars collected on commercial properties within the downtown area. The organization promotes businesses and organizes special events like Alive on 25. Kenna is its current president, while Lisa Pickersgill of Robert James Salon its vice president.
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