Town Board meeting wrap-up: Sept 1

Changes at Peconic Bay Medical Center in connection with its planned Center for Women and Infants gained site plan approval Tuesday from the Riverhead Town Board.  

The board amended the resolution on the floor to require that the landscaping plan exclude plants on the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s do-not-sell list, after a resident pointed out that the plan under consideration  included some plants considered invasive species in New York. The approval also followed comments from residents about potential noise from rooftop HVAC equipment.

RVAC facility bond resolution approved

The board on Tuesday also approved a bond resolution for the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps’ planned ambulance facility. The resolution authorizes borrowing by the town of up to $8.1 million to fund the estimated $14.1 million cost of the facility.

Town officials said the ambulance district has already raised nearly $6.5 million for the project and expects ambulance billing revenue to cover the remaining cost, including debt service. 

L.I. Science Center eminent domain advances

In other action, the board unanimously approved a resolution accepting a $1.95 million appraisal for the former Long Island Science Center site at 111 E. Main St. and authorizing the town’s attorneys to transmit a written offer to The Place for Learning, the nonprofit that owns the property. The action advances the town’s eminent domain acquisition of the property, which borders the town square redevelopment site. See separate story: Riverhead moves ahead with eminent domain of science center property, approve $1.95 M offer (Sept. 2)

Summerwind Farms water main extension bids ok’d

A resolution authorizing the Riverhead Water District to solicit bids for the installation of water mains to serve the controversial Summerwind Farms subdivision in Jamesport was approved 4-1, with Supervisor Jerry. Halpin dissenting. 

Halpin said in an interview after the meeting that he voted no because the developer had gone ahead with land clearing and site work without permits, prompting the town to issue a stop-work order and pursue the violations in justice court.

The justice court process “needs to play out,” Halpin said. “They circumvented our process. I’m not helping someone move the ball quicker if they haven’t been able to abide by our guidelines,” he said.

The Summerwind Farms subdivision application is on the Riverhead Planning Board’s published agenda for final plat approval at its meeting tonight.  The application has drawn fire from area residents throughout the review process. 

Several issues surfaced during board member reports and public comment that are likely to return for future discussion.

Council Member Ken Rothwell announced that he does not support proposed zoning code changes for the Roanoke Avenue corridor that would allow additional commercial uses in the Professional Business district, signaling that the measure may not have enough board support to move forward.

Merrifield: Town taxpayers should not pay for SROs

Councilwoman Denise Merrifield renewed her criticism of the Riverhead Central School District over school resource officer funding, saying the district should have provided funding for the officers in its $218 million budget this year, but failed to do so. She also criticized the supervisor for waiting until “the eve” of the new school year to bring district officials to a work session for discussion. 

Halpin pushed back, saying the issue should be handled carefully and not turned into a public dispute between the town and school district. 

Yesterday, a discussion with the town attorney of “matters surrounding agreement between the Town of Riverhead and the Riverhead Central School District” was added to the Town Board’s work session agenda as a “contractual” matter during the executive session portion of today’s work session agenda. There was no public explanation or announcement about whether a contract with the school district is now being negotiated.

Rothwell announces support for 4-H preservation

Rothwell also announced Tuesday that he supports the preservation of the former 4-H camp property in Baiting Hollow. 

“I support the preservation effort of the Peconic Land Trust, and I will support and advocate for the town to participate in this unique opportunity to preserve this property,” Rothwell said. He said expected a majority of the Town Board to support it as well. 

Rothwell said since receiving the property appraisal the Town Board authorized, he’s spoken with community members, listened to the comments of the town’s open space committee and met with Peconic Land Trust President John Halsey.  

Two local youngsters recognized

Two local youngsters were recognized by the Riverhead Town Board Tuesday afternoon at the start of its regular meeting. 

Brooke Meyer, 12, of Riverhead is the reigning Bandolero Race Car champion in New York and currently ranked 7th in the U.S. and Canada, will be competing in the nationals in Atlanta this month at Echo Park Speedway.  Brooke started racing as a young child at Riverhead Raceway. See: Young Riverhead racer has her sights set on becoming a NASCAR pro (March 31, 2025) Council Member Joann Waski presented her with a Town Board proclamation honoring her for her achievements and her passion for racing. Council Member Joann Waski announced an upcoming send-off party and fundraiser on Sept. 17 at the Village Idiot Pub at Indian Island golf course to support Brooke’s trip to the national competition in Atlanta. It begins at 4 p.m. All are welcome.

Waski also introduced Riverhead’s “councilperson for a day,” T.J. Andrews, 13. T.J., who will start 9th grade at Riverhead High School this month, was chosen by Waski after an encounter at the Polish Town Fair this year. She said he purchased a kielbasi sandwich and pierogies from her when she was working at a vendor booth at the fair and impressed her with his good manners and polite demeanor, which she described as “just extraordinary.” After speaking with him, she said, she realized she knew his parents. “And I thought, this is the future of Riverhead, so I asked T.J. to come in today and be councilman with me,” Waski said. “We went and I walked him all through Town Hall and showed him all the different departments that we have here,” Waski said, adding that she wanted him to see all the different opportunities there are working in town government. T.J. was briefly seated at the dais with Waski after being presented with a certificate by the board.

Other board actions at Sept. 1 meeting

In other action Tuesday, the Town Board: 

• Authorized an appraisal of a 156-acre property on Sound Avenue in Riverhead owned by DiLalio Sod Farms and possible development-rights or conservation-easement options. 
• Authorized a budget adjustment of $60,000 for recent emergency HVAC work at the public safety/justice court complex. The funds are to be transferred from the General Fund appropriated fund balance to the Town Hall buildings and maintenance account.
• Accepted the retirements of two longtime Riverhead police officers, Detective Richard Anderson and Police Officer Peter Troyan. 
• Authorized an engineering services agreement for water-main installation tied to Riverhead Water District boundary extensions 95, 96 and 97.
• Accepted the town’s 2025 audited financial statements prepared by PKF O’Connor Davies.
• Accepted a donation of T-shirts from High Quality Transfers of Wading River for the annual snapper tournament scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12 on the Peconic Riverfront. 
• Ratified authorization for Police Department employees to attend a FEMA hazardous materials training course in Anniston, Alabama from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5. 
• Approved a military leave of absence for Donald Popino to deploy for active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard for one year.
• Authorized 2026 bow hunting for deer on specified town-owned properties, including EPCAL and parcels at 1751 Sound Avenue, Calverton, and on Middle Road in Riverhead.
• Approved a special event permit for the Riverhead Athletic Club’s Run the Wave 5K on Nov. 14.

Public hearing scheduled

The board scheduled a public hearing on a proposed local law amending the town’s procurement policy for Sept. 15 at 6:15 p.m. The proposed procurement-policy amendment is intended to bring the town’s purchasing rules into line with federal grant requirements, including federal standards for competitive purchasing, conflicts of interest, contractor oversight and procurement records

Bid authorizations

The board authorized advertising for bids for water-main installation for Riverhead Water District extension No. 97 on Forge Road.

The board authorized advertising for bids for Summerwind water-main work. Plain English: the town is moving the Summerwind water-main project toward construction bidding. This passed 4-1, with Halpin voting no.