The League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island, and the North Fork hosted a forum for Democratic primary candidates for Town Supervisor and Town Board. Below is our transcript.
The Shelter Island Gazette doesn’t weigh in about political events but provides this transcript as a service to voters who may have missed the June 4 forum at the Shelter Island Public Library. For details about primary voting, read our post: “Primary early voting beings June 17; Primary Day is Tuesday, June 27.”
LWV member Jo-Ann Robotti was the moderator at the Sunday afternoon forum. During the first two segments, she read questions prepared by fellow LWV members. In the final segment, she read submissions by attendees, who wrote questions down on index cards that were collected and reviewed by LWV members.
The first segment was a debate between the two candidates vying for one spot on the Democratic ticket for Town Supervisor. They are incumbent Gerry Siller, who previously served as supervisor 20 years ago and owns an Island landscaping and nursery business, and challenger Gordon Gooding, a retired provider of specialty building materials, who is chair of the Town Board-appointed Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board.
The second segment featured candidates vying for two spots on the Democratic ticket for Town Board. They are former Councilman Albert Dickson, retired after a long career as an environmental project manager; Benjamin Dyett, an attorney specializing in commercial real estate who is a founding board member at Sylvester Manor and member of the Town Board-appointed Comprehensive Plan Committee; and Bert Waife, who owns a mooring and marine tackle business, owns and operates the oyster farm and shellfish business Eel Town Oysters, and is a picture framer and custom T-shirt maker, who also hosts art exhibits in a small gallery space.
Robotti explained that the candidates drew cards to determine speaking order. The LWV provided a timekeeper.
[Note: Transcribing recorded speech may result in grammatical constructions that were not intended by the speaker. If you heard something different, we’re happy to correct any such errors — write to editor@shelterislandgazette.com. Also, every speaker, particularly when making remarks in front of a live audience, will sometimes use vocal filler, such as uh, um, or ok. Some do so more than others. Rather than edit out the vocal filler (and possibly introduce unintended grammatical structuring) we left it in. Speakers also sometimes go back mid-sentence to correct their grammar in ways that may seem jarring when written but work more fluidly in spoken word. These, too, we left in place.]
The Town has posted recordings of the forum on its YouTube Channel. Find them at this link.
Meet the Democratic candidates for Town Supervisor
Lois B. Morris introduced the event for the LWV, noting that Library Directory Terry Lucas had to turn people away once the crowd reached the room’s 75-person capacity. She encouraged everyone to vote on June 17 in a public referendum on the library board’s $9.5M proposal to renovate and expand the 60-year-old building. Among the looked-for improvements: A larger community gathering space.
Jo-Ann Robotti (JR): Why are you running for office?
Gordon Gooding (GG): My name is Gordon Gooding. Um, there are multiple reasons, ok, but what I think it really boils down to is, what I am trying to do in this election is to restore some trust here in the Town. I would like to restore some trust in the Town. Um, I, I think that we need to get back to a respectful exchange between people, ok. And, you know, good recourse and good dialogue between different people in the Town. You know, I always talk, and people have heard me talk, about tolerance. I believe in tolerance in discussion, and I think there’s a thing that’s called compromise, ok. And I think that we have to be able to learn how to do that and hear every member of the community have their say. Um, I can elaborate, but I’m not going to take any more time.
Gerry Siller (GS): I came back into office with two specific goals in mind: housing and quality of the water. Unfortunately, in the first year, we were sidetracked by the pandemic, and we put all of our efforts into keeping the Town safe and open and running, which we did. Since then, I’ve worked with the Town Board very hard to address housing and water. I think a lot of people feel that I’m a little too pushy, but that’s what we do. We’re trying to get things done. That’s the only reason I came back, was to try and get things done and not to talk about it ad nauseam. I feel very comfortable that the Town Board is open to the public. We listen to everyone. I don’t know where this comes from — they’re shaking their heads in the audience — that we don’t listen to the public. We do nothing without having a public forum first and discussing it, and hearing from the public. Thank you.
JR: Many large Town infrastructure projects are now under consideration by the Town Board, such as a wastewater treatment plant, affordable housing, new municipal water systems, and shellfish seeding, just to name a few. Even with the help of grants, as we all know, Town money is not infinite. With limited funds, what are the infrastructure projects that you believe the Town must get started on immediately? You have two minutes, and then Gordon has a minute to rebut.
GS: Ok. With limited funds, the Town has instituted user fees wherever possible to eliminate, uh, excess tax burdens, so we have funding for various departments to work with. As far as priorities, obviously, the water in the center of Town is the number one priority. We’re working on grants for that. We’re eligible for WQI money for that. And, the Town, quite honestly, has zero debt service, so if we had to go to bonds, we would.
JR: Gordon, one minute to rebut, if you wish.
GG: I tend to; there are some things that we do agree with, ok. The concept and the issues I think are real. I think the way we handle the issue, the issues, is why I’m running for office, ok. I think that the wastewater issue doesn’t make any difference which way you go if people in the community have better input. I think that some of the experts that came forward presented really good challenging points of view that should’ve been up on the Town website, and I think you could’ve used a little bit better …
JR: Could you please speak up?
GG (adjusting the mic): Yes. I guess I have to put this closer to my mouth. So anyhow, I think it should’ve been more … Community should’ve been more engaged in the decision-making. Actually, the outcome of it.
GS: Can I respond?
JR: No, you can’t, sorry (laughter from the audience). Gordon, residential and commercial development over recent years seems to increasingly cater to exclusive wealthy clientele resulting in a widening us versus them division. Do you think it’s possible to balance the Island’s economy and opportunities to encompass every Shelter Islander — part-timer and full-timer — and if so, how would you do it.?
GG: That’s a real good question because we hear this all the time. It’s not an us and them, and yet some of our dialogue is so divisive when we talk about well-heeled people, the elitism. I think we’ve got to get away from this “us and then” and [inaudible] truly “we.” We are a community and should all be working together to, irregardless of whether you’re a Harelegger here, you work here full-time, or whether you’re a resident or commuting here on the weekends. I think we’ve just got to get away from that kind of dialogue.
JR: And how would you do that?
GG: You’d do that by having a more open dialogue. I think there are some things, even in our meetings, that can change. Basically, they instituted a 3-minute rule, which I think during COVID really carried over. I think it limited the people to have access to talk to the Town Board in a reasonable way. Ok. I think that’s one of the things I’m exploring to see how we can do this differently so that everyone in the community has a voice.
JR: Gerry, you have a minute.
GS: First of all, could you repeat the question?
(JR repeated the question)
GS: There’s a very simple answer to that. The only way to address it is affordable Community Housing. Unless we have the diverse community, to begin with, we’re not going to have the “us versus them;” we’re going to have “us” who are not the entire Island. So it’s very simple. We have to address it through housing.
JR: Gerry, two minutes. Some other East End municipalities have hired professional town managers and/or town planners, which effectively takes a lot of weight off the Town Board. Do you think the time has come to create such positions on Shelter Island? Please explain.
GS: I think the Town Board has made efforts to go forward with that. We’ve increased the, uh, administrative staffing, who are doing some of that. I’ve never seen a definition from the people who are calling for a town planner, what a full-time town planner would do on Shelter Island. That’s why you elect the Town Board, and that’s why the Town Board empowers their committees, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board, to work with us. So, I think we are doing that. I don’t want to embarrass Kristina Martin, who is here, our administrative assistant who has taken the first step towards being a town manager. I think we’re well on our way to addressing the need.
JR: Thank you. Gordon?
GG: I guess we really have to start to define what a town manager is or what a town planner is, ok. And, um, by having the administration within the town trying to run its own business, ok, I don’t think that really defines what the town manager is. Ok. What we need is we need continuity from one administration to the next. The serious issues, ok, have to be looked at with more professional eyes and people who are in that business, ok. We all are laymen, and we all come from different backgrounds. But we do need that expertise, but that’s one of the things on my agenda going forward. I think we need it, and we gotta have it. Thank you.
JR: Thank you. Gordon, the Town Board has contracted with Suffolk County Water Authority to manage the West Neck Water system for 40 years. Do you think the town should now consider having Suffolk County Water [Authority] create, install and manage new water districts or systems throughout the Island? Please explain.
GG: The issue with Suffolk County Water is — um, let’s go back to the beginning — is that once, … we have, we have to address the nitrates and quality of our aquifer right now. My fear is, with Suffolk County [Water Authority], ok, is that if you had, if we bring water in, ok, what’s the incentive to try to clean up our septics? When people have good clean water, you go back to them and ask them, well, you gotta put an I/A system in; I think it’s very marginal. The other bigger issue is with Suffolk County Water [Authority]; it allows you to do development, ok. And, how are we going to control that development? How do be prevent — not this administration, not the present administration — how do we control not slicing and dicing land in increasing density? I think that’s really the big issue here. It’s not about, contrary to what we hear “we have to take care of the center.” That’s not the issue. And it’s not about not wanting affordable housing and some of the things that have been spoken about. What we really need, is there, are, other ways we can look at water. It hasn’t been spoken about, but even community wells could be something we can talk about, whether it’s Community Housing or improving water conditions. That’s my answer.
JR: Thank you. Gerry?
GS: Just so everyone understands, Suffolk County Water Authority does not need the Town’s approval to put water on the Island. As long as they get 40 percent of an area that wants it, they’re entitled to put it in. The Town is working very hard in discussions with Suffolk County Water [Authority], not only for help with public water but how to address the long-term aquifer problems, uh, with I/A systems with the center of Town, and we’re looking that way, going forward. It’s not just nitrates in the water. There’s saltwater intrusion on the outside of the Island. There’s parts of the Island that can’t get water. There’s future contaminants that we’re going to deal with. That’s one of the main reasons we’re pushing for the wastewater treatment in the Center is to address contaminants that aren’t on the list yet or are just getting on the list.
JR: Thank you. Gerry, state grants of up to $125K are currently available for resident homeowners to create ADUs — Accessory Dwelling Units — on their properties for permanent rental housing. But state regulations do not cap the rents that can be charged for ADUs. How is this a solution for singles and young families who can’t afford to live on the Island? Please explain.
GS: Yeah, sure. The Community Housing Board is working very hard on this. We got a grant, as you mentioned, for $2M, one of 10 in the whole state. Requirements that we’re going to put in place are that it has to be a year-round rental; that it has to be an affordable rental. To administer the grants, they have to meet criteria set by the locality and the Community Development Corp of Long Island. So, we’re addressing that possibility that somebody can’t come and get a grant and do a seasonal rental.
JR: Or a market rental?
GS: Right.
JR: Gordon?
GG: The ADUs. This is, I think, one of the reasons why we do need a town planner or town manager. You know, in conversation in doing these ADUs in the Near Shoreline Overlay, where it’s the most critical, most sensitive waterways, ok. And water, not only for drinking but also for our bays and creeks, ok. I don’t know whether that’s really the first place we should start. There have been, although it’s not been asked, it’s only a proposal; I think we ought to stay away from really the most critical, most sensitive areas of the Island. The question that I don’t know — I need an answer for — is I know there was COVID money as well that was given to the Town, and I’m hoping that at some time during this meeting, I can find out where that money was placed. Thank you.
JR: Thank you. Gordon, transparency is a term that is frequently mentioned as being important in government, and lack of transparency is leveled as a serious criticism. What does transparency mean to you, and how do you intend to demonstrate it in the next administration?
GG: Well, you know the transparency is, um, not throwing things out on the table at the very last minute. There’s a basic breakdown in the style between myself and the current supervisor. He tends to want to keep it close to the chest, and I would really prefer to share those obstacles because I think that the community are adults, and I think they should be involved every step of the way. I can only go back to why I’m really running, which is, basically starts over, not to bring up a sore subject, but Klenawicus, ok. I don’t think by laying something down and knowing, being aware of it, at least not me not being aware of it before it came through the Town, I don’t think that’s a good way of creating consensus. I think you should share what your thoughts are. It doesn’t have to be hard and fast, but I think the plans, putting big plans forward, the public is entitled to know what’s going on.
JR: OK, thank you. Gerry?
GS: Yeah, I’ll give you a lesson in reality. If you want to get things done, you have a plan, then you present it to the public to discuss. If you start from day one trying “what should we do, how should we do it?” nothing will get done. The way I work is I identify problems, I try to find solutions, then I bring them to the Town Board, then we bring them to the public. There is full transparency. Nothing has ever been done without the public’s full awareness of it. Maybe they wanted to know sooner, but that makes no sense because they learned about it and could they act on it when it needed to be acted on.
JR: Thank you. Gerry, broadly, municipal Comprehensive Plans are meant to set forth visions and goals for the future as well as the steps to achieve them. If the new Comprehensive Plan is approved, will you, if you are reelected as Supervisor, feel obligated to follow its requirements, or do you see them only as guidelines and suggestions?
GS: I was involved in the implementation of the original Comprehensive Plan, and we created the Near Shore Overlay District because of the Comprehensive Plan, and we addressed zoning issues because of it. In this administration, I allocated the funding to go forward with the Comprehensive Plan, so, yes Jo-Ann, it’s obvious that the Town Board supports it and will go forward with it.
JR: OK. Gordon?
GG: Well. I think this is, again, another one of these issues, ok, where there’s a difference in style, ok. I think that some of the committees are steered. I think that the committee within the Town, whether it be any of the committees and even with the Comprehensive Plan, I think they should be not steered but I think they should be allowed to pursue things. And I don’t know why we’re in such a rush to complete this. I think we’re better taking the time to do it right, and unless there’s something urgent that I’m not aware of, because, again, when you keep things close to the chest, you never know what the incentives are.
JR: OK. Gordon, discussions of Town issues have lately become very heated and polarized. Elected and appointed officials and the public often behave angrily and accusingly at Town and community meetings. Ads and letters to the editor in The Reporter, not to mention Facebook community pages, are becoming increasingly vitriolic. What guidance will you offer to create a more civil atmosphere for community government?
GG: Um, I’m going to welcome people; I’m going to welcome discourse. I’m going to welcome people to come forward to speak. I not going to argue with you when you come to talk before the Town Board, and you’re voicing your opinion. We’re not going to get into debates, ok. We’re going to say “Thank you, very much,” and if it requires more conversation, we will have conversation. I think the way these things have developed, you know … I’m going to go off subject, but I think the issues that the Town has picked up on — water and these things — they’re not, these are all very important issues. I think the issue is that the concept of not … We’ve gotta be inclusive. You’ve got to buy consensus, people have to believe in what you’re doing. And the only way they can do that is if you communicate accurately with them and include them in the decision-making because obviously, they’re going to be part … If it works, it’s part of their joy; if it fails, everyone else is part of the arrangement. But it can’t be from a top-down and then just throw it out. Naturally, where I’m coming from, I can’t (inaudible).
JR: OK. Gerry?
GS: Yes. If you’ve been paying attention for the past four years, I’ve turned down my temperature a little bit (laughter from the audience). You have to earn respect, and you have to give respect. It’s a two-way street. I don’t tolerate people making things up, saying things that are outright lies in public, and letting them say it. I will call them on it, and, I will question. And, sometimes, I will get a little excited. But what Gordon said, after the fact, we do listen to everyone, and we take all of that into discussion.
JR: Thank you. OK, Gerry, the Town Board, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals make decisions that are sometimes disputed by the applicant. Given the rate of development on the Island, do you think the Town is prepared to meet the challenges of increasing litigation? And if not, what remedies do you propose?
GS: I don’t know, Jo-Ann, that there are any remedies because that is, it seems, the way to go, is litigation. The Town has been involved in a lot of litigation just in the last four years. I don’t want to get into specifics unless somebody asks, but it’s reality that it’s gonna happen. And we do everything by the book. We make sure the Planning Board and the Zoning Board are cued in with the attorneys. The Town Board makes sure that we’re cued in with, you know, what’s the right thing to do. We do everything. That was one of the big issues that people that people were saying, uh, when I first came back was, “Oh, that’s how you guys do everything, but that’s not what it says; that’s not how the law works.” So, we’re making an effort to make sure that, even though its been done this way forever, that we’re doing exactly what the Town Code says and if we need to change the Town Code, we will. But we’re doing everything by the book. And, no, we’re never going to prevent people from suing the Town.
JR. OK, thank you. Gordon?
GG: Again, this is one of the reasons that I am running this year is because, ok, I really think that we’ve had more lawsuits than I can possibly … I’ve been sued myself, individually. I think you avoid these lawsuits by communicating. You avoid lawsuits by sitting down, and you try to work out your differences before you bring attorneys in. I think there’ve been some of those issues. You don’t, you don’t, how do I say this? We just have to be, you have to be able to sit down with people and talk to them, ok. And I think you can avoid a lot. By not talking to people, by avoiding them, and not doing certain things you should be doing, that’s what you’ll be, that’s what leads to these kinds of issues that we currently have going on. Thank you.
JR: Do you feel that Shelter Island, Gordon, is on the right path environmentally, including protection of our critical wetlands? Please explain.
GG: I think the Island, I think the current board, is to be commended, ok. I think the mere fact that you brought up these important issues, ok, is something that’s important. Do I think that we’re addressing them correctly? Do I think that we’re taking the right path or the right road? Is everybody being included? I don’t think so, ok. I think the Center wastewater treatment is the best example because we’ve had very good minds come to this Town Board and to the community who had alternative methods. And it’s not a question of, well, you’re, stop using this language, ok, that you’re against affordable housing or use elitism that you live on Ram Island. That kind of discussion is really divisive. That’s what creates this you and us, them and us, kind of an atmosphere. I’m not going to do that. I can tell you that right now, that’s not gonna happen. But are we headed in the right direction? I’m glad you brought it up. And, quite honestly, I want to address those issues head-on going forward, going forward.
JR: Gerry?
GS: Yeah. Gordon keeps going back to the wastewater plant and the need for expertise. The Town has a professional engineer on staff. The town hired an engineering consulting firm. The Town hired a professional hydrologist. The town hired a second professional engineering team to do a SEQR [State Environmental Quality Review] report for us. Each one of those groups said they’d never done this kind of in-depth study for such a small project. We’ve answered every single question — scientifically — put to us. Every single question.
JR: (after consulting with LWV colleagues) You each have two minutes to sum up. You start, Gerry.
GS: (reading from a prepared statement) I’m going to read my closing. In closing, I want to thank everyone who took the time to be here today to give me the opportunity to summarize my experience as the Supervisor of Shelter Island, allowing me to express my deep sense of commitment to all the people that live and work on this Island. It’s my honor to outline the challenges the Town was able to endure and overcome in my tenure as Supervisor in conjunction with the Town Board members and all the Town Departments, including assembling and working as a group to guide the Town through the COVID-19 pandemic, getting free vaccination distribution on the Island, and keeping Town Hall open and the staff on call for all emergencies. In addition, I had the foresight to see the overdue needs of the West Neck Water district and work with their board, evaluating all the options going forward, and then brought in the Suffolk County Water Authority to manage the water district. This was done meticulously and took many months of negotiations, plus working with Fred Thiele to secure half a million dollars in funding to offset the costs of repairs and improvements for the district. I can give you many examples of where I used my knowledge to make positive changes, as I presented in the State of the Town meeting last week. But there are many accomplishments that still need to be shared, like developing the strong, professional administrative staff that cares about the Island and wants to serve our community. OK, I’m running out of time so I’m going to end with a quote. This is from an email I got, and I’m quoting: “Gerry, just a brief note to say thank you for considering all land options for the municipal wastewater system in the Center. Your bold move to address water issues when others have not for many years is to be commended. In addition, you are correct that CPF could address other options when considering future acquisitions which could be of benefit to the community. I look forward to working with you in pursuing these goals, Gordon Gooding” (laughter from the audience).
JR: Gordon, you have two minutes.
GG: Well, Gerry, I don’t know. When was that, at the very beginning?
GS: January of 22.
GG: Excuse me.
GS: Well, you asked me a question.
GG: Excuse me.
GS: Well, you asked a question, Gordon, and I answered you.
JR: Gerry …
GG: OK. I guess you didn’t get so far. This is my closing statement. I would like to thank the library for hosting this event, the League of Women Voters for sponsoring this debate, and Jo-Ann Robotti for being an excellent moderator. I made a note to myself here, and I know I’ll run out of time, but good leaders don’t blame the residents or other people for actions or decisions that are being made. This election is really about a choice, ok. You have the choice: Do you want more of the same, ok, or are you looking to go in a different direction? I see a caring community that is facing many challenges, many that have been discussed here today and over the last few years. Unfortunately, I think the present discourse around these issues has become too divisive and toxic. I believe and know we can do better as a community. Under my leadership, I will work with you, the community, to restore confidence in Town government by being open and transparent, but promoting community involvement, respecting and listening to every one of you out here and anybody who wants to come to Town and to utilize the resources on and off the Island to find the very best solutions. We will find these solutions together. We can do affordable housing without doing any downzoning or encouraging any building in fragile areas. We can find ways to ensure drinking water and ways to keep our harbors and bays clean without moving the problem from one area to another. We can encourage smart development that, that does benefit the Island as a whole. This is the choice you have. You have a choice this election. I ask for your vote. Thank you.
Meet the Democratic primary candidates for Town Board
The Supervisor candidates left the table and, under the agreed-upon format, after about a 10-minute short break, the Town Board candidates took seats to signal the start of the second segment.
JR: Ben, why are you running for office, in two minutes or less, please?
Benjamin Dyett (BD): There are many reasons why I’m running for office, but let’s, uh, start with one or two. Um, first, I love this Island. A lot of you know me, and I’ve been here for forever. But, uh, I care about this place, um, from deep down inside. Otherwise, I would not have raised my family here for so many decades. Um, the other reason is, I found myself looking at The Reporter, talking to people in the Town, and getting frustrated and complaining a lot. And I don’t like to complain. At some point, you either have to stop complaining or do something. And, I have 40 years of business and law experience that I can bring to bear to help this Town. Um, I’m willing to do that, and that’s why I’m running.
JR: Thank you. Bert?
Bert Waife (BW): Uh, I decided to run because I’m concerned about the affordability of the Island. I need it personally to stay affordable for myself, and I see it in a lot of my friends and people that I relate to. I have a business here, and I want the business relationship with the Island to be open to local businesses. And I also feel that, um, I could always address the Town Board, um, with my concerns. I’ve done it for, I don’t know, 30 years as a resident here by choice. I came here as a child without choice (laughter), and I like to say that when I could make the choice, I came for the party and I stayed for the low taxes. So, I’d like to keep it that way. And, you know, I relate to some more of the old-school people who were here. I’ll give the ultimate example of Mal Nevel, you know, who never shied away from an argument with the Town Board. And I’d like to say that I would do the same, and I would expect it from you. The way I see the escalation goes, it is first …
JR: (advised Waife to speak more directly into the microphone)
BW: Ok, so yeah. The, uh, escalation is, you know, first you bring it. You know, you go to the Town Board meeting, and, uh, you address the Town Board there. If you don’t get the response there, then you go into Town Hall on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and you knock on the Supervisor’s door and you talk to him. And that’s the way it works on the Island. That’s why I’m running. I’ve been here a long time. I know a lot of people, but I realize I don’t know everybody, and I think it’s really going to be a joy to get to know more of you.
JR: OK. Albert?
Albert Dickson (AD): I want to get back in the game. There’s a lot of things unfinished that I had that, um, frankly, I don’t feel that I got the support that were important to the Island. There’s so much going now that I get confused. There’s a wastewater treatment plant, clean up Fresh Pond, a committee in Menantic Creek, maybe a public water supply. I really feel it’s time for us to have a concise plan. What we’re doing. How we’re going to move forward. What’s our priorities? We need some expertise, we need some help with this. Not just pick projects and go, “Well this will be beneficial; let’s do this.” I think we really need a very detailed plan and a timeline to get things accomplished to help us.”
JR: Bert, the Town Board is currently urging completion of the new Comprehensive Plan by September. Do you think this is a realistic timeframe? Why or why not?
BW: You know, I’ve watched, uh, some of these, um, meetings on Zoom, and I’ve attended a few of them, and I think that they, you know, there is a good group at the Comprehensive Plan. And, if you walk away with a headache, you get the idea of what’s going on. Um, and I think they would be a better judge to say if they could get it done by September. If they say so, then I’ll believe them. Ben’s on that; I know he participates. Uh, he could tell you if there’s consensus on that. I think it’s important to get it done. Um, I think they’re scratching out of a lot of things that initially got in there that, um, could be problematic. I think you’re eventually going to ask me a question about the wastewater plant, and I think you’ll hear a little difference between me and these other two gentlemen, how I think about that going should be going forward. But, um, the Comprehensive Plan is important. I remember it in ’94, um, and I was on it there for the Sacred Spaces, uh, part of the committee. It was different back then. We had a lot of subcommittees, now it’s just one group. And, of course, they got a lot on their plate. And hopefully, they can wrap it up by then.
JR: Thank you. Albert?
AD: Um, I was a part of selecting the advisory committee for the Comprehensive Plan. I was on the board at the time. I think it’s an excellent committee. It’s a, it’s a, a committed group of people with a cross-section of Shelter Island: local people, some that grew up here, some weekenders, some that are here, have moved here, have retired here. It’s a real cross-section of the Island. It’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s a good thing if the committee is steered in a certain way to favor certain initiatives within the comprehensive plan. I think that’s a conflict.
JR: What about the timing?
AD: I don’t see the rush to get it done this year. I don’t see the rush. Um, let’s get it right, and let’s have, again, a plan of what we need to do moving forward. Thank you.
JR: Ben?
BD: As most of you know, I sit on that committee along with Jo-Ann [Robotti], and I thought I saw [Town Board members] BJ [Ianfolla] sitting over there and Meg [Larsen] standing in the back. I first would like to say that the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Task Force [Ianfolla and Larsen represent the Town Board on the Task Force, along with Julia Weisenberg from the Planning Board] are a really smart, hardworking group of people. That group can produce a good Comprehensive Plan. I don’t understand why there’s a time limit on it. I’m always leaning toward correct over fast. And, the fast makes no sense to me. It certainly has pushed us to make decisions that I don’t agree with on the committee, but the committee has the potential to do great work. So let it do the great work it can do.
JR: Thank you. [To Dickson] What will the importance of transparency in the government require you to do in your role as Councilman should you be re-elected?
AD: The first thing I would suggest and hope that we could do is eliminate the three-minute clock. I’d want to be more involved with the people. I think they need to be heard more consistently. I think the temperature has gotten very divisive on the Island. It’s not an easy fix, but I think that by engaging with people and bringing them together, we could make things happen in a better fashion. Thank you.
JR: Ben, you have a minute to respond. (At Dyett’s request, JR repeated the question.)
BD: It will certainly require me to actually do one of the things that I truly believe in, which is: I have always learned more by using my ears than my mouth. And, the transparency in government, I mean, there was a discussion before, um, when Gordon and Gerry were up here, um, and I think the disconnect there was that sure you can build a plan internally, then go out to the public to get input, but, at that point, the plan is built. Where I think the input from the public has to come is before that plan is finished. And you certainly have people inside Town government putting a plan together, but then finish it off with input from the public.
BW: Yeah, transparency. So I think what we’re talking about is the old-boy network. If it’s, if it’s there, you know, some people get special treatment. Transparency means, you know, treating everybody the same way and looking at the rules and regulations the way they’re written. And we have a problem with the way they’re written and the way they’re enforced, so we’ve got to address it that way, um, and with no special favors, just because you’ve been here for a while or know how to work the system.
JR. Thank you. Back to Ben. Water quality and quantity are problems in certain parts of the Island. Do you think herbicides, pesticides, and irrigation play a role in this and if so, do you think the Town needs to pass more regulations?
BD: Um, well, for a few of the things you mentioned, the Town has no control over them. The county and DEC control pesticides. Uh, herbicides, I’m not sure. Irrigation? The Town can play a role in. I think the Town should take action to protect the environment where it can. And where it can’t, I mean, there should be a dialogue with the county or whoever does have that ability to control those things. Um, our needs must be advocated for when we cannot advocate directly for ourselves. I yield back my time.
(At Waife’s request, Robotti repeated the question.)
BW: The Town certainly, I’m a shell fisherman, so we know that pesticides hitting the water kill shellfish and juvenile fish. So, um, I think we have a ban within 500 feet or so — something like that — for aerial spraying of certain products. As Ben said, we don’t have control over the full, uh, spectrum because of the county. Water quality. Yes, I mean, if we’re talking about ticks and things like that, if they’re going to be spraying on private property, it should be figured out if that’s contaminating our water. And, you know, it’s a dilemma, you know, because you have ticks versus — you know, you can get very sick by them, but also if you’re contaminating the water, you’re gonna get sick too. So, uh, I am against the spraying for the ticks.
JR: Thank you. Albert.
AD: As it’s been mentioned, uh, pesticides is basically out of the Town’s control. It’s handled by the DEC. But people, the residents, if they see something, they can say something and make a call. Um, irrigation? I think we need to rethink the irrigation on the Island. Our water … We are water-challenged. And I think, even though our early history was British, I think our obsession with green lawns is counter-productive from where we really want to be (laughter from the audience). Irrigation wells can be put in without the Town knowing it. An individual can go — I shouldn’t advertise this (more laughter) — a person can go to the county and be permitted to put in an irrigation well on their property without the Town being involved in it. That’s gotta stop, somehow, some way.
JR: Thank you. Bert, houses over 6,000 square feet are routinely approved by the Town Board, a fact lawyers for these proposed projects cite when they come before the board seeking these special permits. In your opinion, what will the recently-passed six-month large residence building moratorium accomplish?
BW: Well, the Town Board’s got a lot of work ahead of them to address this in six months. Um, I think that if we can, you know, there’s a lot of pressure, you know, from people coming from off-Island who are, see the town and understand the code and know you can put 6,000 or more square feet in the two or three buildings that you can put on a lot and put in a tennis court and a pool. Um, it’s a hard question to answer in 30 seconds …
JR: You have two minutes …
BW: OK, I have two minutes on this? It’s a lot easier with two minutes (laughter from the audience). Two minutes, sure, I’ll solve it all. Oh, just one minute to go. I’ll get half of it done (more laughter). Um, you know, I think there’s no limit to up. You’re going to get people that say 6,000 feet. You’re gonna get people who come here with enough money to say, “Well, gee, I’ve got five acres. I could split it up and put 30,000 square feet worth of house if I split it five ways, so why don’t you give me 20,000 for a house?” So, I think we need to, um, protect the character of the Island and also some of the characters that are here. And so, I think that’s a real thing that we can lean on for controlling the size of these houses that people are proposing. So I am for a limit for the upside. I know that might hurt what’s called the, uh, high-end residential kind of development, but, uh, you know, you might get somebody that’s like in Sagaponack, Ira Rennert, who wants a 100,000-square-foot house. So we gotta look at all the resources that the Island has, and we have to understand that they’re shared resources, particularly the water.
JR: Thank you. Now Albert, you only have a minute to solve this one.
AD: Um, they addressed this in Martha’s Vineyard. They passed referendums in townships to limit the size of a house to 3,500 square feet. Frankly, I think that’s the way to go. Um, the Town Board was talking about area ratio. That is just going to continue to the arbitrariness of how much property, how big of a house. Let’s cap the size of a house. And to use the moratorium, there’s so much more that needs to be addressed. When they wrote the code over 20 years ago, they allowed two bedrooms in an accessory dwelling in the Near Shore Overlay because of the environmental sensitivity. Now we have multiple bedrooms. We don’t describe a bedroom in our code. So the people tell us, “No, that’s my office. That’s my art studio. That’s …” whatever it might be. We need to tighten up our code, the least of which, or the most of which as well, is the size of a house. Our code is weak, and it needs to be updated.
JR: Thank you. Ben, one minute.
BD: Um. Well, Albert’s right.
AD: Thank you.
BD: Look. Moratoriums. They sound lovely, and it sounds like you’re doing something, but all they’re really .. they’re there to be implemented when there’s a lack of policymaking. That’s why they exist. Um, and we’ve had a very stark lacking of policy in this area. Um. So hopefully the Town Board will take this time to fix the problem. To actually implement real policy around the size of the houses, not floor area ratio. Um, I mean, if that’s the case, I could build a 40,000-square-foot house on my land. So, that’s not the way to do it. Um, we need to protect the nature and feel of this Island and the environment, and we need to absolutely protect the Near Shore Overlay area. We just have to.
JR: Thank you. Albert, the Town Board recently voted to assign wetlands permitting approval to the Planning Board, removing itself completely from the process. How will the Town Board retain its responsibilities as elected officials to oversee and protect our critical wetlands?
AD: I do not agree with that position that the Town Board took. At a meeting, I did express that concern that I had with them. Um. There’s no expertise. Not to disparage the people on the Planning Board. There is no expertise as I see it. There is no planning professional. There is no environmental professional. The lawyer and the engineer for the Planning Board, their expertise is in subdivision, lot line changes. Keep the decision with the Town Board. We’re — hopefully — the elected officials and responsive to the people. Keep the decision with the Town Board. Thank you.
JR: Ben, one minute. (She repeated the question at Dyett’s request.)
BD: Well, delegation of certain responsibilities sometimes has to happen. However, this particular responsibility is so critical to the future of this Island and everything we hold dear that, um, I don’t agree with the decision that was made to switch it over to the Planning Board. Mainly because the Planning Board are appointed while the Town Board are elected and answerable to the people. And, I understand, I mean I’ve had enough time to watch people on the board and in committees and how they work and how hard they work. I understand the need to lighten that load. This is not the place to do it.
JR: Bert. You’re coming across a little muffled.
Terry Lucas: Yeah, you’re pretty muffled. If you can hold it just a little bit away and speak very clearly.
Bert: OK, thanks.
TL: We’ll let the Zoom people weigh in.
Bert: I’ve got kids watching (laughter from audience). I don’t want them to think Dad’s got a problem. So, uh, to the Democrats in the room here, this is a real distinction between the two — my two co-seaters right here — because, you know, I looked at the problem that the Town Board was trying to solve and I listened to them. Meg’s [Councilwoman Larsen] presentation was we have a problem with the flow chart of the way that these planning applications were coming to the Town. They were going to the Building Department. The Building Department was sending it to the, um, Planning Board, the Planning Board was going back to the Town Board. The flow chart, Meg didn’t go into that much detail, she compared it with her improvement, and since she was doing the work, she said, “Hey, let’s reorganize this.” It wasn’t just that they were abdicating the responsibility. They were trying to make it more efficient …
JR: (Cutting Waife off due to time) Thank you. OK. Benjamin, residential and commercial development over recent years seems to increasingly cater to exclusive wealthy clientele resulting in a widening us versus them division. Do you think it’s possible to balance the Island’s economy and opportunities to encompass every Shelter Islander — part-timer and full-timer — and if so, how would you do it?
BD: I’m not sure I agree with the premise. Um, but I will say that this is a small Island. We need to take special care in protecting the community as a whole. It has to be a whole, healthy organism. And certainly, the first thing we have to do is make a successful effort at building affordable housing. There has to be every level of demographic here on this Island for it to be healthy. And by catering to one or the other — like I said, I’m not sure I agree with that premise — but I will agree with is that we have to work harder to make sure that everyone who wants to be here can successfully be here. And there clearly is not enough affordable housing for younger people, smaller families, um, and that has got to be job number one.
JR: Thank you. Bert? (She repeated the question at Waife’s request.) You only have a minute to solve this problem.
BW: Thanks, great (laughter). So, look. Specifically, let’s talk about the wastewater treatment because that’s a big part of it. There’s a dead zone in the Center of the Island, and we have an opportunity to do something there. And, like, when I was … 40 years ago, we had way more business. We had the House of Glass, we had Bohack’s, or George’s where there’s 18 Bay, we had Fedi’s in the Center, we had Carol’s. Now it’s a dead zone. B1 is a failure. We’ve got to address that. And once you get zoning, you, uh, can create a little bit of density right around 114, um, and that’s what I think can help with, you know, increasing the “Us versus Them.”
JR: Thank you. Albert?
AD: Um, unfortunately, what’s happening in Washington, DC has come to little old Shelter Island, much to our chagrin. Um, it’s not an easy answer how to do that. I think we need to be more inclusive. We need to pay attention more to each other and work together. I know that sounds patronizing, but I think that that’s what we really need.
JR: OK. Um, Bert, back to you. Now you have two minutes to solve the problem. Many individuals and organizations, such as the Shelter Island Association — comprised of neighborhood associations — have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to decisions being made by the Town Board. What weight would you give the viewpoints of these organizations and individuals in your decision-making?
Bert: Well, ok. You know, they have to come in. I think, a lot of … These organizations are the people, and they need to, uh, state their opinions clearly. But the Town Board, uh, you know, needs to set leadership and go about a vision and finding it and acting upon it. You know, I think if Silver Beach is telling us how to, what you need to do in the Center, um, you know, I don’t think that has as much weight as the people in the Center telling us what do to there. But at the same time, um, we all share the benefits of, say the school. We all can send our kids there, and it’s a great thing for the Island. But, yeah, it’s a, uh, source of nitrates in the water. So what’s to say that that nitrate should stay in the Center, so to speak. I think the best thing we can do for that nitrate is to treat it as deeply as we can and to release it somewhere on the Island, um ,you know, safely. So that’s why the wastewater treatment plant makes sense to me. You know, I heard recently, someone recently described the Heights treatment plant as the Heights Treatment Plant, but then I heard someone say it’s the aging Heights Treatment Plant. So now we’ve got a new category of something on the Island. So, uh, I think A lot of things need to be looked at throughout, you know, within organizations or neighborhoods, but for the whole Island to go for.
JR: Albert?
AD: The SIA represents, I don’t know exactly what the number is …
(Someone calls out from the audience: 10)
AD: 10 homeowners associations. All the people, including myself, spoke out at the Town Board meetings and hearings to keep the final decision on wetlands applications with the [Town] Board. They improved the criteria. I will give the Board that. They did a good job in improving the criteria. But they didn’t listen to the people. They went ahead with a decision on their own. They could’ve compromised and said let’s do it for a period of time and see how it works, but they chose not to. That’s not good government.
JR: Ben?
BD: Well first, I would like to thank all of those neighborhood associations for standing up and playing a part in their communities and having a voice. Um, and, even if you don’t have a neighborhood association, please come and have a voice in what goes on here. When the Klenawicus wastewater treatment plan was first proposed, there is no Eeltown neighborhood association. Um. I and others led the charge to point out the deficiencies of that thinking. So we need more involvement. And I would encourage that the best way I can possibly do.
JR: Thank you. Albert, the town has passed a new ethics code that requires employees and elected officials to disclose any conflicts of interest they may have. In some cases, they will have to recuse themselves and abstain from both discussing and voting on that topic. Do you foresee any such situations in which you would have to disclose or step away?
AD: Um. Well, let me take the opportunity to commend the Board for reconstituting the Ethics Committee with really qualified people and creating a new Code of Ethics. Really, a tremendous thing they did for the Island; they need to be complimented on that. As far as myself compromising?
JR: Do you see any situation in the future?
AD: Wow. Right now, no I don’t. No, I don’t believe so. But if it did arise and it was pointed out, I would certainly do that. I would step away and recuse myself without a doubt.
JR: Ben?
BD: yes, as Albert said, great job by the Town on the Ethics Committee. Um, the first thing, the only thing, that really comes to mind for me is that, as a lot of you know, I’m very involved with Sylvester Manor. I was one of the people that founded what you now know today as Sylvester Manor. Um, we started with the CSA in 2009, and, uh, I served five years as the board president of Sylvester Manor. And, as you know, Sylvester Manor does have dealings with the Town. We’re 250 acres in the middle of this Island. So, if I am elected to the Town Council, and there are issues that come up with Sylvester Manor — I still sit on the board of Sylvester Manor as well — I would probably find myself thinking about recusing.
JR: Bert?
BW: Yes. I have a mooring business, so um. I think the, uh, one of the reasons the Town Board, went after the ethics and redoing the Ethics Committee is one of the times that I presented myself to the Town Board and talked about a member on the WMAC. I would have to recuse myself on mooring applications, um, and possibly any permitting or a dock or bulkhead that I was to perform in, I’m sure I would have to recuse. Um, you know, for whatever business I do. Well, um, I did the picture framing for Kiki (laughter from the audience) [Shelter Island posters by Kiki Boucher were on the display along the walls of the library meeting room]. So if the Town Board wants to do any presentations, I would need to, you know, not vote on that. Also, T-shirts or hats (more laughter).
JR: Thank you. Back to you Ben. This question has two parts. Many private wells are unusable due to saltwater intrusion or contamination by chemicals such as those good old nitrates. Does the Town have a responsibility to educate the public on the necessity of water testing? That is the first part. The second part is: Does the Town have a moral or legal obligation to ensure that residents have access to potable water?
BD: So, um, Town government exists to protect the health and welfare of the people that live in the Town, so, um, educating people about the importance of clean water and knowing whether the water coming out of your tap is clean is part of the Town’s responsibility. Um. Now as far as helping support and provide potable water, yes, the Town should use its resources, its, its grant, uh, application, and grant award abilities to help people in the town have drinkable water. It’s two parts but almost the same question. There should be an educational peice. Teach people how to be healthy and then help provide them the tools and the means and the actual water to be healthy.
JR: Bert?
BW: Yes, ok. Um, the question is, so is a Town … I didn’t get an answer from Ben. I didn’t understand what he was talking about.
BD: It was two yeses.
BW: Ok. I’m not too sure on what. The question is does the Town have the municipal responsibility to provide clean water to its residents? I look at it this way: Are we going to deny clean water to our residents? I don’t think we should deny water to anyone on the Island. I think we have to figure out how to supply water to everybody on the Island from Ram Island to Silver Beach and in the Center. I think it’s a municipal responsibility that the Town has got to get used to in the new world that we live in.
AD: However, the education piece is certainly something that should be pursued. It is a health and safety issue? We do need clean water on the Island. How to do it is a very big question. Not an easy question to answer. The first thing we need to do, one of the first things, is to take care of our upper glacial aquifer; install I/A systems. We need to clean water what we have. As far as supplying water, I would first look at small community wells rather than a massive overall system. I would start with small community wells for water supply to those people who are challenged for potable water.
JR: Bert, from your perspective, what are the three greatest threats to life and lifestyle here on Shelter Island?
BW: That’s kind of hard to say with a straight face. So, um, you know, affordability is a threat to the Island. I think environmentally, we have a threat, uh, particularly with climate change and how that’s going to affect how we protect ourselves. And, um, you know, probably, our water and with that, keeping with affordability, I will say housing as well. So that’s the way I would put that question. You know, I’ve thought about, you know, in each one of those subtopics, you know, um, let’s say climate change, you can talk about bulkheading and things like that. I’m not going to we shouldn’t remove any bulkheads, but we should discuss how we’re going to protect the Island in the future. Um, with water quality, uh, we need to see how that’s going to … we need to provide, uh, good water. For affordability, we need to be very careful what sort of projects we support and how we go about it.
JR: Albert. You three greatest threats (she repeated the question at his request)
AD: One, two, and three is our water. It’s the most critical aspect of the Island, our health and safety, and sustainability is tied to water. Maybe one and two, and number three is housing. Housing is very important. Keep Shelter Island affordable. Keep a project going. Get affordable housing for the people that need to stay and have the opportunity to stay.
JR: Ok, Benjamin?
BD: Oh boy. Uh, three things and in no particular order, by the way. Um, a responsive town government or a non-responsive town government that, um, isn’t taking a hard look at clean data to make decisions. That would be one thing. Um, obviously, clean water is the, I wouldn’t call it a second thing, but in no particular order, the second thing. And, I want to say affordable housing, but it’s really about making sure that this community is well-rounded so we don’t lose a whole segment of the community because we’re not providing certain services in the Town. Because without a well-rounded community, this place will skew off track.
JR: Thanks to you each of you. Now you each will have two minutes to make a closing statement.
AD: Hold the lclock please and let me get my glasses out. For those of you who may or may not know me, I grew up here. I am fourth generation, who was given a strong sense of family and community. I graduated from Shelter Island School. I went away to college and work. But always maintained a home here and my connections. Shelter Island is part of my soul. So much so that my wife would have you believe there was a prenuptial agreement that when the time came, we would settle here (his wife, seated in the audience, assented). I served on the Town Board from 2018 through 2021. I was the leading and sometimes sole advocate for protecting our environment, our waters, and our wetlands. I proposed many initiatives to help ensure the long-term sustainability of our Island, to improve our waters, and limit excessive building. As a Reporter article said about me, “If there’s a single word that captures Mr. Dickson, it is water. He stressed an urgency to never postpone serious legislation meant to ensure action.” If returned to the board, I will bring my passion for the environment to continue the work I began and hopefully with more supportive colleagues like Gordon and Ben. I will also bring the knowledge I gained while in office of many Town issues, how the Town operates, and how it could be run better. I will also work to improve the dialogue. To unite and not divide. To listen and instill trust in Town government. We all love this place, We’re all vested here. Let’s work together to make it a better place for all.”
JR: Ben?
BD: So, I can sit here and talk about how long I’ve lived in this community and the ways in which I’ve contributed to it, but we all have our bubbles and our comfort zones. Uh, I’m well-known in some arenas, and not so much in others. And then there’s a whole D and R divide. None of that is important on this rock since we are all affected by the same major issues that some could say are being mishandled by actually the current Town government, and that’s no matter where you live or how you live. In my professional life, I only experienced success when I built a really good team and worked well with others. Collaboration is the quickest road to solutions, and you get the most positive motion out of people when they feel they are being heard and that they’re contributing to something that’s dynamic and inclusive. That is what I hope to bring to Town government so that we can actually solve the water quality problem in the Center, protect our wetlands, build affordable housing — absolutely critical — promote controlled commercial development and make Town government more transparent and responsive. I decided to throw my hat into this ring because I realized I had professional expertise to offer. Instead of complaining about the lack of honest data being used, I decided to try and change that. If the people of Shelter Island want my help, I’m there for them. Thank you.
BW: Um, I didn’t bring any notes, but I really appreciate this. To the Democrats, I think it’s really important to understand the difference between the three who are running a separate agenda versus the Democratic Committee. And, they didin’t, which you know, as they said, they’re an Island for all except for me and probably you. That’s what I wrote in a letter to the paper. And I repeat that here because I think that these three gentlemen really want to stop, you know, a lot of the work that the Town Board, which I can’t believe, when you listen to them, how did they get elected in the first place? You know, there’s some Democrats and Republicans up there, and you’d think they didn’t listen to anybody. But I think they have. But what they’re dealing with is really contentious issues, particularly in the center of the Island right now. I didn’t always get along with all of them. You can go to the videotape and see Gerry trying to take me out of a meeting with the guard there (laughter from the audience) and, you know, so. Uh, and Gerry, some of your ideas, I think are, um, it’s good to have ideas, but it’s better to have money. I don’t think the town’s got the money for all of your ideas. Uh, and I think that I can rein some of those in. I’m for … I think you’ve got a good plan for the wastewater treatment plan. I think that’s going to solve a lot of issues for the Town. But you’ve got to look into B1 Zoning and resurrect the center of town and make it a livelier place. I’m a supporter of the library here, for the the for that. And the Community Center. I support the Fire Department, and I also support, you know, Town services. I think we need to use our resources wisely to keep the place affordable, and that’s what I’d like to bring to the Town Board. You can come out and yell at me. And, it’s, uh, I’m a little deaf, so do it loud (more laughter).
A round of audience questions
In this final segment, Robotti read questions that audience members penciled onto index cards that were collected earlier in the event by LWV volunteers. Except when otherwise noted, the questions were open to all.
JR: On the Island, there are currently more than 60 people coming to the CAST truck for food, plus others using the food pantry. What should the Town government role be to help hungry residents?
GS: I think the Town’s role is to work with groups like CAST that come over on a regular basis, that, um, to help with the problem.
JR: Work how?
GS: Uh, we tried to find space for them to come over here. We put in the budget a donation to give to CAST. We acknowledge that there is a problem, and we’re looking for any other ways we can help. We also have the food pantry. We don’t run it, but we try to help wherever we can with that also.
JR: Anybody else? Gordon?
GG: Um, I think, you know I talked here earlier about the COVID money that was released to the Towns. I know that we received some of that money. Maybe some of that money could be allocated to a good cause. Let’s not forget the food pantry. The food pantry is very active in distributing food to the needy.
GS: Um, all right, the Town received $256,000 from COVID. We have that entire amount in fund balance. We haven’t touched it yet. I don’t know how we would do it other than food pantries. I don’t know how you would use, allocate that money to meet needs of individuals.
BD: Also, the Town government needs to take a very active role in encouraging private organizations to contribute and help with the food pantry and other services that support, um, people in need.
BW: We also have the school. The school should be involved with, um, you know, keeping, helping kids or families and that’s a way to communicate with them so as to identify problems or at-risk people in the town.
AD: How do we know those individuals? Did they come forward on their own? I’m thinking, is there more than 60 families or individuals? We need to find out how we could encourage them to come forward so the Town can help them.
JR: Again, anyone can answer this question, and you don’t all have to answer if you don’t choose to do so. Please describe the most important policies you have either adopted or intend to adopt that protect the Shelter Island environment and, in particular, shorefront wetlands and open space.
BD: I’m not currently in government, and I’ve never been a politician before, but, um, I did run Sylvester Manor for many years and during those years worked actively and very hard towards preserving that land on a permanent basis and actually making sure that the Manor and its operation are sustainable for the long term.
GS: Yeah, ok, your question was kind of broad, so I’ll go back 20 years. Uh, I helped create the Near Shore Overlay District in the original Comprehensive Plan, and I put in place the nature preserve system that Mashomack is part of, and Mashomack cannot do any kind of development without a Town referendum.
GG: Um, you’re talking about preserved land. We talk about keeping preserved land preserved, but I think one of the things that I’d like to do that properties that have been preserved where the development rights that didn’t know about TDRs [Transfer of Development Rights] and they didn’t know about these issues that have come forward, I think they should be grandfathered, I think they should be extinguished, ok. For future property acquisitions, ok, that’s an entirely different thing. But I don’t thinks it’s very difficult and I don’t think it’s fair to go backwards and try to claim TDRs on past acquisitions.
JR: This question is directed to Gerry. Assume you are reelected and consider potential recession and lower tax revenues; what are you going to do to avoid budgetary problems in the next two years?
GS: Again, we’ve instituted, uh, these user fees throughout the budget. With a considerable, uh, lessening of the tax base. We have WMAC money which is waterways management money that we use for all waterways items. We have the WQI money that’s used for freshwater problems on the Island. We try to use whatever monies are available without going through the taxes. We also raised user fees for permits and licenses, uh, to cover themselves in the landfill. When the, uh, at the landfill, you might if you go in the back notice the grinder is working. If the grinder is working, it costs about $2,000 a day between maintenance and diesel oil, and we have to pay for that with fees. So that’s what we’ve done. We’ve made sure that all of our fees cover our expenses rather than have the taxpayers offset it.
JR: Gordon, this question was directed to you. What steps would you implement to bring the bloated Town budget to stability? Not my word.
GG: I don’t know about the bloated point, I wouldn’t use that kind of a comment. But I think rather than when we talk about budget time, we talk about what is required, I think we need to look at every department and we see where are efficiencies can play a bigger role. We can really trim back on. When somebody says to me, “What are those items?” There’s always items. You know, if Community Preservation can do better, I think we can do better in all departments. Obviously, our tax structure is based on: We have the school, we have the library, uh, we have the police department, we have the general fund. So there’s a lot of things that go into our overall tax structure. As far as the Town, I think we have to pay much closer attention. And quite honestly, the Supervisor is the chief financial officer. I assume that if I were running that position I would take that in a serious manner.
GS: Can I rebut that?
JR: Nope (laughter from the audience). This is for anyone who wants to answer. It used to be said that about every five years, someone would suggest closing the school. What is your opinion of that, and what do you think the community would look like both culturally and fiscally?
AD: I want that one.
GS: I got it. I got it. My four daughters all graduated from Shelter Island School. One of the reasons we moved here was to put my family through the school. I served on the school board for 10 years. I think one of the realities is that the school will be changing in the next five to 10 years. I don’t know that we will be able to have a high school here. I don’t know that the numbers will justify it. Uh, I hope that’s not the case, but it might be a reality. Without the school, again, you lose part of the community. Hopefully, we could keep kindergarten through 8th grade, that part.
AD: Maybe I’m a little biased having gone through the school, but I really believe the school is the heart and soul of our community, and if we lose the school, we’ll lose our sense of community.
BW: Yeah, I have two children here on the Island and it’s been a great joy to see them both go through the school. Uh, I think it’s a wonderful thing for, for, uh, for the Island as a whole. Of course, there’s been dramatic changes that came into the Island from the outside forces, you know. We used to be able to walk into the school and walk into the classrooms and see your kids and teachers, and that’s, uh, gone away now because of the horrendous, uh, you know, school shootings. And, um, but, uh, you know it’s still a wonderful place, and I’ll do everything I can to sustain it. Except have more kids (raucous laughter).
BD: I don’t think it’s a requirement to have kids who have gone to school here. My daughter is an adult and did not go to school here. But my neighbors, and my friends, they have kids in the school right now and have in the past, so I understand the importance of the school, and I think it is the heart and soul of the community. But I’ve also watched the population drop over the years. And the only real way to stop that and retain the school is by building affordable housing so that these young families will have a place to live and their kids can go to the school.
JR: Ok. Route 114 from North Ferry Road into the center of Town is a disgrace. Not my word. What would you do to encourage the sale and redevelopment of the derelict property and make the center of our Town something that impresses, not depresses, visitors and Islanders alike?
(The other candidates passed the microphone to Gerry Siller to laughter from the crowd).
GS: Nobody wants to touch that one. There’s not a whole lot that a municipality can do with private businesses dictating what to do. We talked about at one time maybe, uh, an occupancy tax when there’s nobody in the building. But it’s, uh, kind of hard to do. We have, you know, people complain about Fedi’s and the pizza parlor. But they don’t talk about The Reporter building, which has been empty for four years. It’s very hard for the municipality to govern private business. Can we work with them? We’d love to. So, it’s easier said than done.
BD: Yeah, well the way it’s done traditionally is the municipality goes out and finds incentives from the state and county and offers those incentives to help stimulate business. But, once again, you can’t make private business do it, but you can certainly entice them.
BW: I mentioned it earlier, but the center of Town has a special zoning called B1. And, uh, it needs to be looked at again. I believe it’s a failure right now. Um, and I think the Town can set the pace by, uh, um, looking to the campus of what Town Hall is and possibly, um, expanding it going, uh, to the south there, um, with purchasing two of the businesses there in the future. I think the Town is looking in the wrong direction with trying to purchase the Murray property and turn it into a fitness center. I think that spreads out, uh, the infrastructure too far on the Island. I’d like to see it more concentrated in the Center and, I think the Town can make that happen.
AD: There’s serious roadblocks to the situation in the Center. Um, a lot of the property, or a number of pieces of property, are owned by one particular owner who, um, frankly I don’t know how interested he is to developing the property and making it attractive to rent. I don’t know. But it is a tremendous roadblock. I don’t have an answer how to fix that. It is a big roadblock, though.
JR: Ok. What about plans for enforcement of codes that are already active but unenforced because of lack of officers? For example, the irrigation code or STR restrictions?
GS: This has to go back to when I spoke earlier about with permit fees and license fees so we have money in the budget. We just hired, uh, a code enforcement officer who works over at Southampton Town; he’s working for us two days a week. He’s going to help us with the enforcement. We’re well aware of the problem of enforcement, we’re also very well aware of how, uh, put upon our building department is with all the work going on. So we felt a need to get some outside help. And that’s what we’ve done.
GG: You know, this enforcement thing has been kicking around for, I don’t know how long, ok. I can tell you that, um, it’s not like you didn’t spend money on programs to follow short-term rentals. It’s not like we didn’t have, uh, people that were on staff to do enforcement. Uh, what we’re missing is the will to hold people’s feet to the fire. Ok? I think that’s really important and I think it can be done. But we may not have to be so … we’re trying to be who … we lack the ability or the strength to really call things out as they should be called out. That would resolve so many problems, whether it’s short-term rentals and noise. We have all the pieces, but we have fallen short on that.
JR: Please quantify the actual demand for affordable housing in terms of numbers of units, types of units, and time frame.
GG: Um, we don’t have that. I mean it’s not readily available. It’s been a moving target. I guess a comment that I’d like to make is that we had a referendum last November and it’s been eight months later, and our community has been stretched out at odds end between the “nos” and the “yeses,” ok. Uh, we really need to really zero in on this. I, I think we can do affordable housing. We don’t need wastewater treatment. We do not need Suffolk County [Water Authority]. I think we can do this now, and we should consider this option of using community wells. Thank you.
GS: I think the wastewater district and housing have nothing to do with each other unless you’re against housing, ok? (Chatter from the audience) We’ve addressed .. what’s the question? Oh, I know what it was. We have a $2M grant for ADUs. We’ve had very successful meetings with people who’ve come forward who’d like to be involved in that. The Town is looking at, uh, with the Suffolk County Health Department, at the site of the old highway barn adjacent to the Historical Society. We’re seeing exactly what they’ll let us put in there as far as housing. That’s moving forward. We have that and we have the ADUs. And I personally am working, uh, with residents on the Island to form a foundation specifically for housing.
JR: With the school opting out of the [wastewater] treatment plant and the introduction of public water in the center, what are your thoughts about revisiting the feasibility study to select the best technology for the proposed [wastewater] system given these significant changes?
GS: That’s exactly what the Town’s been doing all along. We’re looking for the best solution. We’ve gone back to the drawing board a couple of times. We’re still doing that. This is a health and safety issue. It’s the number one priority in the Town. You can’t have housing unless you have water. We are addressing it both with the plans we have and what we can do to make them better.
GG: You need wastewater. But Gerry’s right, ok. Really, um, the, the wastewater treatment should have nothing to do with affordable housing. Yet we spent a lot of time making accusations over those who might, who are supposed to be against affordable housing. Um, just getting back to the water issue. I, we, really, were were, supposed to be municipal buildings only. As recently as this past Monday, we’re now talking about tying in, uh, residential or the spine of the area. What happens is we have a moving target. We really don’t know what the plans are. And that’s what I’m going to change. You’re going to know those plans, ok. It’s not going to come out on a Monday morning without any earlier warning.
JR: Thank you. A question for Gerry. With all of the major hotel and restaurant expansions catering to off-Islanders on your watch — The Chequit, The Pridwin, Léon, etc. — how many new private sector jobs year-round, full-time have they created for on-Islanders, and how much incremental tax revenue has Shelter Island received through these expansions.
GS: Absolutely no tax revenue because the assessments are the assessments. It’s not based on what the businesses do. As far as year-round employment, I would have no idea. But I know that hundreds of people are employed during the season, and I know hundreds of people contribute to the economy of the Island. I’d also like to say that as far as Gordon keeps going back to housing and the wastewater when someone says at a public meeting that the wastewater project is Siller’s Trojan Horse for housing, then yes, it is obviously an issue.
JR: OK. And we’re out of time. Thank you all.
