The Town Board has appointed three new members to the reconstituted Ethics Board and set an April 8 public hearing to investigate interest in expanding the panel to five members.
The decision at Friday’s Town Board meeting comes amid calls for Ethics Board review of possible conflicts of interest — and the appearance of conflicts of interest — regarding several Town positions. [See this post about concerns relating to the Waterways Management Advisory Council, for example.]
Duff Wilson, Deborah Grayson, and Michael DeSanctis, all Island residents, will serve on the Ethics Board. Among their first tasks, the Town Board has said, will be to review the sections of the Town Code pertaining to the Ethics Board, as well as investigate claims. The Town Board did not indicate a start date for the Ethics Board, which is tasked with providing confidential, non-binding advisory opinions.
Appointments
The Town Clerk announced she has appointed Robert Mazzaferro as Deputy Town Clerk as of March 7, 2022. The board also enacted these Town appointments:
- Lynn Ann Coolidge and Angela Corbett, on-call cooks for 2022, $22.77 per hour
- Donna Cass, Silver Circle driver for 2022, $22.59 per hour
- Leon Creighton, part-time cook, $22.77
- Coco Lee Thuman, as per 2022 budget, as clerk of: Board of Assessment Review, Capital Planning and Grants Committee, Community Housing Board, Community Housing Fund Advisory Board, Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, Conservation Advisory Council, EMS Advisory Board, Green Options Committee, Media Department, Planning Board, Water Advisory Committee, Water Quality Improvement Advisory Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals, as per 2022 budget
- Blanca Frasco, full-time assistant to the Assessor and Receiver of Taxes, as per 2022 budget
- Marissa Fanelli, Senior Activity Center permanent office assistant
- Joe Finora, permanent Town Engineer
The board voted to reappoint these volunteers as follows:
- Joseph R. Messing, member of Board of Assessment Review through September 20, 2026
- Howard Johansen and Mark Capellino, members and co-chairmen of the Conservation Advisory Council through September 20, 2023
- Julia Weisenberg, member of Water Quality Improvement Advisory Board through February 2, 2027
- John Needham, member and chairman of Ferry Study Group, through January 29, 2024
- Peter McCracken, member and chairman of EMS Advisory Board through December 31, 2023
- Charles Ihlenfeld, M.D., and Marian Brownlie, members of EMS Advisory Board through December 31, 2023
- Cathy Kenny, Tim Purtell, Twoey Brayson, and Chuck Kraus members of the Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board through February 2, 2025
And the board made the following new appointments:
- Brett Poleshuk, member of Community Housing Fund Advisory Board through March 18 , 2024
- Richard Holman, M.D., member of the EMS Advisory Board through December 21, 2023
- Elizabeth Hanley, chair of the Community Housing Fund Advisory Committee
- Sarah Gordon and Tremesa Overstreet, members of Community Housing Fund Advisory Committee through March 18 2024
It also confirmed previous appointments for volunteers who failed to file required oaths of office:
- Peter Swerdloff, West Neck Water Board through April 27, 2025
- Roxanne duVivier , Conservation Advisory Council though September 20, 2024
Approves waterways permits
Following public hearings, the board approved these waterways applications:
- Julian D. Staib, 15 Montclair Avenue, for a West Neck Harbor mooring at latitude 41.047 degrees north and longitude 72.347794 degrees west formerly occupied by the W2952 Binder mooring.
- Ann Santaseri, 11 Montclair Avenue, for a West Neck Harbor mooring atlatitude 41.0487944 north and longitude 72.34 71 58 3 west
- Seth and Bonnie Harris, 6 Bootleggers Alley, to remove a 6′ by 20’section of existing finger pier in Southold Bay and install a 4′ by 24′ fixed section of dock
- Noah Topliff, 16 Jaspa Road, for a Coecles Harbor stake mooring and pulley system at Captain Bob’s landing midway between the Coyle C3012 mooring and the Featherstone c2920 mooring at latitude 41.087943 degrees north and longitude 72.323646 degrees west
The only question came from Sandra O’Connor, who asked whether the Harris dock had all the required approvals in place from other entities; the answer was yes.
The Town Board agenda included a public hearing on a local law regarding wetlands and special permits; the board opened and then immediately closed the hearing because substantive changes to the law require that a new hearing be scheduled.
Approves wetlands permits
Following public hearings, the board approved wetlands permits, all subject to standard construction procedures, erosion controls, and soil management practices designed to minimize wetlands disturbance, and applicable Town regulations concerning litter control, noise, and construction vehicle parking:
- Josh Sapan, 22 Prospect Avenue, to demolish a beach access stairway and replace it with a new set of wood stairs, adding one new shed at the lowest landing, subject to these specific conditions:
- all constructions proceeds as depicted on the partial site plan dated June 3, 2021 prepared by Sherman Engineering
- footings shall be dug and backfilled on the same day
- existing and new stairs shall be used to bring in and remove old material and foot traffic on the bluff shall be avoided to the greatest extent practical
- old posts shall be cut at grade or at the top of footings whichever is higher with the footings abandoned in place unless the footing is completely exposed, in which case it shall be completely removed
- the trunk and root mat of any live or dead tree that is to be removed pursuant to the subject site plan is to remain in place however the removal of live trees is to be limited
- any disturbed area is to be planted with shade and sand tolerant native plants that produce thick root mats and shall be confirmed via inspection prior to the certificate of completion being issued
- all utilities shall be attached and maintained under the proposed stair structure for a seasonal use only, not buried, and be winterized after each summer season
- the existing cast iron drain pipe shall be abandoned in place
- the location of mitigation measures shall be examined by the building department prior to the start of work and periodically thereafter
- Thomas Kusner, 11 Dickerson Drive, to demolish an existing wood retaining wall and paver walkway and construct a new pool and pool patio within the regulated area subject to these conditions:
- all constructions proceeds as depicted on the partial site plan dated June 1, 2021 prepared by Sherman Engineering
- prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance for the pool, the applicant shall install:
- a Suffolk County-approved I/A wastewater treatment system
- an automatic pool cover
- a salt cell disinfection device with a cartridge filter
- a pearmeable pool patio
- a fifteen foot non-turf vegetative buffer
- the owner shall also clear debris from the adjoining beachfront and confirm that all downspouts are connected to a drywell system
- Whitney McCarthy, 9 Locust Avenue, to demolish an existing dwelling foundation a section of a front porch and construct a new foundation, new front porch front piers, decking and stairs at the side of the front porch all within the regulated area, subject to the following conditions:
- all constructions proceeds as depicted on the partial site plan dated September 10, 2021 prepared by Sherman Engineering
- no further expansion of the subject project shall occur including the addition of bedrooms will be permitted unless the applicable Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board or Town Board approvals are secured
- de-watering is prohibited
- new drywalls are to be installed to capture all roof runoff as determined to be satisfactory by the building department
Upcoming public hearings
The board set public hearings for April 8, with approximate times:
- Thomas Amico, 10b Club Drive, to take over the mooring of Coles C-3519 in place in kind at latitude 41.41.07358 degrees north and longitude 72.28073 degrees west, 4:40 PM
- Bradley Coppens, 32 Little Ram Island Drive, to remove existing dock and construct a new 4′ by 32′ inshore walkway, leading to a 4′ by 100′ foot catwalk with a 4′ by 30′ foot section, 4:42 PM
- Amend Town Code Chapter 8, Code of Ethics, to increase the number of Ethics Board members from three to five, 4:44 PM
- Amend Town Code Chapter 100, Public Records Access, to streamline process of public records inspection by designating the Town Clerk, Chief of Police and Chief Building Inspector, as custodians of and access officers for their respective departments, with public inspection and/or copying taking place at their respective offices, 4:46 PM
- Amend Town Code Chapter 133 Zoning to clarify that 30 days notice is required for all appeals applications — not just variances, 4:48 PM
- Dale P. Richards, 62 Gardiners Bay Drive, to remove and replace 80 feet of bulkhead in kind and in place, 3′ by 6′ platform, and 3′ by 20′ staircase leading to a 3′ by 5′ cantilevered platform with aluminum stairs leading to the beach, 4:50 PM
Public works and highway bids
The board authorized Commissioner of Public Works and Superintendent of Highways Brian Sherman to request bids for:
- concrete work on foundation slab for new Crescent Beach restroom trailer and pavilion
- construction of 14 by 20 pavilion
- purchase of a new hook lift truck with plow and salt/sand spreader
- design services for ADA compliance at the Shelter Island Police Department headquarters
Purchases/contracts/reimbursements
The board authorized these purchases/contracts:
- $9,250 to Heavy Quip Inc, dba Diesel Sales, Chicago, IL as 50 percent down payment for new engine for Highway Department screening plane
- $4,250 to Jefferson Solutions, Inc., 14 Britney Oaks, Clifton Park NJ for GASB75 compliance
- $6,702 to Lexipol LLC, 2611 Internet Boulevard, Suite 100, Frisco, TX for the Shelter Island Police Department’s annual policy manual update and daily training bulletin through 2022
- $1,000 to Page Dorian Inc, 4425 West Riverside Drive, Burbank CA for deposit return for filming at 52 Peconic Avenue on February 14 as no Town cleanup was required
Other business
In other business, the Town Board also corrected its employee manual, deleting provisions that provided full-time employees with a day off in recognition of their birthday (on the day or another date selected by the employee), and an annual floating holiday, including for all employees with hire dates prior to July 1.
The board granted a bride’s request for one-lane closure of the second Ram Island causeway on Friday, August 26 for 90 minutes beginning at 9 AM, to allow passage of a Baraat, part of a traditional Indian wedding in which the groom arrives on horseback amid a festive procession of 50 to 60 guests to The Ram’s Head Inn.
The wedding party is charged a $100 application fee, and $100 compliance fee, and a $2,000 deposit to cover highway and police costs for the lane closure and associated traffic control, with any unused funds being returned to the applicant. The board strongly encouraged participants, residents, and visitors “to cooperate in order to protect the health and safety and welfare of all.”
The board said it has reviewed the Town’s 2014 purchasing policy and procedures, and as no new amendments are required, it adopted the governing document through 2022. It also approved a maintenance dredging permit for approximately 125 cubic yards of sand for the Shelter Island Yacht Club under a NYS DEC permit that was reviewed and endorsed by the Waterways Management Advisory Council.
Council members unanimously approved a resolution allowing the carryover in perpetuity any unspent Community Preservation Funds allocated to Water Quality Improvement Projects unless returned to the CPF by resolution of the Town Board.
Budget credits and transfers
The board authorized the supervisor to apply:
- an $88.74 PSEG credit to the building department’s lectricity account
- a $3,885 reimbursement from the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal to the 2021 insurance recovery account, applying a like amount to increase the 2021 public works budget
- a $8,001.33 reimbursement from the NYMIR to the 2022 insurance recovery account, increasing the 2022 3120.40 line by a like amount
Cancels outstanding, uncollected checks
The board also canceled numerous checks including:
- 13 payroll account checks ranging from $53.21 to 1,527.27, for a total of $6,249.29
- five general fund checks worth $725.11
- a highway check for $252.96
- six trust and agency checks totaling $535.60
Carries forward 2021 encumbered funds
The board carried forward 2021 encumbered to be expended in 2022:
- $1,325, non-highway tree maintenance account
- $64,704.10, Crescent Beach Bathroom account
- $23,691, town hall and other buildings account
- $26,900, public works equipment account
- $72,458.50, highway repair and improvements account
- $67,589, machinery account
- $16,000, equipment account
- $30,712.29, snow removal account
- $15,000, Taylor’s Island Cabin repair account
- $4,512 from the police maintenance account
- $5,227 from the police equipment account
- $1,763.50 from the police equipment account
Budget transfers and audited claims
The board also approved 63 transfers in the 2021 budget; they’re available for public review at the Town Clerk’s office.
It enacted the following 2022 budget transfers:
- $14,235 from the a1990.400 contingent account to the a8140.480 community housing board consulting account
- $5,000 and $400 in a2705n nutrition program donations to the a6776.400 nutrition food expense account
The board also approved as audited and ready for payment these 2021 claims:
- General claims #2259-2296 for $49,858.94
- Highway claims #286 for $89.60
- West Neck Water claim #49 for $3,882.30
And these 2022 claims:
- General claims #66 to 184 for $71,910.48
- Highway claims #9 to 17 for $2,887.78
- West Neck Water claims #1 to 3 for $791.46
