Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell delivered his sixth annual State of the Town Address last night, focusing on the years’ accomplishments and the goals for 2015.
Before a crowded Town Hall meeting room, Russell began by saying the town’s fund balance was “very healthy” with manageable debt service. With an eye toward maintaining fiscal health, Russell said any future capital investments should be tied into a schedule, related to when debt retires.
Russell outlines a number of fiscal highlights, including work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to recoup funding after Superstorm Sandy. Approximately $7,000 in generated from e-waste; the human resource center closed its fiscal year operating year $54,000 under budget and ongoing cost and quality control measures produced an over $422,000 reduction in spending for contractual expenses such as food and disposables, Russell said.
The Community Preservation Fund is once again back on track, with over $6 million recorded for 2014, the supervisor said.
Legislative achievements included amending the affordable housing district code to allow flexibility by permitting the creation of both owner-occupied and tenant-occupied rental units, Russell added. In addition, legislation was adopted to offer a CPF tax exemption for first time homebuyers; an amended law to provide exemption at the local level for veterans was also passed.
The board also voted to impose time limits on variances this year, Russell said. “We felt it needed to be remedied.” Time has passed and in may cases “old standards” were no longer applicable, he said.
On the environmental side, single stream recycling was implemented by the town in September; 74 acres of farmland were preserved last year; the Nature Conservancy donated 16 acres of protected property to the town for preservation of open space; and the town continued with its focus on the land use chapter in the comprehensive plan.
Paper shredding days in March and September yielded more than 30,000 lbs. from residents, Russell said, adding that the plan is very popular. “It’s the little things that make a big difference in a community,” he said.
A hot topic in town, Russell said Southold has long had its own deer management program. Since its inception in 2008, the town has harvested 1146 deer, with 144 deer donated in 2014 and over 25,000 lbs. of venison donated to local food banks.
Russell also addressed both short and long-term fixes for the town’s justice court, which were prompted by a letter from a former court officer alarmed at the potential security issues. “We realize there’s an urgency,” Russell said, adding that Town Councilwoman Jill Doherty and Jim Dinizio were working tirelessly on the issue.
The zoning board of appeals, Russell said, processed 172 applications, 42 for special events, a 50 percent increase from 2013.
The town also enrolled employees from the town’s self-funded medical insurance plan to NYSHIP’s Empire Plan, a move Russell said was “important”, because it minimizes the town’s risk.
Looking back on community relations, Russell said the town had hosted a public forum on helicopter noise. Councilman Bob Ghosio spoke to the tireless work of the town’s helicopter noise steering committee; Russell commended Teresa McCaskie for her efforts. McCaskie urged all present to turn out for a public hearing on the issue on Thursday in East Hampton’s LTV Studios at 4:30 p.m.
A discussion this year on Main Road’s Historic Corridor will continue in 2015, Russell said, with recognition going to those who have worked to preserve the town’s character.
To that end, Russell also mentioned ongoing work on legislation that will help to protect churches in town that could end up on the chopping block and gone forever if adaptive reuse is not embraced.
Russell also discussed economic development, including a pilot program for a Farmers Market in Mattituck, a youth job fair, and summer jobs for youth.
With public safety a priority, Russell said the town hired eight new police officers this year, and also hosted a public forum on gang activity on the North Fork and in Long Island.
Affordable housing was bolstered with the creation of the first-ever Habitat for Humanity home in Orient, where a wall-raising ceremony was held this week. Looking ahead, Russell said affordable housing will be a priority in 2015, with a forum to be held on March 11 at the Peconic Lane Recreation Center at 6 p.m. In addition, while a proposal for 75 affordable cottages in Mattituck may have been “farfetched” and not realistic, with 75 “too many to absorb” in the hamlet, Russell said the answer to the affordable housing crisis in town lies in apartments. Many have misconceptions about affordable housing, the supervisor added; the hope is that those myths will be shattered at the forum.
Councilman Jim Dinizio lauded the town’s Affordable Housing Commission, who “bang their heads against the wall” but never gives up. Affordable housing can be created with “imagination” and tenacity, he said.
Solar power is a focus as the town continues to prioritize renewable energy, Russell said. “Southold has the land and the sun and we want to be a part of this,” he said.
Short-term rentals were also discussed; Russell said the board hopes to come to a solution before the summer season. He said while a “fair” resolution often means neither side walks away happy, balance is critical between the needs of homeowners who don’t want commercial businesses in residential zones, and those who feel sites such as airbnb.com bring a boon to the local economy and help second homeowners afford their mortgages.
This summer, Russell said the hope is to host community meetings on land use and zoning; the town is working on that chapter in its comprehensive plan. “This is where the rubber meets the road,” Russell said.
One particularly positive event this year was a Martin Luther King day of service, where residents gave back to their communities; Russell said the event was a success and will continue in years to come.
The town’s conservation advisory committee has also presented a comprehensive review of coastal erosion in town. “We need to accept their report and focus on coastal resiliency, erosion, and integrity, with rising sea levels,” Russell said. “This is a serious issue that’s not going anywhere and we need to develop a plan of action to mitigate the problem.”
Russell also said the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has to work to reopen water bodies that are perfectly safe and closed without merit.
After the presentation, Benja Schwartz of Cutchogue asked why work sessions were not taped and shown on public access television. Russell said Dinizio was working on a project that will allow town board work sessions, zoning board of appeals and planning board meetings to be taped. Schwartz said a simple voice recorder would cost less than $100. Dinizio said trying to stream that type of recording in was time-consuming but the new technology should be unveiled soon.
Schwartz then asked about the town’s website. Russell said the site would get a “facelift” this year. “We’ve come a long way but we can always do better,” he said.
Finally, Schwartz asked why people were being evicted from a former migrant camp in Cutchogue. Russell said residential uses are not permitted in industrial zones; he added that because the specific issue is a matter of litigation, he could not comment further.
In closing, the supervisor also thanked his staff. “I wouldn’t be half the supervisor I am” without their efforts, he said.
