Candidates running in town seats have had a whirlwind few days recently, at debates and a forum organized to educate the public in advance of Tuesday’s election.
Most recently, the gathered at the North Fork Country Club in Cutchogue for a forum organized jointly by the Mattituck and North Fork Chambers of Commerce.
At the forum, candidates each gave their opening statements, echoing much of what they said to residents at both a forum at Poquatuck Hall Saturday and at the Greek church Sunday. Click here to read about the Poquatuck debate and here to read about the event at the church.
The only candidate who hadn’t yet given his introduction at at a public debate was Bill Goggins, a Mattituck attorney running for the town justice seat. Goggins, who recently won a three-way primary, said he’s a “conservative” Republican who’s “tough on crime.”
A graduate of Mattituck High School, Goggins ran for the seat in 2013 but lost the race to incumbent Justice Bill Price. At the forum, he said he paid his way through college and law school, and has has been representing clients since 1993 in Supreme Court, as well as county, district and local justice courts, in more than 200 bench and jury trials, handling cases ranging from personal injury to criminal. He has also represented clients before the planning board, trustees, and zoning court of appeals.
He is a member of the New York State Bar, the Bar of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and the United States Tax Court, he said. Goggins has said in the past, he’s served as president and zone chairman of the Cutchogue Lions Club and was former chairman of the Mattituck-Cutchogue Fund for Students; he also coached youth soccer and baseball and served as a pro bono arbitrator. Goggins is also a veteran.
Questions from the business community
Those present were asked to submit questions on cards for the candidates.
Affordable housing
The first question centered on one of the most critical issues facing Southold Town today, affordable housing.
Damon Rallis, running for the supervisor’s seat on the Democratic ticket, began by explaining that he, too, is impacted by the affordable housing crisis in Southold Town.
“I’m a renter,” he said. “I can’t afford to buy a house in town. That makes me sad.”
He added that there “is no magic bullet” and the town should look to models around the country for ideas. He said the town’s housing advisory came to the town board for guidance and also said it’s been 10 years since the Cottages at Mattituck were built. “That’s a problem,” he said. “We’ve got to make this a priority.”
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said that he, too, is renting, after selling his home.
The affordable housing issue, he said, “is a real challenge for the town board.” Russell said a request for proposals had been issued for developers but so far, no much interest has been generated in affordable housing proposals.
He said “to date,” he’s yet to see his opponent’s promised plan for tackling the issue.
The need or apartments is critical, he said.
Russell pointed to the Cottages at Mattituck and the under-construction Habitat for Humanity House in Orient, but said developers need sewers to be able to consider affordable housing.
Despite the challenges, Russell said the town is moving forward and making progress,
Debbie O’Kane, running on the Dem ticket for Southold Town board, said job creation in Southold is critical, especially in the areas of renewables; she said the town should also investigate microgrids.
Incumbent GOP candidate Jill Doherty said education is key, and pointed out that the town held an affordable housing forum last week that can be viewed on Channel 22.
Albie de Kerillis, running on the Dem ticket, said out-of-the-box thinking is important, and said rents of $1,800 to $2,000 are not affordable and resemble mortgage payments; he’d like to see rents in the $600 to $700 range, perhaps by having the town create some affordable housing.
Bill Ruland, an incumbent running with the GOP party, said Southold Town is not in the position to create municipal housing and said business people or developers needed to step up to provide opportunities; he said public/private partnerships could be an option.
Nitrogen in the waterways
Next, the trustee candidates asked what could be done about nitrogen in local waters.
Incumbent Dave Bergen discussed the recent fish kill in Riverhead and said the Peconic Estuary is the leading fin fish estuary in New York State. He said there was a bumper crop of bunker fish this year and algal blooms contributed to the die-off. Bergen said many creeks are closed in Southold Town due to the fact that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation does not have the staff to test the waters; many creeks are clean and safe and have been closed for no reason, he said.
Nitrogen loading in the waterways is an issue, Bergen said, adding that alternative wastewater treatment systems are critical.
Matt Kapell, running for trustee on the Dem ticket, said the bunker die-off was a sign of “lot more” but said the dire situation opened “people’s eyes” to the nitrogen-loading issue.
As for the closed creeks, Kapell feels the situation isn’t solved by a lawsuit — the town has currently commenced litigation against the DEC — but instead, by “opening up the lines of communication” with all levels of government.
He also suggested that the idea of using Community Preservation Funds for water quality issues be considered.
Glenn Goldsmith, running on the GOP line, said the situation in the creeks and bays must be taken very seriously. Alternative wastewater treatment systems, while an expense for the business community — and he’s not a fan of unfunded mandates — must be explored, perhaps with grant funding.
In addition, Goldsmith said he believes in wetland and habitat restoration and natural filters.
He also said public education is critical regarding use of fertilizers on lawns.
Nick Krupski, running on the Democratic line, said he believes in wetlands restoration and natural buffers. In addition, he said the creeks that have been closed by the DEC need to be opened.
One way, he said, would be to open a regional lab that could be approved for testing; currently, only DEC-approved labs can be used. Volunteers could be trained to sample the water; the lab would also create jobs, he said.
Sparks fly
During a question about the biggest issues facing Southold Town, Russell began by saying the need for affordable housing, as well as completion of the town’s comprehensive plan, especially the land use chapter, which will lead to the creation of a zoning map, are of critical importance.
The town also must look to the future of agriculture, specifically, aquaculture and other new businesses, with job creation necessary, Russell said. He said his opponent had taken a stand against the legislation.
When Rallis stood to answer the question, he began, “My opponent has already told you two lies about me tonight.”
When asked after the debate what that meant, Rallis replied that Russell “told the crowd last night that I recently told a small group of people that I would present them with a plan for affordable housing during this campaign. I have no idea what he’s talking about. That was a lie number one. Lie number two was his comment that I came out opposed to the final version of the aquaculture law. I did not. He took a very specific comment to the shrimp farm plan that I made and try to make it sound like I was talking about all aquaculture.” Rallis said he’d first made the comment about aquaculture when the shrimp farm plan was first presented to the town board, not during the final hearing on the aquaculture legislation.
Russell also elaborated, after the debate: “When we discussed affordable housing, I merely pointed out that he had stood before a small group of people earlier in the campaign season, on June 23, and declared that, in the coming months, he would offer ‘progressive solutions; to the affordable housing crisis.’ To date, he has offered none. Now is as good a time as any to bring his plan forward.”
He added, “On the issue of land-based aquaculture … on Novemember 5, 2014, he urged the town board to not ‘insist on reading the antiquated code in black and white’ and further urged us to ‘think outside the box’. He said it sounded like an excellent business and wished them luck. By December 17 he was declaring it was not an agricultural use and should only be permitted in industrial zones… By January 15, he said “This type of facility is already permitted in the MI and MII zones. The fact that he property owners cannot find suitable property in these zones is not our problem.’ That isn’t exactly ‘out of the box’ thinking. Leadership requires taking a position and standing firm. Your beliefs should not change with the political tides.”
During the debate, Rallis went on to say that Southold Town has “a problem with enforcement” and said he believes code should be enforced fairly across the board.
“When one business gets shut down for opening without a CO and a business up the street has been operating for seven years with impunity, that’s a problem,” he said.
Ruland, looking at the town’s main issues, said the town can’t just focus on “one thing. We have to take care of what we have,” with an eye on the bigger picture.
The town must work with trustees, he said, focusing on road endings and pilot programs, as well as trying to bring the town’s creeks back.
O’Kane said she agreed with the supervisor that the issue of land use and zoning was key, and that zoning would shape the future of lots yet undeveloped; those lots could add density to communities, adding to the nitrogen loading issue.
The comprehensive plan, begun in 2009, is not slated for completion until 2017, she added, when some points may be “obsolete.” She urge the board to move expeditiously and push for implementation as soon as possible.
Doherty said the biggest problem is “managing everything all at once.” The North Fork has been discovered, she said, adding that while the town welcomes visitors, the influx brings issues such as traffic congestion. Deer are also a major concern, she said, adding that the town has put money into the 2016 budget for a wildlife manager.
She agreed that the DEC-certified labs as the only ones available for water testing is something that must be addressed.
“All the issues are connected,” she said; all impact quality of life on the North Fork. Doherty said she believes in reaching out to the experts in the community for help and advice and said the board works seven days a week; she is always available to her constituents, she said.
For de Kerillis, children are the answer. He pointed to a program he attended on the Peconic Estuary last week and said he’d like to work with children, as they represent the future. He said he’d like to see some vocational programs in local schools.
Water quality and land preservation are critical, he said.
Out of the box thinking is necessary to keep young adults on the North Fork, he said. “It all starts with the children.”
Traffic
Last, the candidates were asked to weigh in on traffic concerns and also, the possibility of a traffic circle at Love lane.
O’Kane said the town should look to areas such as Maine, where not for profits and public/private partnerships provide transportation services.
Doherty said she thinks a traffic circle on Love Lane might not be the answer for an already congested area but said signs need to be put up by the state to keep trucks from coming down the road.
Traffic calming measures work, de Kerillis said, adding he’d need to research Love Lane specifically to elaborate on a traffic circle.
As for traffic, he said you “can’t legislate behavior, good or bad.”
Ruland said he does not think the MTA will ever help solve the transportation problems, and would likely not give up the revenue it receives from the East End, despite the lack of services provided. He agreed looking to other models is a good idea, as are public/private partnerships.
Rallis said he’s not sure a traffic circle would work but as a member of the Mattituck Presbyterian Church he’d like to see that street closed to traffic. As it stands, he said, motorists become very confused at that intersection, sometimes causing accidents.
The supervisor discussed the Volpe study, which recommended a regional approach to transportation solutions, but agreed the MTA isn’t likely to relinquish revenue. He said he’s been working with the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association on solutions to traffic issues and is aiming toward a professional engineering study of the area.
Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, who was present, also gave opening remarks and addressed traffic and safety concerns, discussing road reconfiguration on Route 58 and also, the recent tragedy in Cutchogue. He said he’s working with different levels of government for traffic calming measures and other solutions.
