If he had to have one word to summarize 2013, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said it would be “Sandy.”
Russell kicked off his fifth annual state of the town address Thursday night at Town Hall with a look back at 2013 and an outline of initiatives planned for 2014. The speech centered on the town’s fiscal health, legislative achievements and plans, environmental developments, a look at town personnel and facilities, community relations, human services, public safety — and candid discussion about the deer cull that’s had tensions flaring in town during recent days.
The superstorm that slammed into Southold in the fall of 2012 resonated throughout the entire year last year, Russell said, as the town sought reimbursement from storm-generated projects through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. So far the town has received $616,000 in reimbursement, with $500,000 still pending, he said.
Southold’s fiscal health is strong, Russell said. “We’re holding our own,” he said, adding that the town has maintained one of the highest bond ratings, Aa3, awarded by Moody’s.
The town has witnessed an 18 percent increase in compost site revenue and generated over $7,000 in revenue from 122 tons of collected e-waste, Russell said.
Community Preservation Fund revenues for 2013 totaled over $5 million, up from $3.5 million in 2012. “We’ve seen remarkable growth and we expect to see it grow in 2014,” Russell said, adding that the town needed to be conservative, adhering to policies when considering purchases.
In 2013, Russell said, the town board adopted zoning on Plum Island, enacted legislation for dogs on town beaches, and has worked to craft special events legislation that balances the rights of the community to those of agricultural property owners who want to host special events.
A total of 64 acres were preserved in 2013, including 6.6 acres of open space and 57 acres of farmland.
Russell addressed the deer management program, which has harvested 863 deer since 2008, with 265 harvested in 2013. Over 20,000 pounds of venison has been donated to food pantries over the last six years, he said.
In addition, trustees have conducted DNA samplings from creeks to address “impaired water quality,” he said.
Russell also discussed solid waste, improved vehicle maintenance through the town’s fuel management program, a new roof installed for the justice court, newly reinstated hamlet-based community meetings and mobile town board meetings at Peconic Landing, informational forums on the deer forum and other issues, and collaboration with Eastern Long Island Hospital’s Geriatric Center of Excellence to develop support services and comprehensive planning for seniors.
On the economic development landscape, Russell said, the town board adopted the Suffolk County Industrial and Commercial Incentive Plan to provide tax abatements for improvements to new and current businesses.
“Small business is important to meaningful employment,” Russell said; the town, he said, worked with the economic advisory commission to develop a guide on how to open a new business. A business forum was also sponsored.
In the public safety realm, Russell said, the town participated in the East End’s Stop DWI and BWI program, netting over 100 arrests and also, partnered with Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate a blighted Orient home.
The planning board, the supervisor said, has issued 398 building permits and 533 other permits, with 542 certificates of occupancy issued.
Looking ahead to 2014, goals included monitoring spending and adhering to the tax cap mandate.
Legislative goals include amendments to the town code that would allow for the demolition and reconstruction of homes that were built pre-existing and non-conforming to current code.
The change, Russell said, would allow property owners to invest, without “arduous review or bureaucratic red tape.” Under the proposed code, homeowners would be required to upgrade on-site sewage treatment to modern standards. “This is the right thing to do, and during renovation of these structures is the right time to do it.”
Also looking forward, the goal is to amend the town code to create accessory apartments within a structure. That law, he said, would “remove burdensome limits on creating accessory apartments over our stores and shops within the structure.”
The town would also like to eradicate multiple reviews by differing jurisdictional boards and look to streamline the process, Russell said.
On the environmental end, plans include installation of stormwater abatement infrastructure in the Hashamomuck Pond watershed, restoration of berms at farms that bore the brunt of Sandy, and sponsorship of an initiative that would recycle old cell phones for use by the needy.
Russell also discussed other plans, including the construction of a new equipment storage and maintenance facility at the highway yard and a new process that would allow the public to apply for dog licenses online.
The town will partner with high school students to “make more” of Channel 22, Russell said, affording the ability to tape a greater number of town meetings.
Also created will be a local development corporation to advance economic opportunities including expansion and enhancements for local not-for-profits including Peconic Landing, San Simeon, and Eastern Long Island Hospital. “These are substantial employers and the hope is that we can find a financial mechanism for them to invest in themselves,” Russell said.
A board for the local development corporation will be created; members are sought, he said.
The deer cull came up in public discussion, with Cutchogue resident Benja Schwartz stating that the issue is about more than just deer, and concerns the environment.
Russell said the town is not party to any litigation and merely contributed $25,000 to the Long Island Farm Bureau for the cull.
The white-tailed deer issue, Russell said, is a “top priority, and the largest crisis Southold faces. It’s a public health, economic, and environmental crisis,” he said. “Action needs to be taken now.”
