With Election Day less than a week away, candidates on the Southold Town ticket have been campaigning furiously, and making the rounds for debates and forums presented by local community groups.
This weekend was a whirlwind, with a debate hosted by the Orient Association and the East Marion Community Association at Poquatuck Hall in Orient, followed by a debate Sunday at the Sts. Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church in Greenport, and then, a candidates’ forum co-hosted by the North Fork Chamber of Commerce and the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce Monday night at the North Fork County Club in Cutchogue.
Following is a recap of the first debate at Poquatuck Hall, with the next debates to follow in subsequent posts.
Poquatuck Hall
The room was packed Saturday morning as a crowd turned out for the first of the weekend’s debates.
Candidates for town supervisor Damon Rallis and incumbent Scott Russell spoke first.
Rallis, running on the Dem ticket, said he’s a North Fork native, with roots back to one of the town’s founding families. He said working in Town Hall for 15 years as a plans examiner and a code enforcement officer has given him an “intimate understanding” of how Town Hall operates.
“I believe I have what it takes to come in and affect some real change,” he said. “I believe we need balance so we can give you the services you deserve.”
Russell started off by saying he’s proud of his record and the town’s highest-ever bond rating, awarded by Wall Street for the board’s sound fiscal management. He said he was proud of the town’s progressive environmental stance and for being honored by the League of Conservation Voters. Some achievements he’s most proud of include reviving the town’s youth board and activities.
“What you’re going to hear from my opponent is a lot of criticism toward the Republican town board. I’ve been here 10 years, my record should be scrutinized. If we have failings or deficiencies they should be highlighted. But they’ve given no plan on what they will do…no specific goals.” His opponent offered “no vision,” Russell said.
The candidates next answered questions on a wide array of issues.
Code Enforcement
When asked about the issue of code enforcement, Rallis said he believes the public should be kept informed at all times. “It speaks to transparency. My opponent is talking about goals. I have one goal: balanced and equal code enforcement. When one business is shut down for opening without the proper permits and another continues to operate for years with impunity, there’s a problem.”
The town has a noise ordinance, Rallis said, and with 1,200 complaints, he said, only 10 violations have been issued. While he said it’s a bit quieter in Orient, Rallis lives in Mattituck, “surrounded by restaurants and wineries. My opponent says it’s because of a loophole in the special events permit. I disagree.”
He said while he appreciated voluntary compliance, “If you’re breaking the law an continue to break the law, we need to do something about it.”
Russell said the noise code does not, in fact, apply to special events. “It’s a loophole we intend to close in the near future.” He said the situation is frustrating to all in town and up until recently, code enforcement fell under the bailiwick of the building department. “No one wants to look like the bad guy,” he said. To that end, the town has “taken affirmative steps and put code enforcement under the aegis of the new town attorney.”
He pointed out that a new part time code enforcement officer was recently hired, who is outside of the collective bargaining agreement and can work nights and weekends; a new full-time code enforcement officer is in the budget for the coming year. In addition, a new online complaint form is on the way that will allow residents to submit complaints 24/7; the system includes status updates on the violation and the action the town has taken.
Advanced Septic Systems
Russell said Southold Town has shown “leadership,” working with Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski and other East End supervisors and mayors; a press event was held today to announce a new initiative.
“Our vision is to create an East End consortium,” Russell said, that will allow for local lawmakers to have administrative regulatory oversight; as Suffolk County starts to approve new advanced wastewater treatment systems, “they don’t have the manpower to monitor” them all. “They aren’t like traditional septic tanks, they need maintenance and inspections,” he said. “This new consortium will be able to provide that.”
The goal is to “make decisions with good science,” Russell said, and to “figure out where to hone our resources and identify sources of funding. We have no delusions. This is going to be an expensive proposition.”
Rallis said he agreed with Russell and was pleased to hear that the town would be closely involved with the consortium. “I also agree we need to come up with new and innovative ways to reign in the cost of the systems. Do I think we’ve taken a leadership role in the past?” Rallis said he does not and is happy Russell was going forward. “I will do the same if elected,” he said.
Mega mansions
On the issue of mega mansions versus the need for affordable housing, Rallis brought up an idea put forth by New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele for a work force housing fund similar to the Community Preservation Fund, where if a house is built over a certain size, the developer would be charged a fee per square foot that would be put into an affordable housing fund. He said he’d be willing to look into the idea and discuss it with the town board.
While Russell said he was familiar with Thiele’s proposal, and it was a good idea to produce revenue for affordable housing, “It won’t discourage mansion-izing, because these people are spending a great deal of money.”
Instead, Russell said, while historically, he didn’t think the Pyramid Law would be a good idea, recent experience has shown that people are building mansions on half acre properties that are “so far out of scale and scope of the community,” there is no choice but to “sit down and create a good Pyramid Law that reflect the size of the parcel.”
Deer
The town, Russell said, has been very active in deer management, creating a deer management program and working to open even more town parcels for hunting, as well as extending the hunting season. Russell said while he did support the cull, which didn’t “work well,” he said in retrospect, “The idea of putting a big pile of money on the table probably wasn’t a good idea, but I don’t regret the decision I made.” With limited legal options, $12,500 wasn’t too great of an expense, he said, to try a cull. He said he strongly recommends feeding stations to bait deer but said the problem is regional and the cooperation of New York State and Suffolk County are critical in deer management on the local level.
Rallis agreed with Russell and said he was glad the town put a new position for a wildlife manager into the 2016 budget but said it’s important the employee is properly trained, expectations and goals are spelled out and monitored, and the individual answers directly to the town board. The person should have set goals, he said, adding that the herd needs to be reduced, with deer responsible for car accidents and a rise in tick-borne diseases.
Tourists and traffic
When asked about Southold Town reaching the “saturation point in terms of tourists and traffic,” and whether they thought restrictions of some kind should be considered, Rallis said, “Change is inevitable. We know that. We’re on the map.”
But, he said, while the town doesn’t want to discourage tourism, it should be managed, with a comprehensive rental low. Traffic, he said, is another “huge” issue, with models in other areas something that should be considered. With the county discussing possible cuts to bus service on the North Fork, where service is already “deplorable”, Rallis suggested possible partnerships as a solution; bus service or other options should be considered. “You can’t put up a wall and say, ‘You can’t come here anymore.’ It’s about managing the growth we are experiencing.”
The town, Russell said, has spent years working with other agencies to promote the North Fork. “Success has unintended consequences,” he said. The supervisor said he disagrees with his opponent, “who opposed a Southold law that restricts short-term rentals. Things like that put an undue onus on the infrastructure of Southold Town. We needed to harness the unmitigated growth of an industry in residential communities.”
In recent years, the Volpe study identified an East End regional approach to transportation, utilizing a hybrid system of rail and energy efficient shuttle buses, Russell said; the MTA, however, would need to allocate some of the assets it receives from the East End via sales and cell phone taxes, something he said was not likely to happen easily.
Long term, year-round, affordable rentals
The supervisor said the town board has made strides toward combating the need for affordable housing, making accessory apartments allowable as long as they are rented to family or someone on the town’s affordable housing registry.
“We certainly have a way to go,” Russell said, adding that the frustration lies in the fact that the town isn’t sewered. There’s a proposal on the table for four affordable apartments in Mattituck, he said, but the applicant can’t get Suffolk County Department of Health approval without a sewer system.
The answer lies in both alternative wastewater treatment systems, and also, in legislative initiatives to create additional apartments, he said. “It’s a balancing act,” Russell said, adding that affordable housing such as the Cottages at Mattituck are well-maintained and an asset to the community.
What’s needed, Rallis said, is a mix of affordable home ownership and apartments. He agreed the town board has made changes in the code to allow for apartments and that they must be rented to family members or those on the affordable housing list.
“Unfortunately, I don’t believe we’re following up on that to ensure the apartments are being used the way they are suppose to be,” he said.
Phillip Beltz, who handled the affordable housing list in Town Hall, will be leaving on Friday, Rallis said. “I have not yet heard a plan on who’s going to step in and do that.”
Ferry expansion
Another question centered about the candidates views on expansion of the Cross Sound Ferry’s services or facilities.
Rallis said he uses the CSF to go to visit relatives in Canada and said he thinks the casinos are what sparked the increase in traffic. “We were dealing with a nightmare here. I don’t blame the ferry,” he said.
Expansion depends on whether plans meet the letter of the law, he said. “It goes back to managing growth. You can’t just throw the baby out with the bathwater. You have to find a way to do it and protect quality of life while balancing the needs of the business community.”
Russell said he said he’s not sure he could blame the casino-goers for the ferry issues. “I don’t think they’d be driving through Southold Town if they had to drive to casinos through water,” he said.
The Cross Sound Ferry, he said, has tried to expand beyond its ability to handle its customer base; the town has commenced litigation, he reminded.
“Every business is given limits to meet the needs of its customer base without becoming an onus,” he said. Due to legal proceedings, any plans to expand must be submitted to legal counsel, he said. “It is a good business but it should live under the same rules as every other business in Southold.”
Truck traffic
The pair were also asked to weigh in on a recent proposal for increased truck traffic on the North Road. Russell said it was a “ridiculous” idea; Rallis agreed with the supervisor that the plan was “bone-headed,” as Russell has previously stated.
Attracting economic growth
Both were asked about steps that can be taken to attract new businesses and economic opportunities to Southold.
Rallis said the town’s development of an economic development committee was an “excellent” idea and said experts in town needed to come to the table to share their thoughts. He said he’d like his two young children to stay in town, and young people need access to good jobs to buy homes and survive. He said there are many empty buildings in town, including the former Capital One building, that need to be filled.”We need to come up with serious solutions, role up out sleeves and move forward,” he said.
The supervisor said he’s very proud of the town board’s work, creating an economic advisory council. He said the answer is not in large corporations. “Google is not moving to Southold.” And employing people in retail is not going to keep them in town, he added.
Instead, Russell said small local businesses such as Sea Tow provide meaningful employment, as do not-for profits. He said when the Capital One building became vacant, the town reached out to assisted living facilities but because Southold is “so far out,” there was no interest.
Southold can offer employees a quality of life they won’t find elsewhere, Russell said, but added that government as the major employer in town is not sustainable.
Russell said Southold “runs a good ship.” Russell said the town recently refinanced its debt, resulting in $756,000 in savings to taxpayers. Strides have been made in alternate and renewable energy initiatives; he said the youth bureau and economic advisory council are achievements. Looking ahead, Russell said completing the comprehensive plan is critical, fitting together all the pieces to create a zoning map.
“We want to continue the mission we’ve started,” he said.
“At the end of the day what my opponent and I are really vying for is a job,” Rallis said. “The role of the town supervisor is to manage the day to day operation of Town Hall. That gets missed.” He said in his opinion and in that of the state comptroller’s office, the town is not utilizing expensive time management systems properly; good management is needed in Town Hall, he said.
Town board candidates
Jill Doherty, incumbent town council member running on the GOP ticket, said she’s got deep roots in East Marion. She began working in Town Hall in 1987 as a clerk to the planning board, served as a trustee, and is finishing up her first four-year term on the town board.
Democratic candidate Albie de Kerillis is an twice-decorated veteran who has served with the Greenport Fire Department and on Plum Island, where he also works. He’s the former chair of the Orient-East Marion Park district, where he cut taxes by eight percent and established the first capital reserve repair fund; Truman’s Beach is a testament to his work, he said.
GOP incumbent Bill Ruland is a lifetime Mattituck resident who operates a family farm that’s been in existence since 1717. He’s served on the town board for eight years and on the Mattituck-Cutchogue school board for many years, where he had experience in municipal finance, labor relations, and working with young and old.
Debbie O’Kane, running on the Dem slate, lives in Orient, where she raises her daughter, and served 15 years on the North Fork Environmental Council, serving as former executive director. She also worked with Citizens for Safe Roads to combat traffic and has long been an advocate for the environment.
Aquaculture
The first question for the candidates centered on how to further agricultural industry through new innovations in farming such as aquaculture, while still keeping parcels on the North Fork from looking like industrial parks.
O’Kane said agricultural endeavors such as aquaculture should be promoted, but with restrictions such as setbacks in place to make sure it’s done properly and neighborhoods are not impacted.
Ruland said as a farmer, he fully supports new agricultural operations such as shellfish farming but said there needs to be faith in the planning board. Concerns voiced by those who may have a shrimp farm or other aquaculture based operation near them are being addressed, he said.
“If we want to grow as a town we should stand ready to assist them in any way we can, but at the same time be cognizant that we can’t let something become a nuisance,” he said.
de Kerillis agreed with both candidates and said in his 23 years on the North Fork, farms have turned into wineries and the face of agriculture has evolved. “We don’t want to take away from good business as long as the zoning is correct,” and issues such as smell and noise are addressed, he said. “We do have to recognize that these will create jobs in the future for our kids,” he said.
“I think we all agree that the only constant is change,” Doherty said. The aquaculture-based businesses are not new worldwide, only in Southold. The town board, she said, has been dedicated to hearing all voices on the issues to ensure balance between new business and maintaining quality of life. “It’s these innovations that will sustain the work force and viability of this town. I’m for aquaculture,” she said.
Dangerous roads
Asked about certain dangerous North Road locations and what can be done to address the situation, Ruland said the county has undertaken major road reconstruction near the Soundview, with traffic calming measures to make it safer. As liaison to the town transportation committee, Ruland said the most they can do for sites such as the intersection near the Shady Lady is to push for the state and county to recognize the dangers. And as for the stretch near the East Marion lavender farm, Ruland said some changes were made to allow for additional onsite parking but ultimately, the state is the “chief mover because it’s their road.”
As a first responder, de Kerillis said he has “seen firsthand, death, too many times.”
He applauded Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski’s efforts to highlight dangers on local roads.
Living on Rocky Point Road in East Marion near the lavender field, de Kerillis said it’s frustrating when on a cardiac arrest call and being forced to wait four to five minutes at a stop sign, time that can turn a CPR call fatal. He said he’d look for ways to speed up the legislative process.
Doherty said the town is working with the state and county to mitigate trouble spots in town but said often, drivers need to be educated. “You can’t legislate stupidity,” she said, adding that drivers pull out in front of you and do illegal U turns, totaling cars and causing accidents.
“As we get more and more people out here, it’s a never-ending quest to make safety our priority,” she said.
O’Kane has campaigned with the mantra that “traffic is the root of our problems” She believes that the town should look to models in areas such as Maine, which has a similar population to Southold’s, where a public/private transportation system has proven successful. “We need to think in terms of these out-of-the-box solutions,” she said, adding that the town could seek funding for new options.
Attracting new business
When asked what steps could be taken to attract new commercial opportunities and employment to Southold, de Kerillis said educating children is the most important step, pointing to last week’s program with students who worked with Brookhaven Lab to do water testing on the Peconic Estuary.
In addition, tax credits might be given to help fill vacant buildings, he said.
Doherty said she believes the current town board is on the right path, seeking the help of experts in the community to serve on committees; the goal, she said, is to seek year-round, sustainable, and not just seasonal, businesses.
O’Kane said the town should seek, as has Southampton, East Hampton and Greenport, to garner state grants for microgrid promotion and energy independence; renewable energy and a potential research facility on Plum Island could all serve as sources for jobs, she said. Local residents need to be trained for these jobs, she said.
Ruland cautioned that while he’s not against looking at tax incentives, it’s “sticky” because of the impacts on the school districts, already operating on “razor thin” budgets.
“It takes money to drive all of these,” he said.
Ferry expansion
On the issue of potential Cross Sound Ferry expansion, Doherty said businesses can only expand to the limits of the law. “We don’t want to stop a business from expanding but they can only expand with what room they have, not beyond their resources.”
O’Kane asked how much traffic the North Road could bear, with only two lanes, and said the town has to control the amount of traffic through the area.
“I’m not sure putting limitations on business is something I would unilaterally support. That’s one reason we have zoning,” Ruland said.
“The Cross Sound Ferry has reached its saturation point,” de Kerillis said. “How can it possibly get any bigger? We don’t want to curb business, but we only have one road.”
Affordable housing
On the issue of affordable housing, O’Kane said housing for young people and seniors was critical and perhaps maybe some town buildings might be suitable for adaptable reuse. The town needs more Habitat for Humanity type opportunities, she said. The key is making sure affordable housing remains affordable in perpetuity, she said.
Ruland said he’s not sure the town is ready for municipal housing, that it’s not fair to the school district, and said private enterprise was in a better position to help promote affordable opportunities; educating the public about affordable housing must continue, he said.
Seven families that he knows of have moved out of Southold because they can’t afford to stay, de Kerillis said. He said community leaders needed to sit down in their hamlets and roll up their sleeves.
“Affordable housing is one of our major problems, for all ages,” Doherty said. “I am eligible for affordable housing. It could be anybody. Just because we have good jobs and we work hard doesn’t mean we’re not eligible.”
Currently, she said, the town is working to see what can be done to make affordable housing options more viable and attractive to builders. She reminded that an affordable housing forum hosted by the town last week was taped and is airing on Channel 22 for residents.
Too much traffic
Asked about the town reaching a saturation point in terms of traffic, Ruland said the solution has to be global; when there’s new construction, the parking element will need to be carefully considered. There’s no easy answer but he’s hesitant to say, ‘No, you can’t come,'” he said.
“The roads now are not sustainable,” de Kerillis said, adding that when it takes an hour to get from Middle Road in Riverhead to Mattituck, “There’s a problem.”
It’s difficult, Doherty said, because the town wants visitors to come. Correct management is key, she said, adding that enhanced code enforcement will help and police officers on Route 48 will watch out for those who are speeding. “We have plenty of laws on the books. We need to manage those laws effectively.”
O’Kane said she’s worked for small businesses and knows how hard it is to survive; the season has become longer, but sustainable tourism is critical.
Trustee candidates
Glenn Goldsmith, running on the GOP ticket, said his family owns Goldsmith’s Boat Shop and he’s run the family business, including all aspects of marina management, working with governmental agencies; he’s certified as a commercial pesticide applicator. He’s also developed a stormwater prevention plan and is a member of the Southold Fire Department.
Matt Kapell, born and raised in Greenport, came back in 2002 to work in the family’s business.His life has been spent on the water fishing and sailing; he said he believes in community service and has been brought up with political discussions at home. Kapell said he’s running to help protect the quality of local waters “as a critical source of food and economic activity.” He also believes in finding solutions not through lawsuit, but through bipartisan communication.
Dave Bergen, who’s served as a trustee for 10 years, said he’s proud of many initiatives, including a pump out boat program that helped to remove 5,000 gallons of effluent from Mattituck Inlet, partnerships on the state and federal level, jumpstarting dredging projects, and a prescription drug take-back program.
Nick Krupski said his education, including a masters in biology, and work with Cornell on a highly successful scallop restoration program, as well as wildlife habitat restoration, and work nationwide on groundwater studies, have made him uniquely qualified for the position. He said he’s carrying on his father’s legacy as a former trustee and has grown up on local waters.
Shorelines and storms
The candidate were asked how, in the light of hurricane risk, how they felt about rebuilding or hardening of shorelines.
Krupski said he’s a proponent of wetland restoration and shoreline restoration and that he feels strongly about natural buffers.
Bergen said after Sandy he was able to fly over the East End with the DEC and see the damage that occurred. Living shorelines, he said, is a method used as an alternative to hardened structures to protect shorelines and property damaged by erosion during major storms.
Kapell said he believed natural buffers needed to be restored.
Goldsmith said the situation needed to be addressed in a case by case basis but anything that could be done to mitigate storm impacts to the shoreline was critical.
Water quality and pollution
Bergen said septic system upgrades are critical; as a trustee, he said the pump out boat was a great asset to the town. Public/private partnerships he developed helped to slash operational expenses for the pump out boat, he said. In addition, he said, proper disposal of prescription drugs and a move away from copper bottom paint on vessels were all environmentally friendly solutions.
Kapell said outdated septic systems are a tremendous source of nitrates in local waters; public/private partnerships should be sought to offset the high cost of upgrades, he said.
Goldsmith said he’d like to see CPF funds used for water quality, upgrading septic systems. In addition, he said the town needed to do a better job with road ends; all runoff ends up in the waterways.
Krupski agreed with the three and said septic system upgrades from the county are necessary but haven’t been approved locally. “They do work. They are working overseas, everywhere outside of this county. They just haven’t been approved here yet. It’s proven science.”
He added he’s a great proponent of education, and of locating funding sources to install the systems.
Transparency
The candidates were asked how to make the process more transparent, and how the notification process could be improved.
Kapell said the meetings are open to the public and said they could be televised or streamed online.
Goldsmith suggested better use of social media and technology to keep the community informed.
Krupski advocated use of television, streaming and technology and suggested getting youth involved, through camps or other programs, perhaps in conjunction with Cornell.
Bergen said the general awareness of trustee issues should be raised on the town’s website, with trustee meetings televised, so that residents will make a point of looking for the public notices. “I think it’s an awareness issue,” he said.
