Town Board - Regular Meeting

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So I just wanted to put into the record that I emailed everyone a memo on July 21st saying that there was no petitions filed for Can to purchase the wheel loader from the highway capital reserve fund so he's okay to move forward with that purchase and then there's just another letter from Laurel Hardy resigning from her position as deputy assessor in preparation for her new position as sole assessor.

Thank you. Any public comments or questions on the resolutions on the agenda that are not subject to public hearing. anyone in the Zoom world.

Okay, we'll get started with resolutions then.

Whereas Tar Kettle Road LLC, care of Francesca Bang and Gerald Leach at 5 Charlie's Lane have petitioned the town of Shelter Island for permission to remove an existing fixed deck and stairs, construct a new 4x6 cantilevered platform, install a 3x16 aluminum ramp, and install a new 5x40 floating dock supported by three 10 feet cca anchor piles per as per plan submitted by sean heaney marine construction and prepared by jeffrey pentego last revised june 17 2024 and approved by the new york dec on july 11 2024 now therefore it be resolved that pursuant to section 53 of the code of the town of Shelter Island a public hearing will be held on Monday September 21st 2026 at 6 pm or as soon thereafter prevailing time in the Shelter Island town hall for all interested persons to be heard in favor of or in opposition to the proposed application so moved second all in favor aye motion carried

Whereas Shelter Island Waterfront Associates Care of Pentropin C1 Sylvester Road has petitioned the Town of Shelter Island for permission to remove approximately 248 square feet of existing dock, install a 3 feet by 12 foot aluminum ramp leading to a 6 foot by 24 foot float secured in place by four pilings and to relocate two 2 pile dolphins as per plan submitted by Costello Marine last revisited August 11th, 2025, and approved by the New York state on April 9th, 2026. now, therefore be resolved pursuant to section 53 of the code of the town of shelter island. The public hearing will be held on Monday, September 21st, 2026 at 6 PM, or as soon thereafter prevailing time in the shelter island town hall for all interested persons to be heard in favor of or in opposition to the proposed application. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Motion carried. This full draft of the legislation that we're going to be setting public hearing for is on file at the town clerk's office. So I'm going to just read the highlights on this one. Be it resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Shelter Island hereby directs that a public hearing be held on August 31st, 2026 at 6 p.m. or as soon thereafter to hear any and all persons either for or against a local law entitled a local law amending chapter 43 building construction. And under section 43-6 application for building permit section A1 exemptions What was formerly a construction or installation of one story detached structures associated with one or two family dwellings. or multiple single family dwellings townhouses which are used for tool and storage sheds playhouses or similar uses, provided that the gross floor area does not exceed 144 square feet. that's going to be taken out so that all sheds are subject to a building permit. And then we have re-lettering for the remaining sections, except for formerly D, installation of fences, which are not part of an enclosure surrounding a swimming pool, that is also being taken out. So that will no longer be an exemption. All fences will be subject to a building permit. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Motion carried.

Whereas the Green Options Committee has requested permission to place signage in eight locations to promote advertising for their 2026 Green Expo that will take place on Sunday, August 22nd, 2026. And whereas the Town Board, Police Department and Highway Department discussed the request at the board's July 28th 2026 work session now therefore be it resolved that the town board hereby approves said request with the conditions that all signs be placed in a manner that does not obstruct line of sight for motorists or create any roadway safety hazard and that all signs be removed in 24 hours after the event so moved second all in favor aye motion carried

Just on the last resolution, setting the public hearing for that building instruction. If you look at the last line, I put in that in fact, take effect immediately or January 1st, 2027. So, I think we need to decide that. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Sorry. I should have noticed January 1st, January was the decision.

Okay, so with that amendment on that.

second second all in favor aye thank you whereas the town of shelter island seeks to purchase a new payloader for use in the town's recycling operations and whereas the estimated cost of the payloader is 238 126.60 and rise resolution 2026-307 approved on june 8 2026 authorized said purchase And whereas the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Municipal Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program provides funding for eligible municipal recycling equipment costs with grant funding available for up to 50% of eligible project costs and is required and a required local match of at least 50% and whereas the Town proposes to request $119,063.30 in MWRR grant funding and provide the required $119,063.30 local matching share from Town funds. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Shelter Island hereby authorizes Town Supervisor Amber Brock-Williams or her designee to submit an application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Municipal Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program requesting $119,063.30 toward the purchase of a payloader with an estimated total cost of $238,126.60 and commits to providing the required 50% local matching share of $119,063.30 from town funds. So moved.

Second. All in favor?

Aye. Motion carried.

Whereas a vacancy exists in the position of sole appointed assessor for the town of Shelter Island, now therefore be it resolved that Laurel Hardy is hereby appointed to the position of sole appointed assessor retroactive to July 27th, 2026, and be it further resolved that Ms. Hardy shall serve for the remainder of the current assessor's term, such term to expire on September 30th, 2031, pursuant to the standardized six-year term established under the New York State property tax law and be it further resolved that Ms. Hardy shall be considered a regular full-time employee and shall work 35 hours per week and be paid an annual salary of $87,500 prorated for the remainder of the 2026 fiscal year and be it further resolved that Ms. Hardy's appointment shall be subject to a six month probationary period commencing on her effective date of appointment. So moved. Second. All in favor?

Aye.

Motion carried.

Whereas pursuant to Section 31H of the Public Officers Law, a town officer must sign and file a constitutional oath of office within 30 days after a term of office begins. And whereas the below persons have not yet signed and filed said constitutional oath of office, and whereas the town board desires to have below persons serve the Town of Shelter Island in their designated capacities. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the town board hereby appoints the below persons to their designated positions. Peter DeSanctis, EMS, Scott Campbell, Deer and Tick, Noah Schlesinger, Lifeguard. So moved. Second. All in favor?

Aye. Motion carried. Resolved that the Board of the Town of Shelter Island authorizes the Shelter Island Town Court to apply for a JCAP grant in the 2026-2027 grant cycle up to $3,000. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Motion carried.

whereas the town board approved an outdoor assembly application for ronald anderson on june 8 2026 and whereas a compliance fee of 100 cleanup deposit was paid now therefore be it resolved but the supervisors hereby authorized and authorized and directed to return the deposit of 100 to ronald anderson so moved second all in favor aye motion carried

Whereas the Town Board approved an outdoor assembly application for Shelter Island Fireworks Incorporated on June 29, 2026, granting permission for them to hold a 2026 fireworks display. And whereas a compliance fee of $100 cleanup deposit was paid, now therefore be it resolved that the supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to return a deposit of $100 to Shelter Island Fireworks Incorporated p.o box four five two shelter island new york one one nine six four so so moved second all in favor

Whereas the town board approved an outdoor assembly application for the Shelter Island Fireworks Inc. on June 29th, 2026, granting permission for them to hold a fundraising event at SALT, and whereas a compliance fee of $100 cleanup deposit was paid, now therefore be it resolved that the supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to return the deposit $100 to the Shelter Island Fireworks Incorporated, PO Box 452, Shelter Island, New York. So moved. Second. All in favor?

Aye. Whereas the Town Board approves an outdoor assembly application for Sylvester Manor Educational Farm on July 20th, 2026, and whereas a compliance fee of $100 cleanup deposit was paid. Now, therefore, be it resolved that supervisors hereby authorized and directed to return the deposit of $100 to Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, PO Box 2029, Shelter Island, New York, 11964. So moved. Second.

Because there's a couple of abstentions, I'm going to call for a vote. Amber Graf-Williams? Aye. Margaret Larson? Aye. Albert Dixon.

Aye.

Benjamin Dayette.

Abstaining.

Elizabeth Hanley. Abstained.

Motion carries. Resolved that the following 2026 budget modifications are hereby approved. Page 10. Page 10. Oh. Not them. It was you.

No, I just got this one.

Okay. There's a supervisor who's here, probably authorized and directed the project and some of $499.50 from the North Ferry Company, Inc. for reimbursement for the use of traffic control officers, and that the following 2026 budget modification is hereby approved. $499.50 increase to the new revenue code A2705P police department reimbursements and a $499.50 increase to the A3120.100PS police personnel services expense code. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Motion carried.

Result of the following 2026 budget modifications are hereby approved. $2,925 increase to the A2770S police auction revenue code to be funded by the ACH deposit received from GovDeals and a $2,925 increase to the A3120.272 police new car expense code. And 2150 dollar increase to the 82665 sale of highway. Equipment revenue code to be funded by the deposit received from gov deals and a 2150 dollar increase to the 816 0.200 landfill equipment expense code. and $64,232.20 increase to the A309-7C Suffolk County CDBG Reimbursement Revenue Code and a $64,232.20 increase to the A1490.415 Public Works Goat Hill Maintenance Expense Code to increase the receipts and expenditures for the CDBG grant-funded ADA compliance lift at Goat Hill. and $13,492.80 increase to the A3589 Ferry Flood Mitigation Grant Revenue Code and a $13,492.80 increase to the A5720.497 Ferry Flood Mitigation Study Expense Code to increase the revenue and expenses for grant reimbursements. an $8,577.70 increase to the A1289C site plan consultant fees revenue code and an $8,577.70 increase to the A1010.498 site plan review reimbursables expense code to increase revenues and expenses for site plan review consultant fees that are reimbursed by the applicants. and $3,043.77 increased to the A2655A sale of salt and sand mix revenue code and a $3,043.77 increase to the DA5142.447 transportation salt and sand expense code to increase revenues and expenses for higher than budgeted sales. So moved.

Second. All in favor? Aye. Resolved that the following 2026 budget transfers are hereby approved. $463 from the A3510-498 gear reduction management to A3510-495 animal control print and advertising to cover overages in the account and $35.62 from the A3120-484 police office and miscellaneous to a 31-20-27-3 police firearms and ammunition to cover overages in the account. And $3.57 from the a 10-10-49-2 town board school travel mileage to a 10-10-49-6 town board association of towns to cover a slight overage on conference costs. And $304.25 from the from 1334 84 tax receiver office and miscellaneous to a 1334 14 tax receiver postage to cover an overage and $10 from be at 10 for 40 zoning education and training to be 80-10-400 zoning department education and training to correct a previous budget transfer error so moved second favor aye motion carried resolve the general the 2026 general claims numbered 1348 through 1482 in the amount of 110 503.28 2026 private claims number 116 through 138 in the amount of

163.87. 2026 Community Preservation Fund claims number 15 through 18 in the amount of $6,469.35 and 2026 Water Quality Improvement Claim number 5 in the amount of $29.03 are hereby approved for payment as audited and the supervisor and or any town board member is hereby authorized and directed to sign the approval for payment of the same. So moved. Second. All in favor?

Aye.

Motion carried. I will adjourn the meeting portion and open the first public hearing. This one is a continuation of the Suffolk County Water Authority slash West Nick Water Site Plan Review. And we've received the updated site plan drawings that now show the driveway access within the easement that is there and then turn me into the property i believe isn't that the move the tree or something they will have to cut down trees in order to make that turn yes so are there any other questions although i don't i don't seem here to answer them

But with that modification, we can approve this and we're going to have to sort out the legal aspects of the season, like the trees and whatever. But we'd have to do that anyway, no matter what. So I think we can approve the filtration system that they want to install and let them start moving forward.

Does everyone agree that we have everything we need to close this?

I do.

I feel like I have everything. I do.

Yes, no. Okay.

All right. Any questions from the public? All right. Then I will make a motion to close this public hearing. Second? David?

Aye.

Motion carried. And now we have our next public hearing.

on the 10th day of august 2026 at six o'clock pm or sooner after prevailing time on the application of courtney o'sullivan and pierre champanel 74 peconic avenue suffolk county tax map number 700-25-1-6 to remove 101 plus or minus feet of timber bulkhead face to be replaced in place with vinyl sheath bulkhead and to remove and replace a 10 foot return along the southern property line with a vinyl return and to backfill with existing fill from the property. As per plan submitted by Sean Heaney Marine Construction dated March 4th, 2026 and approved by the New York State DEC under general permit GP 1-22-001 dated April 2nd, 2026. We have a WNAC report.

All permits are in order and the vote was 6-0 to approve. There was one recuse.

Mr. Haney is here on behalf of the applicant. Do you have anything you want to just say about this? Any questions from the board? i'm just happy to see the repairs being done because it impacts the town bill cut next door so good move looking forward to it yeah i was going to say it's a replace replacement um anyone from the public who has any questions the motion to close this public hearing second favor all right she's harry Now moving on to our last public hearing of the evening.

At 6 o'clock PM we're assuming they're after prevailing time on the application of Bingo Project Solutions LLC care of Nancy Wang 47B South Ferry Road for permission to install a riparian mooring at a location designated as latitude 41.06717 degrees north and 72.30653 degrees west. WMAC report.

They voted 7-0 to approve with the updated coordinates.

Yeah, I noticed that. So we have to, when we do the resolution after the public hearings, we'll have to just make that minor modification on those coordinates. Almost missed that. Any questions that the board has? We have the right coordinates? Yes, it was in the WWC report. Yes.

Any questions from the public?

We'll make a motion to close that public hearing.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. The same. Now we will reconvene the regular meeting. And since I messed up on the order of reading resolutions before, I'll take the next one with the revised ordinance. Whereas Bingo Project Solutions LLC, care of Nancy Wang, 47B South Ferry Road, has petitioned the Town of Shelthorne for permission to install a riparian mooring at a location designated as Latitude 41.06. Trying to read this a little bit differently because normally we say what the application was for and then we say what the new location is? Or can I just read the new location? I just want to make sure.

Okay.

So at a location designated as latitude 41.067217 north, and longitude minus 72.30635 West. And whereas public hearing was duly held on the 10th day of August, 2026, for all interested persons to be heard in favor of or in opposition to, now therefore be it resolved that the town clerk is hereby authorized to issue a permit for the aforementioned installation. So moved.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Motion carried. That takes us through the regular part of our business, and we open it up for public comments if there's anyone here that wishes to speak. Am I not, sir? State your name for the record.

My name is Ralph Whipple. I hope this is the right protocol, but I'm here tonight to express my concern to the permit allowing Mr. Verwaife to conduct a commercial oystering operation from the town landing within the South Ferry Hills Yacht Boat Base. A number of residents have written in, including the letters that I have written to the TEF, and I also have Our position is that although we support Shelter Island's payment and its working waterfront, our objection is not to commercial oystering, it is to conducting this operation from this particular location. The town landing sits within a quiet residential basin that has historically been used for recreation. Commercial activity has created conflicts at the boat ramp increase boat and vehicle traffic, and raise safety concerns for swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders, and recreational boaters. We are also concerned about damage to the shoreline and wetland vegetation. Public recreational landing should remain accessible and safe for the public. It should not gradually become an operating base for a private commercial business. Mr. Wave should continue or be able to continue his oysterine business, but from a location better suited for commercial activity. Location relocation would support the island's working waterfront while protecting the character, safety, and environment of this basin. I have photographs documenting significant destruction of shoreline and wetland vegetation associated with the current operation in the South Ferry Hills basin. I also have a prior DEC corrective action letter issued in connection with Mr. Waif's activities at Daniel Lord Ranch. This letter demonstrates that environmental impacts associated with these operations have previously required DEC intervention and corrective action. What is particularly concerning is that we are now seeing similar conditions developing in the basin. The photograph, which I'd like to show you, shows disturbed shoreline vegetation and damage that closely resembles the type in the past. This raises an important question. If corrective action was already required by the DEC elsewhere, then perhaps we need to, the town should look at the impacts created in our particular boat bases. And at a minimum, the photographs in the prior DEC action warrant a careful environmental review before this commercial operation is allowed to continue. from this location. The environmental impacts are no longer hypothetical. They are visible, documented, and occurring in an area that deserves protection. So this is, again, not about choosing between payment and homeowners. It's about finding the right location for a commercial operation. We respectfully ask the town to reconsider this permit and pursue a more appropriate site. Now, if I may show you two photographs. Is that possible?

You just walking around? Sure. I'm just walking around.

Okay. So this is how the basin appeared in, I'm sorry, let me get the right one. This is how the boat basin appeared in May, when Mr. Waif first started his operation. If you can all... You notice the vegetation on either side of the ramp is in very nice shape.

You can also send these to us after the meeting.

Okay, I will do that. Now this is how it looks now. So you can see a significant amount of deterioration within that working area. He runs the boat up on the shoreline. couple of times a day and has really destroyed all the grasslands in that area. And I know from personal experience dealing with DTC that they don't take kindly to this type of destruction on the wetlands. If I may, I'm not sure what should happen now, but I would really like to see if maybe we could get some town officials down there to just take a look at the situation. I've already been before the wetlands management board that gave a thumbs up to you guys, I believe, to issue this permit. However, they only looked at it from a permitting compliant issue. So that permit does comply with what Mr. Waife asked for, but it doesn't answer the question of the destruction or the disruption that it's causing within the boat basin.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

Is there anyone from the public who wishes to speak? And I will entertain a motion to close the meeting. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you, everybody. It's for the best here tomorrow morning.