A few reminders
–
* Saturday, April 26th,
1:00 pm,
Library –
LWVSI Program on Eco-Friendly Home
Construction: Robert Strauss on Conserving Energy in the Home
*
School Budget Vote & Board Election Deadlines:
[See
S I Reporter
5/1 for details]
* Sunday, May 4th,
2:00
pm to 5:00 pm
at the School –
LWVSI Forum Candidates for Union Free
School District Board
*
Friday, May 9th,
7:00 pm,
SI Public Library, Lower Level:
LWVSI Forum/Sharon Clifford
to speak on School Budget Foru
* Monday,
May 12th,
7:00
pm
at the School –
Public Hearing on School Budget
*
Tuesday,
May 13th,
5:00
pm -
Deadline to obtain Absentee Ballots
for the School Board election from the School District Clerk
* Tuesday, May 20th
12:00
pm - 8:00 pm
at the School Gymnasium–
Vote on School Board & Budget.
Absentee Ballots must be received by the
School
District
Clerk
by
5:00 pm.
Notes on the Town Board
Work Session
April 22, 2008
All
Board members, Town Atty, and Town Clerk
were present.
Paul Mobius, Library Trustee
introduced the new librarian, Denise DiPaolo.
He listed her many accomplishments and credentials. She lives in
Sag Harbor. Ms.
DiPaolo spoke and invited everyone to
visit the library and see the many new features they have added.
More computers, new movies, NY Times bestseller
books, and a new website,
www.ShelterIslandPublicLibrary.org.
She also handed out new library cards
to the Town Board. The new card allows users to go online for many
purposes. Even paying fines. She received
a round of applause and welcome.
A new restaurant owner has taken over the Old
Salty Dog location. It will be called Luna. They were applying for a
use license and for the town to waive the timeline necessary so they
may open on time around Memorial Day weekend. They have applied for
a full liquor license. They will be open Tues.-Sunday and will serve
brunch, lunch and dinner. The kitchen will stay open until
10:30 p.m.
and the bar will stay open beyond which will be driven by demand.
Food will be more Latin/Cuban style.
Prasad Wetlands Application – The architect
presented updated surveys to requests by the Board on bluff barrier
topography lines. The board wanted to understand the relationship of
the building envelope to this section for water runoff, plantings,
DEC jurisdiction. Fill was a concern as to whether it was being
brought in from an outside source or from the property. There will
be a geo-thermal system put in under the tennis court to make the
house an energy efficient house. Additional fill will come from
excavation for the basement. The fill will be used to level the
property. Concern from the board was whether water would run off
into neighboring properties and the bay. Further discussion will
take place and the applicant will be asked to appear again.
Additional discussion included what the DEC considers the crest of
the bluff and vegetation to be planted.
Skateboard
Park
– Garth Griffin,
Lee Oliver and Phil Mancini. A location was chosen after
speaking to the Risk Assessment Officer. That location was the old
ledge area on Bowditch
Rd., next to the new Highway Barn. It had
the least risk and liability over other locations. It was noted that
this would be a temporary location until a community center could be
established that may incorporate the skateboard park. Also the word
temporary was questioned since many projects that have been
temporary on Shelter
Island
become permanent. Objections were heard that stated that
Bowditch Rd.
is not a safe location and road and offered other locations that
included the Cobbett’s Lane firehouse
parking lot, the Legion Hall, Wades Beach. The school will not
entertain the park on school property, which includes
Fiske field. Phil Mancini also stated
there would be landscape screening for the neighbors. Security was
questioned and signs would be posted stating hours from
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Locking the
gates was recommended. All kids must be registered with waivers
signed. Camp
Quinipet
has also offered the use of one of its buildings for use for movies,
an indoor skateboard park and other uses during the off-season
months. Private monies will be raised.
Cardboard Compactor at
Recycling
Center – The machine is not working
properly, leaking oil and is about 15-20 years old and Highway Supt.
Mark Ketcham would like to replace it. The funds would come from the
town so it may be purchased immediately while the Highway Dept.
follows the 30-day notification process of transferring funds. The
monies would be used to “repay” the town. The Town Atty. agreed it
would be ok. Some of the parts and the scrap metal of the machine
would yield some funds to reduce the cost. The company the machine
would be purchased from would deliver, install and remove the old
machine. It will cost $8200. The reason for immediate decision on
this is that the machine is unsafe and does provide revenue but
Supt. Ketcham did not have those figures with him.
Dark Skies – Chris Lewis spoke of a
lighting plan that would reduce light pollution.
Recommended that this could be added as a requirement to future
building plans submitted to the Building Dept. The board
should consider amending the code to incorporate it. Peter Reich
recommended that the town practice what it preaches and address the
various floodlights that are on the town properties and see if they
can be replaced or redirected so they are not shining into other
properties or into the night sky.
Hymowitz Wetland
Resolution – Town Atty. Dowd has redrafted the resolution that
addresses the septic system.
Draft law re: retaining walls – Ed
Brown felt the Board needs to start over and readdress even the
purpose of the law. Discussion included on what is the right height
of a retaining wall, does it require a building permit and Peter
Reich stated that bulkheads are retaining walls and they should be
considered differently than decorative walls. Also felt that they
should not be on the property line. Further discussion then included
the Health Dept regulations for septic systems and who has
jurisdiction. Town or Bd. of Health?
Shallow water systems retaining walls are required to be 2-4’ high.
Is that considered too high? To be continued in upcoming sessions.
Member comments –
Ed Brown – Goat Hill is starting the
process of Historical Status to apply for grants.
Working with Ron Lucas and Betty
Kontje.
Working
with the NYS Seagrass Task Force and Al
Loreto from the WMAC that will research, monitor, map the eelgrass
beds and manage the 3 estuary systems and make recommendations for
further refinement. This is a first for the
country and will be funded by the Task Force. This could affect the
type of moorings that are used and to determine if runoff is a cause
of eel grass depletion.
Peter Reich – There will be many
mooring and dock applications to discuss next Tues. Met with East
End Computer. Working on the Green Committee.
Résumé’s to be discussed.
Glenn Waddington – Suggested a representative
from Cablevision come to the town to discuss the letter that was
received re: digital box upgrades and service changes.
Chris Lewis – Suggested the Board speak to the
State representatives re: the state taxes on oil and gasoline. I
stated that I thought the county legislature had addressed a cap on
the taxes but not sure what the status was.
I also asked about the light bulb give away to
energy efficient bulbs taking place in Levittown
in Nassau Cty and would the town
consider doing that? I was reminded that
the Green Committee was being formed and many ideas may come of it.
Respectfully submitted,
Janalyn Travis-Messer