All Town Council members, Town Clerk and Town Attorney were in attendance at today's Work Session, as were Police Chief, Jim Read, Highway Superintendent, Mark Ketcham, Planning Board member, Emory Breiner, Community Housing co-chairman, Hoot Sherman and Cara Loriz for the Shelter Island Reporter. 

LIPA  In preparation to the public meeting scheduled with LIPA on Tuesday, July 29th at 1:00 pm. Sup. Dougherty invited Linda Bianculli of LIPA to speak, answer questions and provide her email address (lbianculli@lipower.org) for citizens to send her questions in advance of the public hearing.
Ms. Bianculli spoke on the possible substation to be built on 2 parcels off of Rt. 114 owned by Mark Labrozzi. LIPA is responding to the outages and wanting to improve service and supports the substation to address these problems. Questions were posed by the Town Board, Mike Mundy, Jim Olinkiewicz, Joy Bausman and Linda Eklund on whether the substation was necessary, would really solve the issues and would devalue property assessments.
Most believed downed lines due to poor tree trimming, poor equipment (old transmission lines) and lack of a service vehicle on the island is the true problem, not to lack of electricity getting to the island. Councilman Waddington spoke about the underground line connecting the forks and stated that the residents were led to believe that the line would prevent outages on the island only to learn later that it goes thru the island and does not bring power to the island.
The July 29 meeting will bring several LIPA representatives to answer questions re: population growth, services growth due to larger houses and the need for a substation and its benefits.
Another possibility for a substation location if it is determined that it is necessary was the old highway barn property to utilize existing town owned lands and make them income producing.

BURNING LAW Chief Read proposed an amendment to the current burning law on the books. Currently any burning including BBQing with briquettes is illegal during the summer months. Suffolk County has a law that allows recreational burning that relates to BBQs, outdoor fireplaces, camp fires. Two questions were raised re: whether bonfires are considered camp fires and should drought guidelines be included. Chief Read will speak to the fire commissioners and chiefs for their input.

HIGHWAY DEPT. FIRST HALF ACTUALS VS BUDGET & SAVINGS Superintendent Ketcham presented documents upon the request of Sup. Dougherty a breakdown of how monies were being spent/saved, and the controls in place in light of recent realities of reduced revenue and increased expenses in previous work sessions.  Sup. Ketcham stated that Highway Salaries were closer than they appear due to expected revenues from DEC grant money and sale of wood chips. Overtime expenditures will be provided at next work session. Public Works - Bills are still to be paid. Recycling Center - Carting costs have been reduced. Fund Balance - will report on next meeting. Parts Account - Only 24K left of an 80K budget due to price of oil and related products. Will deplete it before the end of the year. Cost of fuel has to be considered in '09 budget.
Still expecting several hundred thousand dollars in grant money.
No disaster declaration for previous wind storms.

EAST END SHUTTLE Tom Neeley, Dir. of Transportation and Public Safety in Southampton. Introduced by Patricia Shillingburg. Went over the history of the 5 Town Rural Transit Study. Currently developing an analysis of a rail/bus ideas and alternatives to driving. Create linkages. Ideas being fine tuned in all communities.  In light of the cost of gasoline the timing could be beneficial. In mid October the goal is to have all 5 towns boards meet. Also to utilize town's website to provide information and updates.

SOUTH FERRY HILLS DREDGING Town received permit and is allowed to assign it. Meeting with South Ferry Hills Association. Will assign permit to them to dredge. If the bulkhead fails then they will be responsible. Town does not have liability.

SPECIAL MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 

A permit was approved for a film company to work on Ram Island Causeway on 7/23 & 7/24(raindate).
Palminteri wetlands replacement deck permit was approved.
Peebles wetlands replacement deck permit was approved.
Ron Lucas was approved to be a replacement van driver.

OTHER BUSINESS

Ed Brown
Wants to discuss driveways in the Near Shore Overlay District at next work session

Clearer signage on Crescent Beach, where does it end?

Garth Griffin is hosting the opening of the bocce and volley ball courts tues. July 29 6pm at Wades Beach.

Peter Reich

Amanda Clark, participating in this year's Olympics, returned from China to meet with Pres. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.
Geothermal hearing scheduled for 8/1.

Jim Dougherty

Spoke at the Silver Beach Association Annual Meeting. Residents are maintaining a detailed log on helicopter flyovers. Will present to Cong. Bishop. Encouraged all homeowners to do the same. FAA has no desire to regulate helicopters.

Glenn Waddington
Attended an SI Assoc. meeting. The org. has submitted a letter supporting the Building Depts. ruling of the proposed Ram island rehab center.
Discussed a citizens budget committee

Chris Lewis
Would like an ad to be placed in the paper in September to encourage homeowners, landlords and tenants to have heating systems serviced.
Seniors should speak to Henrietta Roberts re: heating oil assistance.

There being no further questions or business, the Work Session was adjourned at 3:00 to discuss potential litigation in Executive Session.

Janalyn Travis-Messer
for
the League of Women Voters of Shelter Island