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Recap: Board talks Suffolk brownfields program

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Suffolk County has identified this Pulaski Street site as a brownfield in need of rehabilitation
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Suffolk County has identified this Pulaski Street site as a brownfield in need of rehabilitation

The Riverhead Town Board discussed Suffolk County’s proposed land bank program at the board’s Thursday work session.

The land bank allows the county to rehab abandoned and possibly polluted properties and then resell them.

The county needs support of the 10 Suffolk towns to create the land bank, which is reportedly made possible through state legislation passed in 2011 allowing for the creation of 10 land banks across New York State.

Supervisor Sean Walter said an empty lot, which used to house a gas station across from Pulaski Street School, is one property on the county’s brownfields list he would like to see rehabbed and sold off.

The board also discussed proposed rules of procedure at Town Board meetings, which includes a plan to cap public comments to five minutes for one individual.

There was also a discussion to amend former congressman George Hochbrueckner’s contract with the town to add lobbying to try to get the FAA to locate at EPCAL. He would get paid another $1,000.

Board members also discussed the Concordia assisted living complex long planned for property behind Home Depot off Mill Road.

The meeting started at 10 a.m., following a 9:30 a.m. executive session.

News-Review reporter Tim Gannon blogged live from the meeting. Click below to follow and comment.

 

Riverhead Town Board work session agenda 01-31-2013 by