Recap: Charter fishing boat is headed downtown

At its meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Riverhead Town Board agreed to authorize a contract with Captain John Capuano to dock a charter fishing boat at the downtown docks for $7,000 per season, which would normally run from May 1 to Nov. 1.

This year, the season will run from Aug. 15 to Oct. 15, with the rate pro-rated, which officials said comes to about $2,300.

Mr. Capuano owns the Shinnecock Star in Hampton Bays and would be purchasing a second boat to dock in downtown Riverhead.

• The Town Board also agreed to waive the building and fire prevention construction permit fees for 30 days for two downtown restaurants, Athens Grill and Cliff’s Rendezvous after both eateries were damaged in fires last week.

Councilman James Wooten opposed that resolution, calling it “a slippery slope,” and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio abstained, saying she thinks the property owners’ insurance carriers would cover the fees — and that she needed more information.

• Also, board members now say they support preserving developer Ed Broidy’s 15-acre parcel on Sound Avenue and Park Road as farmland, rather than open space.

As farmland, the development rights would be purchased and the land could only be farmed, whereas under an open space the property would be purchased outright and the town would have to maintain it as a park.

Councilwoman Jodi Giglio said she spoke with Mr. Broidy Tuesday morning and learned he has filed his application with Suffolk

County to preserve the land as farmland. Previously, the county had proposed buying the land as open space, but Ms. Giglio and Councilman George Gabrielsen opposed that measure, and later submitted a farmland proposal.

Mr. Wooten and Councilman John Dunleavy, who supported the open space purchase, said Tuesday that they both support preserving the land as farmland.

Supervisor Sean Walter, a lawyer who once represented Mr. Broidy, has recused himself from the discussion.

• The board also approved a special permit allowing the BP gas station on Osborn Avenue and Route 58 to build a 1,025-square-foot convenience store with a Dunkin’ Donuts counter, along with new gas pumps.

To read what else happened at Tuesday’s meeting, which was over in 47 minutes, click on the blog box below:

July 2, 2013 – Agenda by rnews_review

July 2, 2013 – Packet by rnews_review