Town Board urged to approve sober home

Many recovering drug addicts and alcoholics held back tears as they addressed the Riverhead Town Board on Tuesday as they urged it to approve a sober home on East Main Street.

About 12 people spoke during  a public hearing on the application for Mainstream House, which is a sober recovery house for men.

Bob Hartmann Jr., the founder of Mainstream House and a recovered addict, is seeking a special permit from the town to use the building located across from Town Hall as a home for 12 to 13 men that have undergone treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, according to

Th Town Board is expected to vote on the proposal at its next meeting.

The board also unanimously appointed Stan Carey to fill a vacant seat on the Planning Board. Mr. Carey is the superintendent of the Massapequa Water District, an ex-captain of the Riverhead Fire Department and a member of the Riverhead Republican committee.

In addition, the board agreed to hire the law firm of Harris Beach to help develop a “bridge loan” to offset future tax increases.

To read what else happened at Tuesday’s meeting, click below for a recap of reporter Tim Gannon’s live blog. Scroll down below the blog to see the full agenda and resolution packet.

February 4, 2014 – Agenda by Timesreview

February 4, 2014 – Packet by Timesreview