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BLOG RECAP: Town Board amends VHB contract, boo ban

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The Riverhead Town Board approved a resolution Tuesday night to amend the town’s contract with VHB, a consulting firm that’s been working on the town’s subdivision and planning study at the Enterprise Park at Calverton property.

The amendment allows VHB to represent clients before the town. That is so long as the firm is not involved in projects in EPCAL, and so long as VHB employees keep information they get from their town work confidential.

VHB representatives have said that since the EPCAL study has taken longer than expected, “their inability to provide services to potential clients” in Riverhead Town has caused the firm to “suffer significant loss of business opportunities,” according to the resolution.

VHB officials had said if the amendment was not approved, the firm would cancel its contract with the town.

The Hauppauge firm’s planning work is costing the town about $500,000.

Supervisor Sean Walter said the town couldn’t afford to lose VHB’s services in the EPCAL study at this point.

“We’re one year away from finishing it now,” he said. “If VHB quits, we’d be two years away.”

In addition, the board formally amended its rules and procedures to remove a ban on booing that it approved two weeks ago.

News-Review reporter Tim Gannon reported live from the meeting.

Click below to read a recap, and see the full agenda and resolution packet below that.

 

March 19, 2013 – Agenda by rnews_review

 

 

March 19, 2013 – Packet by rnews_review