Riverhead Town Board roundup: Rothwell congratulates Halpin on supervisor win 

Councilman Ken Rothwell officially conceded the supervisor race to his opponent Jerry Halpin at the first town board meeting post-Election Day, respectfully congratulating him on securing the full two-year term. 

With all 22 election districts reporting, as of Friday afternoon unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections showed Mr. Halpin ahead by 627 votes, with 6,779 votes, or 52.4%, to Mr. Rothwell’s 6,152, or 47.6%.

Mr. Halpin received 2,821 more votes than last year, when he defeated Republican incumbent Tim Hubbard by just 37 votes. The two candidates’ combined vote total was about 64% higher than the number of votes cast for Mr. Halpin and Mr. Hubbard last year.

“I am committed to work with the supervisor and all the members of the town board,” Mr. Rothwell said at Tuesday’s town board meeting. “I know that we’re going to still do some great things together in this town and lead this town in a great direction… [I] look forward to working for the constituents over the next two years.”

Mr. Halpin thanked Mr. Rothwell for his commendations. 

“We’re going to do great things,” he said. 

Later on during the public comment period, Warren McKnight of Riverhead presented Mr. Halpin and Mr. Rothwell with coloring books — a welcomed gesture meant to ease their election stresses. 

“I had a very rough time this election, I like the two candidates for town supervisor, and so did many of my friends,” Mr. McKnight said. “We had a rough time picking and choosing, because they’re two really wonderful men.” 

The meeting carried on as normal, with the town board unanimously voting on all the resolutions on Tuesday’s agenda. Here are some of the highlights from the Nov. 5 meeting: 

Hiring of regional CPF attorney tabled 

The town board came to a unanimous decision to table a resolution to authorize the hiring of Mary Wilson as the regional counsel for the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation Fund Advisory Committee for $400 per hour — a cost that would be divided among the five East End towns based on their respective revenue shares from the program.  

Barbara Blass of Jamesport raised concerns about the mandatory nature of the agreement, travel expenses for a possibly Florida-based attorney and the potential impacts on Riverhead’s specific land preservation interests. 

Established in 1998, the state legislation enables all five East End towns within the Peconic Bay region to establish a Community Preservation Fund, supported by revenues of a 2% transfer tax  on property sales. 

The CPF is a voter approved, public program managed by each of the five East End towns for the protection of farmland, open space, water quality and community character. 

Under state law, the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation Fund Advisory Committee advises town boards on policy and administrative matters relating to the CPF. Riverhead is required to sign an intermunicipal agreement to share this legal counsel with Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton and East Hampton. 

The committee must meet at least four times a year, with Ms. Wilson as counsel in attendance, according to the agreement. 

Ms. Blass worried Riverhead might have to contribute to legal counsel about CPF matters that don’t directly concern the town. Acknowledging it is out of the town’s control, she asked whether the agreement could possibly be refined, so Riverhead pays for counsel on matters serving its own interests.

“From the very beginning, and I was a part of it at the time, Riverhead has always kept true to the foundation, the purpose, the intent of the CPF, and that was preservation of farmland and open space,” said Ms. Blass, who is a former councilperson. “That was our regional community character, and we’ve always been very challenged with our CPF revenue compared to some of the other towns.” 

Based on 2023 figures, town attorney Erik Howard said Riverhead’s share of CPF revenues at the time was roughly 5.3%, compared to East Hampton’s 33%, Southampton’s 51%, Southold’s 8.5% and Shelter Island’s 1.7%. These shares are recalculated annually based on each town’s CPF contribution, he said. 

The town board did not reject the CPF regional counsel contract, but agreed to table it to further further examine the agreement’s cost and terms, including the attorney’s fee, travel expenses and effects on Riverhead’s CPF priorities. 

“I was really offended that the state is requiring this of us, we had no choice,” said Councilwoman Denise Merrifield. “It’s the state taking over and dictating to the town what they have to do in their own local community, destroying our home rule even more.” 

Public hearing on disabled veterans property tax exemption

Veterans showed up to one of the public hearings on Tuesday to urge the Riverhead Town Board to approve an amendment that would provide a full property tax exemption for qualifying veterans who are permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service.

Mr. Rothwell, who supports the amendment, explained that the town must enact local law to adopt this state-mandated exemption.

“I think it’s a very small act that we can do as a township here to honor our veterans, especially those that have a disability because of the service that they’ve done for their country, and we’re grateful to each and every one of these men and women,” the councilman said. 

Laverne Tennenberg, town assessor, suggested several technical corrections to the legislation, mainly regarding terminology and placement in the code. She also noted her office is preparing to conduct a mass mailing to over 200 disabled veterans whose existing exemption records will be reviewed for eligibility. 

The town assessors’ office already has most of the documentation from those who already have exemption applications filed, Ms. Tennenberg said. If there is any missing documentation, disabled veterans may be asked to call Veterans’ Affairs. 

Dennis Morrill, Commander of the Eastport American Legion Post 1545, is a Vietnam veteran who was wounded twice in combat who spoke about the lasting impacts of his injuries. 

“I suffer every day, every day when I wake up, I suffer — I just had spinal surgery to remove shrapnel from my back from 56 years ago,” Mr. Morrill said. “I’ve never asked the town of Riverhead for anything…if it was you, would you be asking for this? If it was you, do your veterans deserve this credit? Do your veterans deserve to get a little bit more than the local person that didn’t serve the community? I think yes.”

Robert Robesch, post commander for the Riverhead American Legion, expressed his support for the exemption, stating that he personally will not benefit from it, as he is not 100% disabled,  but the roughly 200 eligible veterans will. 

“It’s really not that much of a financial burden, I think, on the taxpayers, for the few people in the town of Riverhead who would be benefitting from this,” Mr. Robesch said. 

Declaration of public emergency at Youngs Avenue waste facility 

The Riverhead Town Board approved a declaration of a public emergency which requires an immediate removal and reduction of yard waste from the Young’s Avenue Northside Yard Waste facility. 

Residents can typically drop off their yard waste, such as grass clippings or leaves, at the facility free of charge. However, since 2020, the volume of yard waste at the property has reached a record high, with all the storms, blizzards and other extreme weather events forcing residents and garbage contractors to make multiple yard waste drop offs daily. 

Under New York State Department of Environmental Conservation restrictions, the Youngs Avenue Northside Yard Waste Facility can not accept more than 10,000 cubic yards of yard waste. If the town exceeds this, it could face NYSDEC fines, permit suspension or closure. 

With the facility nearing capacity and the fall season in full swing, town officials are taking immediate action with an agreement with Delea Sod Farm, who will remove and transport roughly 7,000 to 8,000 cubic yards of ground and composting material from the facility to its own property for further processing and use. 

This action will be at no cost to the town. Councilman Merrifield was credited for her diligent effort in coordinating the removal. 

No comments on preliminary budget for 2027 

Jeanette DiPaola, the town’s financial administrator, introduced the 2027 preliminary budget, noting the revised tax cap levy of 1.79%. This rate is well below the established tax cap limit of 2.79% for 2027.

There were no comments at the public hearing on the 2027 preliminary budget on Tuesday, but the written comment period will remain open through Monday, Nov. 16. 

Assistant fire marshal resigns 

With gratitude for his service, the town board accepted the resignation of assistant chief fire marshal Liam Keating, effective Nov. 6. He is leaving for a position in East Hampton, town officials said. 

“Thank you to Liam for his work in the fire marshal’s office, he’s really done an amazing job over the past couple of years organizing that office, ramping up their permitting and enforcement capabilities,” Mr. Howard said. “I think East Hampton’s really getting a fine fire marshal.”