final
General Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2004
Submitted by PK Hopkins
Call to Order, Pledge, Roll Call,
The General Meeting of the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association was called to order by President Michael Brewer at 7:10 PM on September 27, 2004 at the Flanders Nutrition Center.
Executive Board members Michael Brewer, Lonaway Muldrow, Eugene Rausch, Janice Artandi, Ellen Rausch, Allen Perkowski and Patty Hopkins were present. A quorum was declared.
Michael Brewer thanked the Borrelli’s and the Picnic Committee.
General Meeting Minutes:
From the July 26, 2004 Meeting were read by Patty Hopkins and Michael Brewer.
Motion made by Michael Brewer to accept the minutes with corrections. Allen Perkowski seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Treasurer’s Report:
Was read by Eugene Rausch. As of August 31, 2004, the Association had total funds of $9,990.48:
$2,138.65 – general fund;
$1,496.57 – Hamlet Grant;
$1,000.00 – Revitalization Grant;
$2,355.26 – Beautification funds;
$3,000.00 – Reserve Savings.
Motion made by Lonaway Muldrow to accept Treasurer’s report and to pay all bills. Michael Brewer seconded the motion. All were in favor
Normal order of business waived at 7:20 PM in favor of guest speakers Bob Makson from the Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance and New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr.
Bob Makson appealed to the general membership the need for more volunteers. Bob said that training is available for all positions with the ambulance i.e. dispatchers, first responders. Help is also needed to answer phones and entering records. Training is also available for driving the ambulance. EMT training is available through Suffolk County. He said the volunteers work off a rotating schedule. Allen Perkowski stated that there is a link on the FRNCA website to the FNVA website. The website for FNVA is www.FNVA.org.
New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr. thanked FRNCA for inviting him to the meeting and for inviting him to the picnic. Mr. Thiele stated he remembered the start up of the volunteer ambulance at least 15 years ago into his elected position. Mr. Thiele praised the volunteers in our local fire department and ambulance. He explained some of his accomplishments while in office like the special equalization rate regarding our school taxes. He stated that the Town reassessment is completed and that we will see the difference in our next tax bills. He explained that State owned land and County owned land are all off the tax roles and about PILOT - payments in lieu of taxes. He spoke about the Route 24 Project as being almost completed. He said the new bus shelters may be the county’s responsibility to maintain. New permits may need to be submitted for the two (2) water taps on the Route 24 corner. He stated that the ground breaking for the new State Police Barracks was 1 ˝ years ago and that an Open House reception will be taking place in the near future. He mentioned the upcoming audit of our school district. He said the environmental study regarding the River Cat Walk Project was almost completed and the Project would be under the Empire Zone classification. Some new issues he mentioned was the STAR program. He said the program was working well but the benefits were eroding due to normal inflation increases. He stated a reform on the program would be necessary to make it work better. Mr. Thiele mentioned a campaign for fiscal equity regarding the way schools are funded. Reforming the way the schools are funded would be necessary to make the distribution fair. Regarding the current LIPA rates, Mr. Thiele stated that we are still paying off the debt from the Shoreham Power Plant. He said Bob Sweeney and himself are looking for accountability on the local level. Regarding the creation of Peconic County, he said Sheldon Silver, the current Speaker of the House, refuses to allow the creation of new county. Mr. Thiele said the Bill to create Peconic County is sent in all the time. Chris Sheldon explained at one time we didn’t have enough population, but we now meet that requirement.
Regarding the Shinnecock Indian Nation Casino issue in Hampton Bays, he stated that the State of New York went to court to stop the woods from being cleared. The State of New York has recognized the Shinnecock Tribe but the Federal Government has not. There is a preliminary injunction in place at this time. Right now this process is tied up in the court system according to Mr. Thiele.
The following questions were asked to Mr. Thiele:
Q. Ron Boyd asked when the school audit will begin and can business go on as usual while the audit was going on?
A. Not sure when it will begin and Yes, business will go on.
Q. Fran Spano asked what allows the Speaker of the House the terms they can stay in their position.
A. The Senate Majority and Speaker control what Bills come out onto the floor. They are elected every two (2) years. There is no term limit for the Speaker. Reforms need to happen in order to change this process.
Q. Michael Brewer asked if there was any new legislation formula that we could apply for to get more funds in our area.
A. If there were any changes in the near future, they would possibly go under review and would be designed to minimize the impact on first time home buyers in the area.
Q. Janice Artandi asked if there was any more information on the 106 closing.
A. The Air National Guard at Gabreski Airport is very important to this area. Consider the economic impact and public safety, homeland security, and the proximity to NYC. An independent commission will make a recommendation to the President and then to Congress for accepting or rejecting. New York is the only state with five (5) Air National Guard Bases.
Q. Allen Perkowski asked about the school budget proposed before the state budget is approved. What is the difference from the state aid submitted and state aid received in the future audit.
A. The audit will probably go back 2 or 3 years. They will check what was budgeted and what was spent.
Q. Dave Fox asked to explain the equalization rate regarding the school district.
A. Three (3) different towns have three (3) different assessments. They are compared and computed to come out with one rate.
Q. Pauline Sandmann asked about a freeze on paying school tax at age 70.
A. Fred Thiele said he sponsored the Bill for that freeze.
Q. Ellen Rausch asked how to determine aid to the charter school.
A. Patty Acampora and he co-sponsored a Bill to re-evaluate funding to the local school districts for charter schools. More information is needed to determine how well charter schools perform.
Q. Ellen Rausch asked about the payments from the PILOT funds.
A. The law has to be changed – it takes two years.
Q. Chris Sheldon said maybe 25% of the funds can be raised through the preservation funds.
A. Maybe in time.
Q. Michael Brewer asked about a workforce housing bill.
A. It would provide living space with the fee paid by the contractor into a housing fund. The “kinks” are still getting worked out. The Bill will probably pass next year.
Motion made by Michael Brewer at 8:25 PM to return back to regular business. Ellen Rausch seconded. All were in favor.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Audit: No audit is scheduled at this time.
Beautification:
Michael Brewer read a prepared report from Rose Nigro. The Committee is planning a Spring Craft Fair to be held the weekend before or after Memorial Day 2005. More information will follow as plans are confirmed. $7500.00 was received for the revitalization of the Route 24/CO. Rd. 105 South East corner. $200.00 was ok’d for spring flower bulbs as a fundraiser. A request was made to purchase deer away and some mums and other plantings from Agway. 200 daffodils will be planted throughout the three hamlets this fall.
Motion made by Allen Perkowski to spend up to $50.00 at Agway. Lonaway Muldrow seconded. All were in favor.
By Laws: waived at this time.
Code Enforcement: waived at this time.
Education: waived at this time.
Government: Lonaway Muldrow handed out Southampton Town Planning Board agenda information pertaining to our area. The report was waived at this time.
Membership: Janice Artandi handed out a Membership Committee Report for October. The report stated we have 118 members at this time. This total includes thirteen (13) business members. New members included Ronald Boyd, Judy Devito, and Hampton Dive Center. Renewals included Lorraine Collins, Sonny Tomaino, Mike Esposito’s, Peconic Gate Systems, and Charlie’s Quality Collision.
Nominating: no report until February
Publicity: waived at this time.
Special Projects: New member Ron Boyd will be our liaison to the Town of Southampton Enterprize Zone Board.
Correspondence:
~Michael Brewer read a letter from New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr. in answer to a letter sent regarding the Route 24 speed limit. Michael also read a copy of a letter from the State to Mr. Thiele regarding the Route 24 speed limit.
~Michael read a letter he sent to Town of Southampton Supervisor Skip Heaney requesting $1200.00 needed for the Phillips Avenue School playground. He received an adopted resolution from the Town of Southampton authorizing $1200.00 for the playground. When the check is received, FRNCA would like to make a presentation to the Riverhead School Board of Education.
Old Business:
1. Michael Brewer reported that the site Plans for the Inglesia Y Alfa Omega Church to be located in the old Pace cabinet shop right next to Silverbrook Pond was approved.
2. The 1st Round Table meeting went well. We will meet every other month. Future zip code meetings will be moved to the Round Table meetings.
3. Stanley Normoyle addressed the membership to eliminate back round laughter while someone is trying to speak.
4. Dave Fox suggested the invitations to the Round Table meetings be sent as an open letter to members of the organization.
New Business:
Michael Brewer stated that the clearing for the Big Duck property may happen in October according to Steve Kenny. He said Suffolk County wants us to help with the Big Duck December lighting ceremony. Volunteers are needed to help with the lighting ceremony. Local radio stations like WALK FM and WLNG may be the emcee. Michael was told by WLNG’s Paul Sidney that he would advertise a month before the lighting which will be on Wednesday, December 1st at 7 PM. Dave Fox stated that the Flanders Fire Department provides Santa. Michael stated that the Hampton Bays Fire Department usually takes care of traffic control. The Riverhead Middle School chorus will be asked to sing. Help is needed to set up trees and decorating a week before the lighting. The County has the last word on everything. The Duck’s eyes need to light up also.
Carl Iacone announced that the BayView Pines Civic Association was having a meeting on 10/1/2004 at 7 PM to address the Traffic Study for Route 24, Flanders Road. He said Diane Rennard, the BVPCA committee person for a traffic light at Long Neck Blvd. and Route 24 started a petition.
Senator Kenneth Lavalle has been invited to our October meeting.
Michael stated that zone changes are coming and that it will probably happen during the summer of 2005.
Town of Southampton Supervisor Patrick Skip Heaney will be invited to our November meeting.
Dave Fox stated that if a person joined Flanders Fire Department or Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance they would benefit by a 10% tax reduction.
Pat Borrelli wanted to know what was considered the price for affordable housing or workforce housing.
Lorraine Collins stated that some areas are being targeted for workforce housing.
New red t-shirts with white lettering will be ordered for FRNCA. Membership and Beautification shirts and sweatshirts will be made available.
Pauline Sandman from McLeod’s said she spoke to the Sergeant at the new Trooper Barrack. She would like to bring a platter of cold cuts to the Open House in October.
Raffle:
The 50/50 raffle was conducted by Eugene Robinson. The winner of $38.00 was Dave Fox.
Motion made by Michael Brewer to adjourn meeting. Lonaway Muldrow seconded. All were in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.