MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 8, 2009 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF POQUOTT HELD AT THE BATES HOUSE IN EAST SETAUKET AT 7:00 P.M.

Present was Mayor Barbara Donovan, Trustees Carol Lane, Carol Castillo, Sandy Nicoletti and Christine Vitkun.  Also present was Village Attorney, Peter Sverd, and 53 residents.

The Mayor started the informational part of the meeting by letting the residents know that Local Law #3 of 2008 will be rescinded through the normal legislative process.  It is not a bad law but is being rescinded due to procedural errors.  In addition, Mayor Donovan asked Roger Flood from the Planning Board to have the Planning Board re-look at our Master Plan as it was last reviewed in 1970.

1. Resident:  What is SEQRA?  Response:  State Environmental Quality Review Act.  At that time Richard Parrish gave a brief synopsis of SEQRA.

 
Joseph Newfield, Deputy Clerk, read all the written comments received at the Clerk’s office.

Con responses were received from:

1. Tony and Michelle Purrone
2. Doug and Barbara McLaughlin
3. Don and Linda Ihde
4. John and Barbara Kovach
5. Richard A. Clark and Marcia G. Tonnesen
6. Peter Stubberfield
7. William and Loraine Poupis
8. James and Andrea Allen
9. Claudia and Marvin Corman
10. Pearl and John Apisson
11. Christopher Emery
12. David Kappes
13. Richard C Johnson
14. Richard Parrish

Pro responses were received from:

1. Kate Passaretti
2. Don Chattaway
3. Debbie Herman
4. Mary Ercolino

The written comments will be maintained at Village Hall with the Minutes of January 8, 2008.

Next Comments were taken from the audience.

1. I know a lot of work went into this law, however I feel it is not a good law.  Our taxes will go up and our home values will decline.
2. How will we eliminate the current apartments if we have no code.  Response: It is the responsibility of the resident to turn in your neighbor.  Once a complaint is made our building inspector will follow the necessary procedures to eliminate the apartment.
3. Resident:  I am the Public Information Officer; the last news letter was prior to the apartment law.  The resident’s approach to this issue could have been handled better.  I feel we have a wonderful Board who are volunteers, who on their own time go for training and conferences.  They on occasion do make mistakes but they deserve your respect.
4. Resident:  Thanked the Board for all the good work that they have done, for example correcting the drainage problem on Washington Street and the California Park project.  I feel we have been going in the right direction; however, we should have no apartment law.  If we do not have a law and someone has an apartment, but there is no problem, you do not have to do anything, however, if there is a problem then you report the illegal apartment.   Teach code enforcement to handle their job better.
5. Resident:  Very good meeting.  I feel the residents should receive direct notification by mail of meetings and what is going to be discussed at the meetings.  I feel if we have legal apartments we are opening the village up to day labors, drug dealers, people on welfare.  As long as the renter is paying their rent the village will have no control.
6. Resident: This is a quality of life issue and should be voted on by the majority.   I feel this law will promote illegal apartments.  It only supports 5% with economic support.  We need to protect the Village from over population.
7. Resident:  What is an accessory Apartment?  Response:  A second kitchen with a stove.
8. Resident:  I feel legal apartments provide safe housing for students.  I hope we can find a way to provide safe apartments and not create any problems in the Village
9. Resident:  I want thank the Board for all they do, they are volunteers and they have good intentions.  I feel that there was a lot of misinformation given.  This law allows for only 18 apartments in the village with 2 people per apartment for a total of 36 people.  The landlord must live in the house.
10. Resident:  I am on the Planning Board and worked on this law.  The house must remain looking as if a single resident dwelling.  Parking needs to be accommodated.  The law is designed not to impact anyone’s property.  I feel it is much safer to have legal backing.
11. Resident:  If a college student lives in a legal apartment, there are building codes to keep that apartment safe.  It was said at a prior Board meeting that during the first six months, more than 5% could be approved.  We could have 45% approved.  I do appreciate what the Board does.  I would suggest we get a digital tape recorder to tape the meetings.  With regard to the illegal apartments, what we need to do is enforce the existing single family dwelling zoning requirement.
12. Resident:  If the wrong type of person moves into the Village I feel we have no recourse.
13. Resident:  I moved into the Village 11 years ago and we bought here because there was only single family housing.  Does the Board know how many illegal apartments are in the Village?  Response: No.
14. Resident:  We should rescind the law as we are zoned one family dwelling.  Having sat in their seat I know the frustrations that it brings.  I feel this is the best Board since 1962.
15. Resident:  I know that there are at least 6 renters in my area.  I am offended that you consider renters low income.  I feel it is embarrassing to find everything happening in the Village in the local paper.
16. Resident:  If we have no legal apartments how can I see a listing in the paper listing an apartment?  Response:  Please let us know the address and the agency.  They are not allowed to list the apartment as it is illegal.
17. Resident:  Are mother/daughters legal.  Response: No.
18. Resident:  We should concentrate on fixing the roads and drains.
19. Resident:  I feel the proposed law would accommodate low income housing. Response:  I don’t believe that is true.
20. Resident:  I feel that the law was fairly enacted.  I don’t think it will change much of what we have here.
21. Resident:  Are there any problems with boarders?  Response: No.

Informational meeting ended 8:35 P.M.

The Pledge was waived as there was no American Flag.

A motion was made by C. Vitkun seconded by S. Nicoletti to adopt the RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE AN INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT WITH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION.  Aye C. Vitkun, S. Nicoletti, C. Lane, C. Castillo and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.

A motion was made by C. Lane seconded by C. Vitkun to adopt the RESOLUTION TO CONSOLIDATE ITS STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS WITH THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN AND FIVE OTHER VILLAGES CONTIGUOUS TO THE TOWN,  WHICH INCLUDE BELLPORT, PATCHOGUE,OLD FIELD, SHOREHAM AND PORT JEFFERSON.  Aye C. Lane, C. Vitkun, C. Castillo, S. Nicoletti and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.

A motion was made by C. Lane seconded by C. Castillo to appoint the Planning Board as lead agency to complete the SEQRA review to rescind the Accessory Apartment Law, Local Law # 3, 2008.  Aye C. Lane, C. Castillo, C. Vitkun, S. Nicoletti and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.

A motion was made by C. Vitkun seconded by S. Nicoletti to pay bills totaling $9,250.31 and 282.93.  Aye C. Vitkun, s. Nicoletti, C. Lane, C. Castillo and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.

A motion was made by C. Lane seconded by C. Castillo to have Maureen Kirk work Monday and Friday for the Clerk’s office effective 1/16/2009.  Aye C. Lane, C. Castillo, C. Vitkun, S. Nicoletti and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.

The Mayor asked our Village attorney to have a Resolution and a Notice of Public Hearing prepared for our next meeting to rescind the Accessory Apartment Law, Local Law #3.

Budget:  Need interim revenue and expense report.  It will be available at our next Board meeting.

Other Business:

1. Tim Quinn from Nelson and Pope is to send a copy of prior reports regarding speed bumps and stop sign removal studies.
2. Problems with plowing and sanding lead to a discussion on possibility of purchasing a pickup truck and equipping it with a sand spreader.

New Business:

1. A motion was made by C. Vitkun and seconded by S. Nicoletti to pay bills totaling $9,250.31 and $282.93.  Aye C. Vitkun, S. Nicoletti, C. Lane, C. Castillo and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.
2. A motion was made by C. Lane seconded by C. Castillo to have Maureen Kirk work Monday and Friday for the Clerks office effective 1/16/2009.  Aye C. Lane, C. Castillo, C. Vitkun, S. Nicoletti and B. Donovan.  Nay 0.
3. Chris Voorhis of Nelson and Pope submitted the fee schedule proposal to look at the drainage problem at Dyers Court.  Maybe Public Safety could take video of the drain during the rain to supply Nelson and Pope to avoid the $500.00 fee.
4. The Board should consider hiring a consultant to review the County’s Dredging Maps of 1953 and 1959.  In 1931 there was no beach.
5. The Clerk is to issue dinghy permits for Van Brunt Manor Beach.

Motion to adjourn was made by C.Lane at 9:50 P.M.

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                                                                                      Eileen Harvey, Village Clerk

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