Town News – Winter 2009-2010

As usual, the Town Board’s primary focus in the autumn was the 2010 budget. The downturn in the economy made the budget particularly challenging this year. Even with zero increase in spending, revenues from mortgage and sales taxes are down sharply. In spite of that, the 2010 budget was approved with only a 4% change from last year.

The rehabilitation and improvement of Ram Island Causeway is under way. This project will raise and improve the roadway to decrease flooding in the event of storms. The first causeway will be raised and compacted and, a binding course of asphalt applied. During the winter and early spring the shoulders and culverts will be finished, and then the top course of asphalt will be applied.

Shelter Island was one of the three East End towns to commence litigation to challenge the new state requirement for a salt-water fishing license. A stay on enforcement of the license requirement has been imposed pending a final court determination. Since then, four additional towns have joined in the litigation. Efforts are underway in Albany to have the fishing license requirement repealed.

In October, New York State imposed a ban on almost all outdoor burning, including the burning of leaves and the use of a burn barrel. This is part of an effort to prevent the air pollution caused by such burning. The Town is in the process of revising its Open Burning laws so that they are consistent with the new state mandate.

The Town has changed its procedure at the Town Recycling Center for the disposal of hazardous materials. The hazmat area is fenced off except for limited periods. Town will take oils, gas and florescent light bulbs on a daily basis, but a STOP day (when the Town will accept other hazardous materials) will occur the first Saturday of each month at the Town’s transfer station.

The Town Board has been meeting with the Zoning Board and the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee to review and possibly update the current zoning regulations. As times change and the Island develops, new issues must be addressed. However, all groups seem to agree that preservation of Shelter Island’s environment is a top priority, whether it be preservation of the bays, protection of the fresh-water aquifer, or keeping open space and vegetative buffers. There will be future public discussions on what steps are needed to achieve this goal.

Town Supervisor Jim Dougherty will become Chairman of the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association on January 1^st, succeeding the Riverhead Supervisor. This association of the five East End Towns and ten Villages meets regularly to analyze and advocate for issues common to the East End. “I will be in a better position to make sure Shelter Island’s concerns are heard”, Dougherty commented.

Keep an eye on the newspaper for weekly changes in Town news and on this webpage for quarterly updates.