ISLAND COMMUNITY BOARD
P.O. Box 464, Fishers Island, NY 06390
Tel: 631-788-7990
Email: ficommunityboard@gmail.com
ICB January Meeting
Tuesday, February 12, 2018
5:30pm
Community Center Multi-Purpose Room
Attendance 14
ICB Representatives Present: Mere Doyen (Island Liaison), Candace Whitman (Year-Round), Chris Finan (Utility Company), Matt Edwards (Walsh Park)
On Call: Tom O’ Neil (President), Willard Soper (Treasurer), Dicky Riegel (Seasonal), John McGillian (FIDCO), Jim Baker
Staff: Zack Hoch (Secretary)
Absent: Meg Atkin (Year-Round), Nate Malinowski (Year-Round), Tom Sargent (Conservancy), Christian Arsenault (School), Marc Rubenstein (IHP), Greg Thibodeau (Fire District), Geb Cook (Ferry District), Elizabeth McCance (Museum), Louisa Evans
Public Present: Tim Patterson, Bob Evans, Jeanie Cook, Pierce Rafferty
Approve January Minutes
President Tom O’ Neil greeted all in attendance and those on-call and motioned to approve the January minutes composed by Zack Hoch. The Board seconded and the minutes passed unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report
Willard Soper reviewed all donations from 2018 to the ICB and reported participation increased by 2/3 this year. However, island organizations are not donating. Willard is hopeful organizations can donate at least $100 annually and board members give $25 individually. ICB promoted solicitation in 2018 through email and paper mail blasts. Dicky Riegel suggests the annual appeal be delivered to island organizations as well.
Governance
Dicky Riegel reported David Burnham is the new Waste Management representative and will replaced Greg Thibodeau. Greg will continue serving as the Fire District representative. Elections for ICB representatives are in August. Pending confirmation, Dicky Riegel and Candace Whitman are up for re-election.
Rec. Path
John McGillian reiterated that Scott Russell (Town Supervisor) was opposed to extending the rec. path along side the Navy fence on the main road unless the Navy gave permission. John emailed the secretary of the Navy Base and as it turns out, the Navy Base Secretary is a friend of Fishers Island resident Jim Tapscott. The Navy Secretary has since notified Scott Russell stating they support the extension of the recreation path. John is waiting to hear back from Scott.
Tom O’ Neil will take this opportunity to call Scott Russell.
Southold
Mere Doyen reported the new Google Document is to be used as a living and an ongoing status report tracking noteworthy updates by persons or organizations affiliated with the ICB. The Google Doc is not current public knowledge but could become so if the board approves. ICB believes the community would benefit if the document is updated monthly then emailed to the community. A trusted document will do away with rumors.
Tom O’ Neil emphasized ICB needs community buy-in to the master schedule. To improve communications, agendas, minutes, and the Google Doc will be sent to mailing lists. Scott Russell will receive quarterly updates including a letter written by Tom.
Utility Company
Chris Finan reported the Utility Company is mapping engineering details and recording data to upgrade water lines and replace the old lead goose-necks. Mapping should be complete by the end of the week. Micheal Collins is to generate a bid package possibly by mid-March. The first area to fix will be where the new sidewalks will be installed.
Piping from Barlow Pond into the fort area is 117 years-old, and 97 years-old going the other direction. The Utility Company awaits the findings on the lead-pipe report. Chris reiterated the water supply is fixed, and peak demand is about to be met with well-water. Next step is fixing water distribution. The focus on distribution just began. Any new infrastructure would be affected by the old piping.
A hydrology study is required on the fire flows for the upcoming Walsh Park apartments above the freight building. Right now water pressures differ at various hydrants and the fix is not simple. Chris stated funding for this project should come from the Fire Department but they are resistant. Chris guesstimates the project could cost between $400,000-$500,000. Time table unknown.
There will be a public hearing February 26th in regards to the Briar Patch to change the zoning to Hamlet Density. Chris will attend the hearing with Martin Finnegan. If approved, planning begins. If the multi-family home is built it will remain employee housing for the Utility Company. This could be a pilot plan for other organizations.
Adjourned 6:45pm
The next ICB meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12th at 5:30pm in the Community Center multi-purpose room.
