ISLAND COMMUNITY BOARD
P.O. Box 371, Fishers Island, NY 06390
Tel: 631-788-7990
Email: finy.southold@gmail.com
ICB Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 5:00 pm
Zoom Meeting
Total Participants: 77
ICB Representatives: ICB Representatives: John McGillian (President, seasonal), April White (Year-Round), Richard Miller (Seasonal), Linda Mrowka (Year-Round), Elisabeth Parker (Seasonal), Staley Sednaoui (Year Round Vice President).
Agenda for Wednesday, August 12
Dr. Lauren Davis – IHP
Captain Wes Pulver – US Coast Guard Museum Association
Kate Stevens – Southold Update
Nate Malinowski – Lighthouse Works Update
Ian Lockey – Pequot Update
Minutes:
John McGillian opened the meeting and thanked everyone for participating. The meeting began with thanking George De Menil for his two terms of service to ICB and the welcome of new Board member Elisabeth Parker, who was elected earlier in August as a new seasonal representative.
IHP – Diane Baker
President of IHP, Diane Baker, announced our new island doctor, Dr. Lauren Davis, who introduced herself and was welcomed.
US Coast Guard Museum – Captain Wes Pulver
Captain Wes Pulver and Kathleen Creeden presented a comprehensive update on the U.S. Coast Guard Museum, which is scheduled to open on Coast Guard Day (August 4, 2027), featuring an 80,000 square foot gold LEED-certified building with six floors of exhibits and programming. The project has received significant private funding, with over 8,000 donors contributing just under $60 million, alongside federal and city investments totaling over $150 million. When asked about dredging plans for the eagle’s location, Wes indicated that the Coast Guard’s Civil Engineering Unit in Providence would handle the environmental assessment and disposal of materials, though specific details about notification to Fishers Island residents would need to be followed up. Wes also discussed potential plans to integrate H.H. Richardson’s train station building with the museum, though this was described as preliminary and not yet finalized.
Update on Southold – Kate Stevens
Kates@southoldtownny.gov 631-948-2434
Kate provided updates on recent town board meetings and community activities. She reported that the town successfully removed a beached sailboat on Fishers and thanked the neighbors for their persistence and input. She also reported that the Pickett Power zoning change from R120 to light industrial was approved. Kate announced upcoming events including Supervisor Krupski’s State of the Town presentation. She invited people to attend a community-wide emergency preparedness workshop at 4 pm on September 13th at the Community Center and on Zoom led by Southold Town OEM communications coordinator Don Fisher. A second workshop dedicated to Fishers Island School Shelter volunteer training will be held later this fall. Kate was named the town’s delegate to the New York Association of Towns meeting in Albany this Septebmer where it would vote on legislative agenda items centered on towns retaining local control over zoning and home rule, among others. She pointed out it was a great opportunity to learn more about how to advocate for legislative change.
When asked about short-term rentals, Kate explained that Fishers currently has no restrictions on short-term rentals, with anyone able to rent for any duration. This is established in the town code and is due to our not having any hotels. She described Southold’s proposed changes for the rest of the town, including implementing a lottery system that would limit short-term rentals to 1% of residential units per hamlet for 2-year permits, aimed at converting properties back to year-round rentals to address the severe housing shortage. Richard Miller raised concerns about potentially future issues with short-term rentals on Fishers and suggested monitoring the situation closely.
When asked about contractor licensing, Kate noted that Fishers is unique in its geographic isolation and having a Connecticut-based rather than New York catchment area for services. She referred to past legislative successes in addressing our particular challenges, such as getting a Fishers Island exemption that allows Fishers Islanders participating in a NY Marketplace insurance plan to see New London area doctors as a possible model.
This prompted Gina Scumaci to point out that while the healthcare exemption is in place, the problem isn’t really solved in practice, citing difficulties with specialist appointments. Kate acknowledged there is more work to be done and thanked Gina for her ongoing work on this issue.
Lighthouse Works – Nate Malinowski
Nate Malinowski from Lighthouse Works provided an update on the organization’s activities and programs, highlighting its thriving status with over 1,200 applications for 25 fellowships and various public art installations and events.
Pequot Update – Ian Lockey
Ian Lockey, general manager of the Pequot, discussed the restaurant’s current operations, including policies on late-night entry and ID checks, as well as its schedule changes after Labor Day.
The meeting also addressed a question in the Chat about an elevator issue at the Freight Building, with Linda Mrowka confirming that repairs were scheduled for Friday this week.
With no further questions or business, John adjourned the meeting around 6:00 PM.
Meeting Recording will begin about 00:00:18
