ISLAND COMMUNITY BOARD
P.O. Box 371, Fishers Island, NY 06390
Tel: 631-788-7990
Email: finy.southold@gmail.com
ICB Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 5:00 pm
Zoom Meeting
Total Participants: 52
ICB Representatives: John McGillian (President), George de Menil (Vice President), Staley Sednaoui (Vice President), April White (Year-Round), Richard Miller (Seasonal), Linda Mrowka (Year-Round).
Agenda March 11, 2026
Geb Cook – Ferry Update
Tom Cashel – Fire Update
Andrea Menjivar – Southold Community Housing Development – ADU
April White – Blizzard Ops Report & Thank You
Jess NeJame – Museum Land Trust Citizen Science Initiatives
Kate Stevens – Southold Update
MINUTES
John McGillian opened the meeting and thanked everyone for participating. He then invited Geb Cook to report.
Geb Cook – Update on Ferry
Geb reported that the district has finished the design of a new ferry to replace the Munnatawket. It’s taken close to a year and has included the crew captains and the board. They are still a long way away and are currently exploring funding options. Once the financing is in place, it will still take two years to build. The new ferry will be wider and as long as the Race Point and will be diesel powered and more efficient because many components will require less maintenance. They looked at electric and hybrid and, after much analysis, they concluded diesel was the most efficient and cost effective way to go. The crew size will remain the same. They are required to run with 3 in crew, but often run with 4-5, depending on the car load. The new ferry will have room/lounge on car deck with bathroom facilities. The new ferry estimate is $18-$21M.
The other important project is replacing the corner ramp in Silver Eel Cove, which is close to its safe and useful end. Also, the Ferry district is completing projects at the airport, replacing the lighting on the field and, by the end of next spring, all the repaving will be completed. There are lots of costs ahead and management is looking at all pricing strategies. Geb thanked the commissioners and the staff for their work in coming together every single day to coordinate and provide safe and comfortable travel back and forth to Fishers.
Tom Cashel – Update on Fire District
The big news is the FD budgets and finance are in good shape and the HR infrastructure is back on solid footing. Nikole Aiello has taken over as Treasurer and is doing a great job and gotten us through our second audit. Crystal Wood and Brandi Walker serve in the secretary role. Fire Chief Chis Aiello has done a lot of work on safety. We have a benefactor who has allowed us to hire a consultant to look 5 years out, at demographics, and housing, etc. They will come in June/July and give us a sense of what we can expect as well as a timeline. We have to come up with a plan based on some professional analysis. We have a very active engaged group, doing lots of training all the time, all are unpaid except for our paid paramedic Rod. The FIFD has also been looking at potentially replacing the sea stretcher. What would a new boat look like, what we might want, etc. Currently, the biggest project is, together with WP, to find housing for our paramedic, Rod Rodriguez. He’s been moving around to various rental properties. We are working with WP to put him in the Round House, hoping to get that squared away for occupancy. WP has been doing a great job with bids and plans and getting the required work done. This is the highest priority for the department right now, in fact, Tom went on to say that the biggest issue on Fishers is housing and we all need to put much more attention on the housing issue.
The discussion transitioned to Kate Stevens, who reported that Andrea Menjivar has been hired as the head of the Community Housing Program/Fund within the Town and was on our call ready to report. Andrea then gave a short slide presentation about the existing opportunities of ADUs. She defined an ADU and the referenced the requirements within the Southold Town code. She noted that when the zoning update is solidified the ADU will be better defined. The goal is to take the new transfer tax and use it to help create more community housing in the form of loans for homeowners to build ADUs, or loans for first time buyers, or create subsidies to help create ADUs. However, all applicants have to fall into a certain income level, favoring a lower income household. It appeared that there are no current incentives for seasonal residents to turn their empty garages into ADUs. Andrea said they are hoping to roll out a program in the summer that might provide incentive for people who don’t qualify for the existing programs, such as many Fishers seasonal residents. A question arose about how creating an ADU might impact one’s property taxes. Andrea didn’t have an answer but will check on it. Under the current structure there are no incentives for the seasonal residents to create an ADU on their property. Andrea voiced the importance of understanding the needs of the different hamlets.
Andrea Manjavi – Affordable Housing 631-765-5806, andream@southoldtownny.gov
Returning to Tom Cashel’s report, Tom agreed that a discussion on housing is very important. He mentioned that a few Fishers companies might get involved in the 11 acre property near the gatehouse to create community housing. Tom answered a question about the project of adding a second floor to the fire house.
April White – Blizzard Review and Thank you
April gave a huge thanks to our community of hard-working people who helped us during the blizzard. She mentioned that all snow plows were stuck for 5+ hours and Jimmy Ski had to venture up east to pull them out. Messy, tough, wet, cold job. She shared a video by Courtney Allan from inside one of the plow trucks in the middle of the 8-9’ drifts and high winds. She expressed the collective thanks of the year-round community, including plowers, utility crew, and all, to keep us all plowed and safe and the power going.
Jessica Nejams – Museum Stewardship Update
Jessica is the land trust stewardship coordinator. The Museum has 372 acres of land trust. Being a volunteer is a great way to get involved and contribute to a legacy of conservation. There are many opportunities to get involved in nature, collect data and understand the flora and fauna here on Fishers. Salamanders will cross the main road near the clay pits to get to their breeding road. Collection data volunteers are welcome. Another opportunity is to adopt an osprey nest and check on it daily for fledglings. The ospreys will return around St Patrick’s Day. You get museum gift shop gift certificate if you see the first osprey. Take a photo and let us know.
Soon it will be American Woodcock season. They have a distinct mating call and they are being heard now. Data collection will start in April. Let us know if you’d like to get involved. Collect data on where you hear them and when. Jessica encouraged everyone to start birding. She suggested Ebird and Inaturalist as good apps.
Kate Stevens – Update on Southold
Kates@southoldtownny.gov 631-948-2434
Kate reported that she is focusing on communication and would like to hear from our residents to learn what they would like to talk and learn about. She agrees housing is critical. Kate reported on a Town Guide that will be forthcoming and looks forward to being a channel for the various committees that function within the Town.
Addressing a question in the chat: she reported to use caution around the geese, as they might be carriers of avian flu which can be transmitted to dogs and humans. Don’t touch any dead animals. We will get dead animal protocols on FishersIsland.net.
At the end of the meeting resident Sarah Porter spoke for a few minutes of the importance of having Dr. Chris Ingram and Kapri remain at IHP. John said he would ask IHP to report on their search progress at the next meeting.
With no further questions or business, John adjourned the meeting at 6:10 PM.
