ISLAND COMMUNITY BOARD
P.O. Box 371, Fishers Island, NY 06390
Tel: 631-788-7990
Email: finy.southold@gmail.com
ICB Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 5:00 pm
Zoom Meeting
Total Participants: 50
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 for May 13
Billy Bloethe – Village Market Update
Kate Stevens – Southold Update
Elisabeth Parker – IPP Update
Officer William Brewer – Police Update (unavailable to attend)
Diane Baker – IHP Update (unable to attend)
Minutes:
John McGillian opened the meeting and thanked everyone for participating.
Billy Bloethe – Update on Village Market
Bill reported the Market had a busy winter with lots of infrastructure breaks and lots of upgrades.
The Market is starting a little café (a simpler news café) with simple food, breakfast sandwiches, regular coffee and a good selection of the basics. This is in addition to the hot sandwiches and lunch specials they offer. They have had a little bit of a staffing issues as the J-1 visas are a little slow. Many workers are coming from Turkey and they are in school a little later. (Alliance Abroad is the company the Market uses.) Store hours remain M-S 7-1, and 3-5 and are still closed on Sundays. When asked about inflation, Billy says they use 25 different distributors, and costs are all mirrored up to fuel, which adds extra costs onto goods and fluctuate every week. In addition to serving customers, the Market provides dinners for about 15 seniors every Friday, and they do this in conjunction with Islanders for Islanders.
Kate Stevens – Update on Southold
Kates@southoldtownny.gov 631-948-2434
Kate reported that on April 30th we had meetings on island with town representatives focusing on emergency preparedness, infrastructure, open space/waterfront/water quality/habitat protections, and the ferry. We also had a community lunch at the Community Center attended by about 45 people. Kate thanked the CC for hosting and Steve Schongar for setting up the space, and Paul Aliferis and Sarah Malinowski for their tremendous help in making it a success. Attending from the Town were Al Krupski (supervisor), Brian Mealy (town board), Dan Goodwin (highway), and Gus Klavas (department of public works). They arrived at 9:30 on a police boat.
On the topic of emergency preparedness, they met with Chris Aiello (fire chief), Rod Rodriguez (paramedic), Patty Walker (EMS chief), Christian Arsenault (FI principal/superintendent) and Jane Ahrens (fishersland.net editor). They discussed flood-prone areas, the school as an emergency shelter, and designating the EMS as an essential service. A comment that resonated during the meeting: “In a storm, we are what we have.”
On the topic of infrastructure, they met with Armanda Pereira (FIUC head), Jay Cushing (Electric) and Chad Mrowka (Water) provided an overview of operations, and discussed the upcoming infrastructure upgrades and funding challenges, and how the Town could provide letters of support going forward.
On the topic of open space/waterfront/water quality/habitat protections they met with Geb Cook (Harbor Committee), Tom Sargent and Anna White (Conservancy), Hannah Vagts (Seagrass Coalition), Jack Schneider (HLFM Land Trust), Steve Malinowksi (Oyster Farmer), Chad Mrowka (FI Water Works) about the concerns and commonalities about open space, water quality, habitat, and preserving seagrass. Protecting and conserving water connects all the organizations and issues. Kate noted that there seems to be a misconception that our aquifer has an endless supply of water. In reality, we have a shallow rainwater-recharged aquifer that is vulnerable to drought and contaminants. She also noted there’s a new irrigation code in the town, designed to mitigate water loss during the summer when 70% of water is used for irrigation and 50% of that is wasted. Conservation and protection are required.
These meetings were followed by a great lunch at the Community Center where there was conversation about the relationship between taxes and services, road conditions, ADUs, the Police barracks, and the sewer system that has pump and generator replacements planned for this year. Kate reported that the barrack’s asbestos remediation has been completed and the rest of the barrack’s renovation work is in the planning stage.
After lunch there was a meeting about the Ferry with Jim Reid (commissioner), Di Shillo (commissioner), Geb Cook (district manager), and Jon Haney (marine operations manager), to discuss the new ramp (the southernmost ramp in Silver Eel Cove) that needs to be bonded to be replaced. They also talked about the new boat and its financing/funding. Kate noted that Senator Palumbo has put in a request for funding ferry infrastructure. No one is quite sure how this came about, but Kate noted that Geb Cook came to a town meeting work session and lobbied for the need, which generated a newspaper article and, perhaps, resulted in state attention.
Kate also mentioned that the town zoning update is pivoting from an all-at-once update to an incremental approach, focusing on digestible chunks, one topic at a time. There is a public meeting about the restructuring on June 11, 2026, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM, also available on Zoom.
On the topic of the restoring DMV access to Fishers Island, Kate is in communication with Assemblyman Tommy Schiavoni and is trying to re-engage him in the discussion.
She also mentioned that housing was not talked about in one of the focus meetings on April 30th because it was too big to tackle that day. Kate and Linda Mrowka (WP) are talking about inviting some town reps over here for a dedicated housing conversation, perhaps connected with the zoning update.
George de Menil – Commenting on IHP
Diane Baker was not available to give an update on IHP; however, George shared with the community his disappointment about not only the loss of Chris Ingram and Kapri Thomas from the island, but the way in which they are leaving. He said this is not the way we behave as a community and it saddened him greatly. He believes the doctor on the island is probably the most important person on the island and Chris served us well for fifteen years. It disappointed and saddened George to think he was leaving under a dark cloud and any acrimony. Sarah Porter wholeheartedly agreed and thanked George for speaking up.
John McGillian tried to announce the update by Police Officer William Brewer – Southold Police, but Officer Brewer wasn’t on the call.
Elisabeth Parker – Update on IPP
Elisabeth reported that Kat McCall is returning for her 5th summer as director of IPP program which runs from July 6 to August 8th. The counselors are all hired and registration is now open.
In honor of the 250th year, the IPP parade will be extra special on Sunday, July 5th , kicking off from the Theater at 11:30 AM, with kids on bikes, led by the Ancient Mariners Fife and Drum Corps. Karl Ericksen will help organize a car or float parade. Elisabeth thanked the Fire department, who’s been our partner in this event for many years. There will be the usual cookout on the lawn, but IPP is paying for entire community cookout. There will be a pie eating contest and other fun things. IPP will host the Craft Fairs on July 11 and August 8th as well as the cardboard boat regatta on July 22nd at Dock Beach. There will be a kickball party at the ball field on July 20th, another free event for the whole community. IPP is running a CPR class on July 2nd led by Jess Hall. Also, the Museum is going to be having an exhibit of 30 years of Sarah Upson’s murals created with IPP children. No house and garden tour this year. Elisabeth thanked everyone for their support of IPP.
With no other business, John asked is anyone had any questions or comments. What followed was a brief discussion of Chris Ingram and Kapri Thomas’ departure from IHP between George de Menil, Sarah Porter, and Barbie Riegel, with Richard Miller and Lisa Ireland adding comments.
Linda Mrowka reminded everyone that on Tuesday, May 19th from 2:00 – 8:00 PM is the Fishers Island School vote, where the budget and two board seats will be voted upon. The four candidates are Nikole Aiello, Beth Cashel, Rosanna Anderson, and Crystal Wood. Those who are registered to vote on Fishers are able to vote in this election.
With no further questions or business, John adjourned the meeting around 6:00 PM.
ICB Meeting 11MAR26 video recording:
ICB Monthly Meeting with speakers from the IHP, ICB, tax districts, utility co., and other community organizations from time to time. The goal is to keep the community updated on the Island’s general activity and any news updates related to the Island.
