New Action

Catherine Kent 

Candidate for Riverhead Town Supervisor 

EPCAL

The Town of Riverhead should terminate the contract with CAT in regard to the sale at EPCAL. 

Drinking Water

The town should immediately connect the Calverton homes that have contaminated water to our water district. The town must actively pursue Grumman and the Navy to recover funds. 

In regard to the Manorville homes, we need to sit down with our Water District officials, Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County Water District to work together and get water to these homes, as soon as possible. We should also be pursuing grants. If we are not able to secure the funding to hookup the Manorville homes immediately, we will need to go to plan B and bond out to fund the water hookup. 

Open Meetings

As Supervisor, I will reinstate the Zoom connection for Town Board, Planning Board and ZBA meetings. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to make meetings accessible to the public. Public participation should be encouraged.

Comprehensive Plan

The meetings for the comprehensive plan should be held in convenient locations in the hamlets. 

The town should work with the Riverhead School District. The meetings could be held at 

school facilities that are central locations 

within each hamlet.

Land Management

Open space and farmland preservation are both of vital importance in order to retain our quality of life. The preservation of open space protects the environment, provides recreational opportunities and can help with the economics of an area.

It is also important to preserve farmland in our town. What makes this a beautiful area to live in, is that we are surrounded by farmland. We must do our part to help the farming community thrive. 

In order for the TDR program to be successful, we should add more sending areas east of Route 105. It’s important to classify more farms as sending areas so that farmers can sell development rights, make their money and keep their farms going. 

Land management and climate change need to be an important part of the Comprehensive Plan Update. I was instrumental in getting an environmental advocate on the Comprehensive Plan Central Advisory Committee. 

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Evelyn Hobson-Womack 

Candidate for Riverhead Town Board. 

I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Riverhead. I am a United States Army Veteran. Approximately three months ago, I retired from the Riverhead Town Police Department as a Detective after serving 28 1/2 years. In 1993 I was sworn into the Police Department as the First African American female and in 2002 was appointed by the Chief of Police to the rank of Detective becoming the first African American and first female to achieve such rank.

I am a married woman and mother of two. 

EPCAL

Every time I hear the phrase EPCAL I cringe. I cringe because I think about how in the world did the Town Board allow us to be entangled with such a counter productive agreement. That area could be used for a more productive development that serves the best interest of the town as a whole. RUN don’t walk from this deal. 

Drinking Water

The safest, quickest, most efficient way. 

Riverhead Water District need to solve the issue with Calverton residents now!!! 

Open Meetings

When a Government is void of transparency it becomes immune to to checks and balances. Void of any input from the residents. By terminating “zoom meetings” would take away one’s ability and opportunity to voice their concerns on the topics given during a Public Hearing. Excuse me but….aren’t Public Hearings for the Public…for the Town Board to Publicly hear the concerns of the residents. That’s only in a Democracy not in a system where the Leader determines when, how and who should speak. Transparency is the key to an effective government. Besides… what is there to hide from the Public. 

Comprehensive Plan 

Without a doubt should have been and hope to see update to be held closer to each hamlet. Make it convenient for all residents to travel. 

Land Management

We need to commit to preserving the remaining open space in Town. We need to engage regional, county and state partners to accelerate the process before open space succumbs to development. We have plenty of areas within Town that’s zoned to support development. EPCAL, downtown, the Route 58 corridor. We must ensure development is focused in those areas and does not bleed into the farms, hamlets and open spaces. 

TDR is not an effective program. It benefits the Developers not the farmers. 

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Juan Micieli-Martinez

Candidate for Riverhead Town Board. 

EPCAL  

It is my position that the EPCAL deal with CAT should be terminated. 

Drinking Water 

The cost of providing water has been established and the Town should work with Brookhaven Town, Suffolk County Water Authority, and Riverhead Water Authority to strategize the best course of action. Once the best plan has been established the Town could bond out the cost and apply for grants to assist with costs. Simultaneously, we need to further monitor and document the spread of the contaminants to prove that the Navy is responsible for the water contamination. 

Open Meetings

The use of zoom should be continued for the Town Board, Planning Board, ZBA meetings and other meetings where applicable. The community should have the ability to interact with Government. Viewable only meetings without possible interaction is not good governance. 

Comprehensive Plan 

Public meetings concerning the comprehensive plan should be held in the respective part of Town being discussed as long as a suitable public location with WiFi is available. These hamlet focused meetings would hopefully allow for more community participation. 

Land Management  

The preservation of farmland and open space is a priority for my campaign. We need to work with land conservation organizations, County, and State officials to identify the most sensitive parcels for preservation and identify funding sources to save these lands. We need to implement and incentivize the TDR program to assist with conservation. 

Bob Kern

Candidate for Riverhead Town Board 

EPCAL 

There is a contract of sale, should the current buyer purchase the property per the contract the town starts to receive taxes. I would absolutely hold the buyer accountable to the tech hub in the contract and would not allow any development on protected land as stated in the contract. Shovel in the ground would be about 3 years from signing date. 

If Terminated the property will go out for an RFP that process including a Q&E would most likely take a year at best. There are numerous agencies that need to weigh in on any development plans before a shovel hits the ground. That process is between 2 to 4 years. Developing 600 acres with tenants? 

Best guess 10 to 15 years at best. Please note 

the DEC approval of a subdivision will be 

required of any buyer. 

Drinking Water 

I am currently a member of the (RAB) Restoration Advisory Board committee for Epcal. I do not want our town to experience what Bethpage experienced in any way. I am willing to share any info from that committee with this group when available. 

Open Meetings 

I am in favor of open meetings with responsible timed comments. 

Comprehensive Plan 

I am in favor of meetings in the different hamlets where there are locations that have technological equipment to facilitate them. 

Land Management 

Totally in favor and have fought hard for while on the farm bureau for land preservation. 

The first step to land preservation is county money. I would like to see an East End program since the southfork is flush with CPF funds. I know farming operations have ever growing labor shortages which is creating a survival issue. 

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Other Republican Candidates for Town Board and Supervisor were contacted and requested to respond to these important issues concerning many residents but they have not yet done so. When they respond with their answers, 

we will publish them here on the 

Riverheadnpc.org website.