March 2021 Legislator Bridget Fleming Recognizes

March 2021 Legislative Round-Up

General Meeting 3.2.21  Accabonac Harbor Pesticide Reduction Program to Continue  Revisions to Suffolk County Aquiculture Lease Program  Strengthening County’s  School Bus Photo Violation Monitoring Program  Land Donated to for United Artists County Park/Pine Barrens Core Preservation  Mark P. Haubner Appointed to CEQ Legislator Bridget Fleming Recognizes ‘Women of Distinction,’  Campaign Finance Board Countywide Honoree Marit Molin Administrative Fund Created  WHB School to purchase Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming and her colleagues recognized Marit fuel from Suffolk County Molin of Water Mill as the countywide recipient of the “Suffolk County Woman  Daniel Flynn Appointed as Southampton Town Representative of Distinction” honor during the March 16, 2021 General Meeting at the to Su ffo lk Cou n ty Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge. Later in the day, at 1pm, Ms. Molin Planning Commission was physically presented with her proclamation at the Sag Harbor district General Meeting 3.16.21 office of Legislator Fleming. Reverend Tina Pamela Norton, Chair of the Suffolk  Public Access Easement for County Women’s Advisory Commission, and Grace Ioannidis, Director of the Access to the Shinnecock Office of Women’s Services came to the Sag Harbor office for the presentation. Canal  Grant Filing for Paratransit Since 2003, in recognition of Women’s History Month, the Suffolk County Leg- Funds islature has honored women in March recognizing and acknowledging the  $250,000 in Grant from Restore America's Estuaries work they do to better their community and Suffolk County. One outstanding  Water Quality Monitoring woman is chosen from each legislative district, and from that pool of honorees, Off Shelter Island an overall countywide winner is chosen by the Suffolk County Women’s Advi-  Temporary Access for National sory Commission as the “Suffolk County Woman of Distinction.” Grid along Sunrise HWY Upcoming Ms. Molin is the founder and executive director of Hampton Community Out- General Meeting reach (HCO). At the outset of the pandemic and the sudden economic shut- April 20 at 9:30AM down that followed, Ms. Molin wanted to find a way to feed people in need in Watch the meeting live at her community and help struggling restaurants stay in business. She began a scnylegislature.us fundraising campaign that raised $250,000 in cash donations and $70,000 in food donations, helping her achieve both goals. In 2020, HCO delivered 5,000 Submit comments via email to cooked meals and 18,000 pounds of fresh produce. In addition, since March of clerk.legislature@suffolkcounty last year, HCO has delivered groceries and medical supplies to 150 households ny.gov biweekly and continues to do so.

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1 Continued from page 1 A licensed social worker and practicing therapist, Ms. Molin saw the need for therapy among underserved individuals. She raised funds that were used to provide therapy for these individuals at no charge. She also started a tutoring program to help children in desperate need of academic support. Ms. Molin also created the #ICARE kindness campaign to raise funds to address the needs of marginalized people. Services have included urgent medical care for the poor and effects on our community. She is well deserving of uninsured, birthday celebrations, and ongoing art and the honor of Suffolk County’s “Woman of Distinc- tennis instruction for children at no charge. Ms. Molin tion”. also founded Hamptons Art Camp in 2018 to provide a creative, active and fun environment for children “I commend all of these women for their dedication from different backgrounds. Approximately 40 per- to their communities, their extraordinary leadership, cent of campers attend for no charge. and their unending generosity when it comes to giv- ing their time and attention to worthy causes,” said Legislator Bridget Fleming, who nominated Ms. Molin Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calar- as a resident of the Second Legislative District, said, co. “They are role models for young girls everywhere “As this COVID-19 pandemic has brought strains and and the epitome of community stewardship. My col- challenges to every member of our community, Marit leagues in the legislature and I offer our congratula- has provided opportunities for girls and others to give tions and gratitude to Marit Molin and the other of themselves to truly help their neighbors and com- Woman of Distinction honorees.” munity. Her initiative brilliantly served a double pur- pose. It has fed the hungry and offered a lifeline to Ms. Molin has been a socially conscientious voice in local businesses in tough times. Every restaurant that the Hamptons community for many years and is a participated is still in operation. Marit’s efforts shine troop leader for Girl Scout Troop #642, which consists and offer as a model for how volunteer service in the of 11 girls who live on the Shinnecock Reservation. community has far-reaching and far-lasting beneficial She and her husband have two children.

Temporary Access Agreement with Bond Resolution Approved to Fund Water National Grid along Sunrise HWY in Quality Monitoring Off Shelter Island East Quogue Approved

KeySpan Gas East Corporation, more commonly This resolution issues $150,000 in bonds in connec- known as National Grid, will temporarily use 0.25 tion with equipment purchasing costs under CP acres of two properties on either side of the Sun- 8235.311 “Peconic Bay Estuary Program,” a resolu- rise Highway and County Route 31 interchange in tion approved by the legislature last December with- East Quogue to install equipment. National Grid out the bond authorization. The equipment will be will install 8,500 feet of 16-inch gas main, a gas used to monitor water quality off a dock on Shelter regulator station, and a 12-inch gas main within Island. “It’s a complex ecosystem in the Peconic Bay, the public right of way along County Road 31 in there are a number of contributors to the Peconic East Quogue. Suffolk County will receive $907 for Bay Scallop die-off over the past two years. It’s really use of the property. National Grid will also restore important we move forward with this,” stated Legis- 6,000 square feet of property with native grasses lator Fleming arguing passage of the resolution. and plantings, which they will maintain for 3 years. 2 $1.7 Billion in Federal Funding For Reconstruction of the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Approved The legislature approved a resolution to enter an agreement with the State to proceed with The Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, New York, Combined Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project (FIMP) for initial construction with a 100% federal contribution of $1.7 billion. The project will advance erosion control and hurricane protection measures thereby protecting the barrier islands and the mainland from the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point—almost 83 miles of coastline. For the Project to proceed, both the State and the County were required to agree to be local sponsors of the Project and for the State to enter into a Pro- ject Partnership Agreement with the Federal Government and a separate Local Project Partnership Agree- ment with the County. The Project plans and designs have not yet been finalized, and separate agreements will have to be entered into local town partners.

Fleming Co-S p ons ors G ra nt Fili n g fo r Fleming Sponsors Resolution to Draft Paratransit Funds Public Access Easement for Access to the Legislator Fleming co- Shinnecock Canal sponsored IR 1104, which The approved introductory resolution 1119 di- authorizes the filing of a rects the Division of Real Property Acquisition and grant application for federal Management to draft a public access easement funds worth an estimated for two properties for access to the Shinnecock $15,700,000. The resolution Canal. The Canoe Place Inn and Boat Houses de- estimates the grant funds velopment along the Shinnecock Canal is ap- will be split between five proaching completion, and includes town houses Capital Projects (CP). The on the east side of the canal. In the zoning desig- capital projects and their nation that the Town of Southampton passed to estimates are as follows: $1,625,000 for CP 5658 allow for this development there was a directive “Purchase of Paratransit Buses”, $8,750,000 for CP 5648 that public access to the canal be provided along “Purchase of Automated Vehicle Locator System”, a walkway in front of the townhouses. The access $1,500,000 for Installation of Bus Shelters, $3,375,000 for requirement is dependent in part on the County’s Purchase of Battery Electric Transit Buses, $200,000 for granting access to county-owned underwater CP 5655 “Origin to Destination and Demographic Survey” lands for a walkway along the canal. and $250,000 for project administration.

Fleming Co-Sponsors Resolution to Accept $250,000 in Grant Funds from Restore America's Estuaries The successful passing of IR 1130, co-sponsored by Legislator Fleming, accepts grant funds from Restore America’s Estuaries in the amount of $250,000. The funds will be used to install innovative-layered soil treatment area septic systems within coastal wetlands in order to lessen the impact of nitrogen pollution in ac- cordance with the Suffolk County Sub-watersheds Wastewater Plan. It is anticipated that the grant will fund the installation of four systems, two of which will be in the Long Island Sound watershed and two in the Pe- conic Bay watershed.

3 Daniel Flynn Appointed as Southampton Town Representative to Suffolk County Planning Commission Quogue resident Daniel Flynn has been approved to represent the Town of Southampton, on the Suffolk County Planning Commission. Southampton has not had representation on the Planning Commission since December of 2016. Mr. Flynn will serve the remainder of the term vacated by the last representative, which is set to expire on December 31 of 2021. “Daniel’s extensive experience relevant to the work of the Planning Commission paired with his dedication to our community will undoubtedly make him a wonderful addition to the Commission as they deliberate and advise on region-wide impacts of proposed development projects,” said Legislator Fleming.

Successful Accabonac Harbor Pesticide tor control project, the Suffolk County Legislature vot- Reduction Program to Continue ed to adopt a resolution to enter into an intermunici- In 2017, Legislator Fleming facilitat- pal agreement with ed the creation of the Accabonac the Town of East Harbor Mosquito Sampling Cooper- Hampton’s Depart- ative Project. The team, made up of ment of Environmen- the Suffolk County Vector Control, tal Protection. Vector East Hampton Town Trustees, The Control indicates that Town of East Hampton Department since the first full of Environmental Protection, the year of the program EH Town Trustee Susan McGraw-Keber, Legislator Bridget Nature Conservancy, and volunteer Fleming, Summer Intern Arman Oszu, and Edwina von Gal in 2018, there was a collecting samples in Accabonac Harbor in Aug. 2019 citizen scientists, initiated a 5-week resultant decrease in pilot project to reduce pesticide applications based County pesticide use and helicopter hours. The Divi- on specific mosquito larvae and pupae data gathered sion of Budget Review estimates a consequent aver- by the volunteers on the Accabonac marsh. The data age cost avoidance of approximately $20,000 annual- was used to identify zones where pesticide treatment ly. would be necessary, or unnecessary. Since the pro- “We’ve been at this for four years—the program re- gram’s implementation, observers have reported in- duces helicopter rides, reduces intervention with tox- creases in native vegetation, dragonflies and divers ic substances, and allows the wetlands to function as bird species. A pair of bald eagles had even estab- they were designed, enabling predators to keep the lished a nest on the marsh. During the program’s mosquito population down. The public-private part- 2018 expansion, pesticide treatment was only re- nership is a shining example of a cooperative and quired on 7 of the 11 weeks studied, which resulted thoughtful approach to governmental policy. I’m in cost savings to the County of $18,000. gratified by the commitment of all involved,” stated

To ensure the continuation of the successful joint vec- Legislator Fleming.

4 Revisions to Suffolk County Aquiculture of the Legislature. Revisions of note include an up- Lease Program date of the Shellfish Cultivation Zone, clarification of definitions to match State law, establishing $100 aq- After a two-year-long process, which included exten- uaculture lease application fee as non-refundable and sive input from the Suffolk County Shellfish Aquacul- a new fee schedule. Subletting and subleasing would ture Lease Program Ten-Year Review Advisory Group, not be permitted. Issuance and renewal of leases for government officials, experts, bay user groups and cultivation would be at the County’s sole discretion. the public, the Suffolk County Department of Eco- nomic Development has completed its Ten-Year- Also of note, the The Aquaculture Lease Board will Review of the Suffolk County Shellfish include one representative from each of the Towns of Aquaculture Lease Program, also known East Hampton, Town of Riverhead, as SCALP. Town of Shelter Island, Town of South- ampton, and Town of Southold, to be SCALP provides an opportunity to aspir- ing and established aqua-culturists to designated by the County Executive. secure access to County-owned under- These representatives will be selected water lands for private, commercial from the shellfishing industry, a recrea- shellfish aquaculture in Peconic Bay and tional boating organization, the com- Gardiners Bay, expanding the marine- mercial harvester/baymen, and a ma- based economy and increasing private rine organization that works in the Pe- investment in shellfish aquaculture businesses. In addition to the economic ben- conic Estuary. The Lease Board would efits of SCALP, the widespread production of oysters, also take recreational or navigational hazards into ac- hard clams and bay scallops in dense populations sup- count while making any determinations. plement the spawning potential of native shellfish “I am proud to support these changes which will populations. The shellfish farms also help control nu- continue to revive this historic industry-- creating jobs trient cycling and contribute to the prevention of nox- ious algae blooms, such as brown tide, which im- and opportunities for fresh foods to make it onto our proves water quality. tables, and add to efforts to improve water quality while balancing the concerns of other historic users The proposed revisions and updates to the program of the bays,” stated Legislator Fleming. were adopted at the March 2, 2021 General Meeting

5 Westhampton Beach UFSD to purchase fuel Proclamation Presented to Sgt. Marcus from Suffolk County Santana for Off-Duty Rescue The passing of this resolution allows Westhampton Legislators Bridget Fleming and Al Krupski were Beach Union Free School District to purchase fuel un- proud to present Marine Sgt. Marcus Santana with a der the County’s Fuel Management/Preventative Proclamation to express admiration and gratitude Maintenance Inventory Control System. Westhamp- ton Beach USFD will reimburse the County for the for his heroic off-duty life-saving actions in Novem- cost of fuel plus a fifteen (15%) administrative fee, ber of 2020. On his November 9 commute, Sgt. San- under the County’s Suffolk Share Program. tana, a recruiter in the office of the US Marines on Mark P. Haubner of Aquebogue Appointed to Main Street in Riverhead, witnessed an elderly woman collapse in the middle of a crosswalk in her Council on Environmental Quality attempt to pass through the Riverside traffic circle. Mark P. Haubner of Aquebogue has been appointed His training in emergency response gave Sgt. Santa- to the Council on Environmental Quality. Mr. na the tools to respond with swift and careful ac- Haubner. Mark will fill the vacancy left by Andrea Spil- ka, of Eastport, who recently passed away. A memori- tion—he put his truck in park, felt for a pulse, and al to Ms Spilka is being planned in Eastport. directed a bystander to call 911. He then began to perform CPR and after a few minutes, the woman Campaign Finance Board Administrative became responsive. Sgt. Santana ensured that the Fund Created woman stayed in place until equipped emergency Legislator Fleming Co-Sponsored a bill to create the responders could make it to the scene. He later new “Campaign Finance Board Administrative Fund” which will receive $185,400 transferred from the learned the identity of the woman and was relieved Suffolk County Fair Elections Matching Fund, which to learn that she made a full recovery. derives its revenue from Off Track Betting receipts, to Sgt. Santana is a graduate of Riverhead High School, fill two positions within the Campaign Finance Board, Class of 2012. He currently lives in Flanders and is an Executive Director of the Campaign Finance Board the proud father of a 6-year-old boy. and a Secretary. Funding will also be used for office machines, furniture and supplies. Bill to Strengthen County’s School Bus Photo Violation Monitoring Program Legislator Fleming Co-Sponsored a bill, which passed during the March 2 General Meeting, to clarify the law that created the County-wide School Bus Photo Violation Monitoring Program. Under the new bill, 20% of all funds received will be used for a County- hances pedestrian safety located within school dis- wide program to educate drivers on the State laws tricts participating in the program. A minimum of 20% associated with stopping for school buses and to pro- of all funding allocated will be utilized for costs asso- vide funding for traffic safety enforcement, with a ciated with crossing guards, traffic control officers minimum of $100,000 allocated towards education-- and other public safety positions. The law takes effect st including outreach through television, radio, newspa- on January 1 of 2022, when municipalities will begin per and social media outlets. 50% of all fu n d s to collect the information they need to submit their received will be provided to the municipality where first reports to the County Comptroller, members of the ticket is adjudicated for traffic-safety enforce- the Legislature, and Clerk of the Legislature due ment, with a preference for enforcement that en- March 15 of 2023. 6 Fleming Meets with Students for Climate Change Legislator Bridget Fleming met with the Students for Climate Action’s (S4CA) County Team to discuss the 2018 Renewable Energy Construction Task Force Report, available to read here. The students, who attend high school in the Sayville area, had questions concerning the document and the progress of the efforts stated within the two-year-old report. Other items of discussion included the Long Island Solar Road Map, and legislation authored by Legislator Fleming such as the authorization of a Coastal Resili- ency Management study, which can be read here, and the completion of a Community Choice Aggregation report, seen here.

Fleming Visits Shinnecock East County Park Back at Shinnecock East, there is currently an Erosion Site emergency project to save the road, which runs along the coastline to the popular beach campsite. Rising At the request of the Southampton Town Trustees, sea levels paired with an increase in extreme storm Legislator Fleming toured the emergency coastal conditions—both symptoms of climate change, have erosion project at Shinnecock East County Park. The impacted local shores such as the twin inlets which park, located in Southampton Village along the surround the Shinnecock Bay. “It is important to Shinnecock Bay, is a popular destination for campers. protect this road because of how valuable it is for “A breach at Dune Road was dangerously close to campers, but also because it is a revenue source that happening, threatening the restaurants, fishing docks, brings in funds to support the area without burdening other businesses, and homes in this area,” noted the tax payers,” stated Fleming. “County govern- Legislator Fleming about a similar issue happening on ments [need] to be proactive in thinking about crea- the shores west of the Shinnecock East Park on tive, natural based solutions to protect our nature,” the Facebook Live she cast during her visit to the site. she continued. In 2019 Fleming sponsored an Southampton Town, Suffolk County, and New York initiative that requested proposals from engineering State all worked together to mitigate the breach with firms and other appropriate businesses to find help from the Army Corps of Engineers who came in solutions to this problems. The County is and put tens of thousands of cubic yards of sand to considering bids now and anticipate having an shore up the western inlet of the Shinnecock Bay. advisory council soon.

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10 Feeling stressed by the COVID-19 epidemic? You are not alone. Family Service League’s DASH hotline 631-952-3333 Response of Suffolk County hotline 631-751-7500 NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Line 1-844-863-9314 LICADD Substance Abuse Hotline 631-979-1700

11 12 Office of Legislator Bridget Fleming Suffolk County Legislature

Suffolk County Legislator, 2nd District 725 Veterans Memorial Highway

75 Washington Street Smithtown, NY 11787

Sag Harbor, NY 11963 631-853-4070

631-852-8400 www.scnylegislature.us www.scnylegislature.Bridget-Fleming