The town’s preliminary 2026 budget includes a 7.74% tax levy increase for 2026 and a 6.74% town-wide property tax rate hike. The $112 million budget must be approved by Nov. 20. 

Deborah Freitag, who moved to South Jamesport from New Jersey in 2021, told the board that her taxes have shot up from $11,000 to $18,000 in the past four years. She said the life she imagined she would have when moving to Riverhead is being “really impacted by the craziness of the tax increases.” 

“It feels like [the increases are] solely on the backs of working families and retirees, it’s killing us,” Ms. Freitag said. 

The budget exceeds the state’s 2% tax cap by approximately 4.63%, resulting in an increase of approximately $275 per year, or about 75 cents per day, for a home valued at $735,000.

Amid the backlash, Riverhead Town officials stood firm on the decisions made for next year’s budget and stressed there were certain mandated costs out of their control. 

That didn’t placate many of those who attended the Nov. 6 hearing.

“Ignoring the taxpayers is disrespectful and costly,” said Claudette Bianco of Baiting Hollow. “People are angry. There are ways to tighten the belt.” 

Nancy Murphy of Aquebogue said when she sees her property tax bill, she feels like she is “being punished” for owning a home.

Cindy Clifford, president of the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association, shed light on the rising costs Riverhead residents are facing everywhere, and how these tax increases only add to the “aggravation.”

“If you’ve ever struggled financially, I would ask you to remember how stressful and difficult it is, and if you never have, then try to imagine what it would be like,” Ms. Clifford said to the town board. “I’m asking you to go back to the books, and if you have to sacrifice more here and there, that you do it for the benefit of and for respect for our community.”

Tax rate vs. tax levy: The tax levy is the total dollar amount of property tax revenue a local government needs to collect to fund its operations. The tax rate is the percentage, or rate, applied to a property’s assessed value to determine an individual taxpayer’s bill.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard and his fellow council members have blamed the increases on unavoidable health insurance premiums, state retirement rates, and contractual police raises that would have otherwise forced elimination of nearly 15 town positions.

To minimize the tax cap breach, town officials denied all merit raise requests and added no new positions for 2026. The only salary increases approved were for civil service promotions and a 3.25% raise for elected officials excluding town board members, matching contractual increases for CSEA employees.

Mr. Hubbard also previously noted reductions of $319,009 in equipment and $216,000 in vehicle expenditures. 

“We’ve increased fees, we’ve increased permit lines, we’ve increased everything we can to try to offset it,” Mr. Hubbard said. “We have done that to raise revenue, but that is a mere pittance in a $112 [million] budget when we get hit with a double-digit increase for health insurance for 350 employees — that’s hard.” 

Mr. Hubbard said the town board is looking into how a reassessment could help. The town has not undergone a municipal reassessment since 1980, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. 

Jeanette DiPaola, the town’s financial administrator, cleared up some other misconceptions of the budget during the hearing. She said the tax cap is solely exceeded in the general fund and is increasing by $1.9 million next year.

In her complaints about the rising tax bills, Ms. Bianco questioned the amount within the town’s fund balance and felt these funds should have been used to offset the tax increase. The preliminary budget designated $1.25 million in fund balance for the general fund.

Ms. DiPaola said how critical it is for the town to save for future capital projects, such as the Town Square development. Although the town has received a $23 million RAISE grant from the state for the project, Riverhead is required to contribute $7 million. 

She added in 2020, the fund balance was approximately 17%, which is just above the town’s 15% minimum. Over the years, the town has tried to budget conservatively to build this fund balance back up, but the extra revenues makes it difficult to not pierce the tax cap. 

“I’m saving that so that we can pay the general fund money out for those kinds of things, instead of having to increase the debt, year over year, for the next five years coming,” Ms. DiPaola said. “We are just trying to be smart about how we apply fund balance — we tried not to balance our operating budget with fund balance money.” 

What is a fund balance? The fund balance is the total accumulation of operating surpluses and deficits since the beginning of a local government’s existence, according to the state comptroller’s office.

Spending on the Riverhead Police Department is where a majority of the increases in the 2026 budget lie, Ms. DiPaola said. The total police department budget for 2026 is nearly $35 million, roughly a $3.1 million bump from this year. 

“We love our police, but it’s very costly to have a police department,” Ms. DiPaola said. “As the supervisor mentioned, he doesn’t want to cut back on public safety. I don’t think the residents would want that either.” 

Councilman Kenneth Rothwell reminded residents they pay lower county taxes by having their own police force, since Riverhead does not rely on Suffolk County Police for law enforcement within the town. He also pointed to a report that crime statistics are down in Riverhead and how an increased police force creates safer communities.

Councilwoman Denise Merrifield felt faster response times and better presence in the community are some of the benefits of having a local police department. She also emphasized the importance of offering competitive salaries to police officers.

“In order to keep good police officers, you need to pay them well — you don’t want the bottom of the barrel,” Ms. Merrifield said. “These are things that are hard to measure by dollars and cents, but it’s what you get when you have your own police department.” 

The written comment period on the 2026 preliminary budget is open until Nov. 16.

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The narrow margin from Tuesday’s election results — 3,891 to 3,870, according to unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections — went unmentioned as residents and town officials discussed the preliminary budget and tax levy override.

An automatic recount is required if the margin of victory is 20 votes or less or approximately 0.5% of votes cast, the law says. That would put the margin for an automatic recount at around 40 votes of the 7,761 cast.

The Riverhead Town Board race results are also too close to call. Both Republican incumbent candidates, Bob Kern and Kenneth Rothwell, were ahead of their Democratic challengers Mark Woolley and Kevin Shea when polls closed.

Out of 14,951 votes counted for the Riverhead Town Board races, Mr. Kern tops all four candidates with 3,907 votes. Mr. Rothwell follows with 3,833. Mr. Woolley currently has 3,759 votes, while Mr. Shea racked up 3,452.

The candidates may not know their fates until the middle of the month while military and absentee ballots are tabulated.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by the Board of Elections by Nov. 12. Military ballots must be received by Nov. 17. The current vote tallies include early voting and absentee ballots received by Election Day.

In a phone interview following Election Day, Mr. Hubbard said if the race demands a recount, he is hopeful it could sway in the Riverhead Republicans’ favor.

“We have to look at the final numbers when they come in, with all the absentee ballots and military ballots counted, we’re going to have to reevaluate once we have those final numbers,” Mr. Hubbard said. “But, it certainly seems like it’s going to be heading towards a recount.”

He predicted a “closer race” this year than when he first ran for town supervisor in 2023 against Angela DeVito. At that time, Hubbard won by 59% of the 8,753 votes cast.

He attributed low voter turnout to the current results and said taxes were the major issue that influenced voters the most — the same issue that dominated Thursday’s budget hearing.

The Riverhead Democratic Committee said on social media Wednesday they are waiting for the final count.

“Mark Woolley [is] in third place, for the two board seats, but final ballot counts could bump him over [Mr.] Rothwell, who only has 74 votes over Mark,” the committee wrote on Facebook. “The official results of the election will not be known for weeks.”

The Riverhead News-Review reached out to the Suffolk County Board of Elections to confirm outstanding ballot totals. A representative said Friday the office has been “busy” over the last few day due to an influx of inquiries. They will not able to respond to the information request until next week, the rep said.

At Thursday’s public hearing on the tax levy override and preliminary 2026 budget, residents expressed frustration over the town once again piercing the tax cap.

“Ignoring the taxpayers is disrespectful and costly,” said Claudette Bianco of Baiting Hollow. “People are angry.”

Mr. Hubbard and other town officials explained there was no way around the increase, as state mandated rises in health insurance premiums, state retirement rates and contractual police raises were unavoidable. The other avenue would have been to lay off 15 town employees, the officials said.

The supervisor had expressed the same sentiment in the phone interview after the close election night battle.

“It doesn’t matter who’s sitting in that chair, it’s going to be the same problem whoever is sitting there. “Unfortunately, people don’t like to pay more taxes, neither do I, and I understand that, but there’s a reality to all of this,” he said. “It’s raising taxes, or laying people off, and I wasn’t in a position to lay anybody off. I didn’t feel that was the right thing to do because we’re barebones staffed as it is.”

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Riverhead faces a pivotal choice for supervisor: Experience delivering results or fresh ideas with good intentions.

The stakes are high. The town has exceeded the state tax cap four straight years, downtown revitalization continues, EPCAL’s future is tied up in litigation, and the balance between preservation and development is increasingly contentious.

The next supervisor will manage a $112 million budget, oversee roughly 350 employees and make decisions affecting every resident’s taxes and quality of life.

Jerry Halpin, an independent running on the Democratic line, brings genuine pastoral care and community spirit. He has spent 30 years leading the nonprofit North Shore Christian Church — managing budgets, organizing volunteers, and uniting people to solve problems. In times of crises, his church has been among the first to offer help — whether running a shelter after Hurricane Irene or organizing meals for firefighters during Manorville fires.

He is right to express concern over the town piercing the state tax cap for four straight years, including 2025’s 7.89% tax increase, and the impact that has on fixed-income residents. Mr. Halpin emphasizes fiscal discipline, listening to constituents and working across party lines.

Tim Hubbard brings experience to attack Riverhead’s problems. A fifth-generation Riverhead resident, he served 32 years as a police officer, eight as town councilman — and two as supervisor.

During his tenure, crime rates have dropped and foot patrols on Main Street have doubled.

Mr. Hubbard’s seeks to balance growth and preservation — concentrating development downtown, along Route 58 and at EPCAL, while keeping Jamesport, Aquebogue, Wading River, Calverton and Baiting Hollow rural.

He is candid about the tax cap. Rising pensions, health insurance, and salaries forced nearly $600,000 in equipment cuts just to limit increases. State mandates without funding create tough choices — and he communicates them transparently. Mr. Halpin has criticized the tax increases but hasn’t offered solutions that address the unique pressures Riverhead faces. While his compassion is admirable, it doesn’t outweigh the town’s daily operational and fiscal demands. At this critical juncture, Riverhead needs steady, experienced leadership to navigate litigation, balance preservation with development and manage complex budgets.

The Riverhead News-Review endorses Tim Hubbard for town supervisor.

Riverhead Town Council: Ken Rothwell and Bob Kern

Voters have two seats to fill on the Riverhead Town Board, pitting Republican incumbents against Democratic challengers with good intentions but untested records

Kevin Shea is a humanitarian and a hero. His 20 years with the FDNY, including service as a 9/11 first responder, demonstrate courage and sacrifice. His work in farm and forest management and his advocacy for renewable energy, flood resilience and environmental protection reflect genuine commitment to Riverhead’s future. His emphasis on maintaining rural character and scrutinizing development resonates with many residents.

But Mr. Shea’s acceptance of the Democratic Socialists of America endorsement raises questions about his political judgment — even if, as he says, he joined simply to “learn more” about their perspectives. For a Town Board position rooted in pragmatic management, aligning with a group whose national platform extends far beyond local governance feels out of step.

Mark Woolley brings 30 years of congressional experience, having worked for six members of Congress, including Tom Suozzi, Lee Zeldin and George Santos. His focus on fiscal impact statements for every resolution, regular constituent office hours and more robust public debate reflects professionalism and attention to accountability. His concerns about overdevelopment are valid and shared by many.

But there’s an unavoidable issue: Mr. Woolley is Supervisor Tim Hubbard’s brother-in-law, and the two are reportedly on non-speaking terms. Riverhead needs board members who can collaborate — not bring personal conflicts into Town Hall; municipal government demands teamwork, not tension.

In an ideal world, political balance on a Town Board offers valuable perspective and healthy debate. The current board is all Republican — Supervisor Tim Hubbard and Councilmen Kenneth Rothwell and Bob Kern, who are up for reelection, and council members Denise Merrifield and Joann Waski, who are not.

But voters shouldn’t base their decision on party composition alone. The question is who can deliver results.

Mr. Kern has brought business discipline to town operations, pushing to modernize outdated systems. He led the charge to update departmental fee schedules — some untouched for 30 years — to reflect current costs and inflation. He has also tackled urgent environmental issues, pressing the Navy for faster cleanup at the former Grumman site and addressing PFAS contamination in McKay Lake. His emerging technology committee, partnering with Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, positions Riverhead to attract high-tech jobs at EPCAL.

Mr. Rothwell has been equally productive. He helped move Town Square from decades of talk to actual demolition, was involved in raising $2 million for the new Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters and established a self-sustaining billing system to ease the taxpayer burden. His creation of the Hispanic development, empowerment and education committee, with multilingual website access and a proposed town health care day, shows inclusive leadership in action.

Both incumbents understand the delicate balance between development and preservation. Mr. Rothwell’s support for the Transfer of Development Rights program — 70% preservation, 30% development — gives farmers financial incentives while protecting open space. Mr. Kern shares concern about large-scale housing projects overwhelming schools and infrastructure, but remains an advocate for agriculture and innovative solutions such as agrivoltaics.

While an all-Republican board isn’t ideal in theory, in practice, competence matters more than party balance. Mr. Shea and Mr. Woolley bring passion and ideas, but the incumbents bring something more valuable: a record of getting things done. Their track record outweighs concerns about one-party control.

The Riverhead News-Review endorses Bob Kern and Kenneth Rothwell for Riverhead Town Board.

Suffolk County Legislator: Greg Doroski

Catherine Stark has been an effective first-term legislator with deep roots in county government. Over 30 years, she has served as clerk of the Legislature, worked in former county executive Bob Gaffney’s office and spent a decade as chief of staff to former legislators including Jay Schneiderman and Al Krupski.

As a fifth-generation North Fork native and lifelong Riverhead resident, she knows the district intimately.

Ms. Stark’s first-term accomplishments are substantial.

She has preserved 290 acres of farmland, with 400 more in process, and helped establish the Working Waterfront Preservation Program — the first of its kind in New York State — in partnership with South Fork Legislator Ann Welker. She has cultivated relationships across county departments that help get things done.

But Greg Doroski brings something the 1st District needs more: deep, current understanding of the challenges facing Southold Town and East End communities right now. As a Southold Town Board member for four years, Mr. Doroski has worked directly on the issues that will define the district’s future — preserving open space, advancing the housing plan, pushing the zoning update forward and strengthening relationships with local police.

He knows which roads flood, which septic systems are failing and where housing is most desperately needed, because he’s been in those meetings, fielding complaints and making decisions.

Tellingly, Southold Town Supervisor Mr. Krupski — who served as county legislator for nearly a decade and employed Ms. Stark as his chief of staff for 12 years — has endorsed Mr.

Doroski. Mr. Krupski knows both candidates well and understands what the job requires. His choice speaks volumes about which candidate is better positioned to serve the district effectively.

On working waterfront funding, Mr. Doroski would prioritize struggling commercial fisheries and aquaculture over recreational boating operations that already have viable business models. Ms. Stark’s creative ideas about on-site housing for hotel staff have merit, but Mr.

Doroski has actively worked to make accessory dwelling units easier to build.

The Democrat’s small-business background as co-founder of Threes Brewing and his current work at Riverhead Brewhouse (soon to become Moonfish Brewery) give him perspective on the economic pressures facing East End employers.

His acknowledgment of the difficult balance between services and taxes — pointing to Southold’s 7.48% increase for 2025, driven by health care and retirement costs — shows he understands fiscal realities, not just ideals.

Mr. Doroski also brings vision for regional coordination, proposing an advisory council to bring East End towns together on climate change, water quality and solid waste planning as Brookhaven’s landfill nears closure. He brings the accessibility and transparency the position demands, modeling himself after Mr. Krupski: attending events throughout the district, staying visible and engaging in public debate.

Yes, Mr. Doroski is leaving the Town Board after one term, and that raises questions about commitment. But he’s not abandoning local government — he’s seeking to serve the same communities at a different level where he can have greater impact.

The 1st District needs a legislator who knows its needs intimately, not just theoretically.

Ms. Stark has been capable, but Mr. Doroski’s hands-on experience with the daily challenges facing Southold and the East End makes him the stronger choice.

The Riverhead News-Review endorses Greg Doroski for Suffolk County legislator, 1st District.

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Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski, Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard, Shelter Island Town Supervisor Amber Brach-Williams, Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore and East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez mulled the issues that affect life in their respective locales, be it seasonal, year-long or in the future. 

When asked about top priorities, Mr. Hubbard discussed the highly-anticipated Town Square project, which has received multiple federal, state and county funding grants over the years, including a $24 million federal RAISE grant and $10 million state Downtown Revitalization grant.

The Town Square project has six components: the upper and lower Town Square, the amphitheater, “complete streets” or streetscapes, a boutique hotel and a parking garage. With its groundbreaking coming up soon, Mr. Hubbard said the project would be a “first of its kind on the East End of Long Island.” The supervisor expressed excitement for Riverhead’s continued revitalization efforts towards becoming a destination town.

“When traffic would come out to the East End in the summertime, it would drive through Riverhead to get to Southold, it would drive through Riverhead to get to the South Shore. Now, they’re actually stopping in Riverhead because we have so many destinations,” Mr. Hubbard said. “Between the [Long Island] Aquarium, Splish Splash, wineries, breweries, our beaches, Briermere Farms — we have so much for people to stop and enjoy.”

Mr. Krupski reiterated the town’s commitment to increasing the inventory of accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ADUs, to address the affordability crisis and housing inventory shortage. 

“It kind of spreads out that housing throughout the whole town,” he said. “So, you’re not looking at one project that’s kind of dominating one area.”

The construction of ADUs has been slow rolling, but Mr. Krupski said the Town Board is working to adjust its processes to increase the success rate. Southold also recently hired a community development project supervisor for its Community Housing Plan to help streamline housing projects in the town. 

Southold’s ongoing zoning update, its first comprehensive overhaul since 1989, included an as-of-right caretaker unit in its draft to help business owners, Mr. Krupski said. This would allow businesses to keep at least one employee on site at all times, something the supervisor is hopeful would alleviate traffic in the area during busier seasons. 

The zoning update has not been finalized and voted on yet, as its public comment period closes July 18.

Rail service restoration to the former Peconic, Southold and Cutchogue stations is something Mr. Krupski posited to increase train traffic to the area.

Transformational, economic development was another topic brought up during the panel discussion, including the redevelopment of Enterprise Park at Calverton — commonly referred to as EPCAL. The 2,900-acre property was formerly the site for the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, contains a 10,000-foot runway and rail access under development, and is near major highways.

Calverton Aviation & Technology sued the town last year in hopes of resurrecting its $40 million purchase deal after the town canceled a 2018 contract to sell CAT more than 1,600 acres of EPCAL land. 

When asked about his vision for the site, Mr. Hubbard said he sees it as what the U.S. Navy intended for it to be: an economic driver for Riverhead Town with “environmentally safe and high-paying technology jobs.”

“It’s in litigation right now, so there’s not a lot I can talk about, but the fact is you need to develop that land into high-paying jobs, technology [and] aviation type jobs,” Mr. Hubbard said. “I’m not saying an airport … but you can build jet engines there, helicopter engines, and these types of jobs will pay a salary where young people, especially, can afford to stay and live on Long Island.”

Mr. Hubbard stressed Riverhead Town’s commitment to buying local and supporting the community’s mom-and-pop shops amid the growth of big box retailers in the area. He also spoke about improving internet services in the area and how the town would welcome more variety in cable providers. 

The participating supervisors also touched on how recent federal policy changes have impacted decisions at the municipal level. For Riverhead, specifically, Mr. Hubbard said local organizations have been asking for monetary support from the town because their federal and state funding has been cut. 

“The Family Service League [in Riverhead], they provide programs that are much needed — you can’t afford to lose some of these programs, but [the federal government] is asking for now the towns to dip into their monies,” Mr. Hubbard said. “We have to go to our residents and our taxpayers and say, ‘Hey, you know, we’re probably going to pierce the tax cap again’ … We just need to think about explaining to the residents: ‘This is what it is, and this is why it is.’”

Ms. Brach-Williams noted Shelter Island’s limitations for growth, especially for businesses, on the island only accessible by ferry. In order to preserve the island’s diverse community of private businesses, the supervisor said the town needs to adjust its site plan review and make it less onerous, cumbersome and time consuming. 

“Like the rest of the East End, we are so lucky,” Ms. Brach-Williams said. “We have such natural beauty. We have a diverse community of year-round homeowners, second homeowners and seasonal visitors. 

“And we all have the same goal, which is to maintain the environmentally beautiful place we live in,” she said. “So, we do tend to all work together.”

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Dressed as Uncle Sam, event chair and U.S. Marine Corps Major John Newman kicked off the program at 10 a.m. and Pastor George Dupree of Living Water Full Gospel Church gave the invocation. Members of the VFW Post #2476 and Riverhead High School’s NJROTC presented the colors and patriotic music was performed by the Jamesport Meeting House Chorus.

Photos by Jeremy Garretson

Several other speakers took to the podium, including Greater Jamesport Civic Association President Laura Jens-Smith, Riverhead Town Historian Georgette Case, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Greg Blass, Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard, NYS Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio and U.S. Marine Corp. Captain Devin Lides.

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Vice Chairman Ralph Gazillo read the following statement before the zoning board voted: “The board has carefully reviewed and considered all of the testimony and evidence submitted in connection with the application, as well as defining set forth in the full informed decision. After this court, careful review, the board hereby determines that the benefit of granting the area of variance request is substantially outweighed by the detriment of granting the area of variance request to the health, safety and welfare of the community, and hereby denies the application based on the foregoing. This board hereby denies the application in its entirety.”

According to Martha Reichert, the attorney representing Brian Stark, the dispensary licensee, the building is separated from the school by both distance and development. It is on a different street with multiple buildings and roads in between the locations. 

“If you’re going to just measure property and property line, we have 735 feet [in] separation distance,” Ms. Reichert said. “We’re not on the same street. 
There is extensive fencing around the school property. There is fencing around the commercial properties that are on that southerly side of Old Country Road. There is a shopping center, a four-lane highway. You cannot see the dispensary from the school and vice versa.”

Ms. Reichert also said that the town’s rules are more restrictive than the state.

“[The town] first did it in 2022, which was prior to New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management, which is called OCM, promulgating their specific cannabis rules,” she said. “And once OCM promulgated its rules, the state regulations made it very clear that certain distance regulations, such as the ones for schools, which the state requires 500 feet [from door to door], and the school needs to be on the same street in order for it to disqualify. But those preempts, they’re not part of the list of things that municipalities are able to legislate locally.”

This means that the rules set down by the state, at least as far as the distances are concerned, are not open for change by local municipalities. 

Dispensaries are secure buildings. No one under 21 is allowed inside the establishment. To get inside, patrons must hand their identification to the security personnel. It is then scanned into the store’s system before an individual can gain entry. 

“You can go into a supermarket where beer and wine products are sold and no one checks the ID of children, right?” Ms. Reichert said. “Same thing with liquor stores. Your ID doesn’t get checked until you’re at the line, purchasing the product. With cannabis, it’s much stricter.”

For this dispensary, Mr. Stark submitted a security plan and odor mitigation plan, which are required by the state. Additionally, there is an interior and exterior camera system for security. New York state’s regulations prohibit displays, so there are no visuals to attract the eye. 

One of the examples highlighted in previous meetings is the recent case of William Floyd Middle School students who were sickened after consuming cannabis gummies at school. The individual charged in the case is alleged to have sold the gummies via Instagram, and not through a licensed dispensary. 

“What it demonstrates is that it’s the illegal sale of cannabis, by unlicensed and unregulated retailers, that have led to these incidents. And the state of New York, specifically OCM and the Attorney General’s Office … have put huge amounts of their budget and emphasis right now and [are] cracking down on those illegal shops for this very reason, because their products aren’t tested and verified like the ones in a regulated cannabis shop,” said Ms. Reichert.

Since the town has denied their application for a variance, Ms. Reichert stated that they plan to appeal to the state. She said that it will likely raise the issue of whether the town has the right to make their own, stricter rules, since this limits the number of licenses the state can grant.

While concerns over abuse of cannabis are not unexpected, Ms. Reichert emphasized that dispensaries are legal, secure businesses.

“I am an attorney, and I am a parent, and what I’ve seen is that legal cannabis, while many people are still wrapping their heads around it or are conflicted over it, is it’s a legal business now,” she added. “It’s a great economic opportunity. I think that people who are concerned should probably just take the time to visit a dispensary. They’re well-operated, regulated businesses. They employ a lot of people. They’re going to generate a lot of tax revenue that will benefit the towns in which they’re located.”

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Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard confirmed at a joint press conference with the LISC on Monday afternoon that, because of the nonprofit’s “satisfactory” expansion plan, the board will vote on a resolution to cancel the eminent domain public hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, and end plans to acquire the building.

“Despite having endured periods of uncertainty,” the LISC’s recent efforts to hire a design professional and create a feasible, fundable and phased out plan that addressed the building’s “glaring issues” and flooding concerns were sufficient in swaying the board, Mr. Hubbard said.

“Make no mistake, the location of a Town Square here is no coincidence: It’s located directly across from Suffolk Theater, down the street from the [Long Island] Aquarium, a few miles from Splish Splash, and was originally envisioned to be constructed adjacent to a newly expanded Long Island Science Center — all family friendly attractions,” Mr. Hubbard said. “The Town Square was always focused on creating a regional, family friendly destination that would serve as a logical extension of other area amenities geared towards families, and the Science Center has always been part of that equation.”

LISC president Larry Oxman said support from community members — who previously launched an online petition to “save” the museum — “means everything.” He said as soon as the science center receives its building permits, construction can begin immediately.

“I’m very glad that [the town] has had a change of direction. I think that we’ve shown what we can do here,” Mr. Oxman said. “Very happy that the community stepped forward and really voiced their opinion. I think it made a big difference.”

Jordan Rogove, the architect for the project and president of Manhattan-based architecture firm DXA Studio, outlined the project’s two phases in a previous town board work session. The first would be to conduct minimal restoration on the science center’s storefront, and the second phase would focus on building a planetarium and other renovations in coordination with Riverhead’s Town Square redevelopment, which is set to break ground this summer. 

The goal is to complete the first phase of the project and open the museum’s doors in the fall, Mr. Rogove said.

“Phase one will use the building as it currently exists with new cladding and exhibition space on the ground floor, and then in anticipation of the town square opening, we will move the primary entrance to the museum to be off the plaza,” Mr. Rogove said. “In thinking about activation of the plaza in the sense of vitality that an urban center needs to thrive, I can think of nothing better than the voices of children gathering outside of the museum and coming to the museum for a field trip day.”

The architect further explained the remedial structural work in the first phase will stabilize the building to prepare for the more long-term, foundational work. The Town Board previously put a stop work order on the construction, citing structural concerns, and one of the main issues was water damage caused by the drainage system.

Mr. Hubbard said the current expansion plan will rectify the water damage by hooking the science center up to the drainage system underneath the property that will be used for the Town Square.

The second phase of the project is “quite ambitious,” Mr. Rogove noted, as it includes the installation of a 150-seat planetarium and building as part of a second-story exhibition and event space.

Through the expansion, the LISC wants to provide hands-on exhibits, a ‘makerspace,’ classrooms, and a hall of innovation and technology that showcases all the inventions conceived here on Long Island, Mr. Oxman said.

For the first phase of the expansion, LISC has secured roughly $1.8 million in grants — specifically $1 million from the Suffolk County JumpSMART program and $775,000 from the New York State Empire Development program, Christine Kempner, the LISC’s development and grant writing consultant, confirmed.

A $1.23 million New York State Market NY grant and a $492,000 grant through the New York State Council for the Arts Capital Project Funds have been acquired for Phase 2 of the project. Once the storefront opens, the Science Center plans to launch a capital campaign to kickstart further fundraising. 

“The concept that Lucy [Barnes] had come up with to anchor the science center here as an activity for children and families was very visionary — take something old and make it new again — which really aligns with the history of Riverhead and the way it’s redeveloping,” Mr. Kempner said.

Several community members attended the news conference and applauded the decision to cancel the eminent domaine proceedings. Mark Woolley, who is running for Riverhead Town Board in the fall, called the announcement “a victory” for Riverhead residents.

“I testified before the Town Board encouraging them to reverse their plan. Town residents rose up against their plan for more condos and five-story apartment buildings,” Mr. Woolley said. “They wanted a Science Center of learning for their children, they were tired of seeing their downtown destroyed — the board seems to have had an epiphany in an election year.

“The Science Center has been in the works since 2018 and will continue now that the town board has finally listened to Riverhead residents,” Mr. Woolley continued.

The eminent domain public hearing for 127 East Main St. — home of the cocktail bar Craft’d — is still on the schedule for Wednesday’s Town Board meeting. Mr. Hubbard said it is anticipated the proposed redevelopment of nearly 76 hotel rooms, 12 condominium units, restaurant and retail space on the east side of the Town Square will be presented before the public in a hearing in early July.

“I know we are all excited to see construction begin here in the future Town Square,” Mr. Hubbard said, “and look forward to seeing the science center come to life here.”

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Riverhead Town Board members will vote on a resolution Wednesday in support of the development of a YMCA recreation facility in the vacant New York State Armory building on Route 58. However, before approving any sale or lease, there are a few “hurdles” at the state level the town still has to overcome, Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard said.

“Right now, technically, we can’t use it for a YMCA, but the resolution we put in is actually going to help us go to the state to request a change, so we can use it as a YMCA,” Mr. Hubbard said in a voicemail message on Friday.

The shift would require an amendment to a 2011 state law to allow the YMCA to use the armory building for recreation and community services to benefit Riverhead residents. The building and its 5.7 acres were sold by the town to the state in 1953 for $500, and both parties agreed at the time that if the town was ever interested in reclaiming the land, they could do so only if the armory ceased operation.

The armory has been abandoned for decades, and in 2011, the state transferred ownership back to Riverhead. Under state legislation, the building was initially intended to be used to house the Riverhead police department, justice court, public safety agencies and recreational facilities.

However, despite various attempts, town officials were not able to repurpose the building for those uses, according to the new resolution. Once Riverhead acquired its new Town Hall building on West Second Street in 2023, officials determined it would be more cost effective to renovate the old town hall at 200 Howell Ave. to house the justice court, which in turn would allow the police department to reoccupy the former justice court space.

With the armory no longer needed for the police department or court, the building’s only remaining approved use is for recreation and community programs. But officials said the town currently lacks sufficient funding to renovate the blighted armory or manage any expansion of recreational activities there, the resolution stated.

That is where the YMCA of Long Island comes in: Although still early in the process, leaders of the organization have toured the armory with town staff and expressed an interest in either leasing or purchasing the building to provide a variety of wellness and educational programs to residents of all ages.

Once the board approves this resolution, the Town Attorney’s Office will prepare a Municipal Home Rule Request and send a copy of the resolution to Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio and State Senator Anthony Palumbo for review.

The idea of a YMCA in Riverhead has been floated in the past, with the late Joe Van de Wetering of Baiting Hollow leading the push for a “Peconic YMCA.” A number of locations were considered, but several encountered community opposition, and none were ever seriously pursued. The Town Board ended its support for the previous development plan in late 2012 after the YMCA changed much of its leadership. 

“The YMCA has been around for many years trying to build something on the East End. They’ve always had several locations, and for whatever reasons, it didn’t pan out,” Mr. Hubbard said. “But I think this might be a good location, for sure, and I would fully support it at this point in time.”

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Jordan Rogove, the architect for the project and president of the Manhattan-based architecture firm DXA Studio, outlined the project’s two phases: the first would be to conduct minimal restoration on the science center’s storefront at 111 East Main St. to get it fully up and running as soon as early August. 

The second phase would focus on building the planetarium and other renovations in coordination with Riverhead’s Town Square redevelopment, which is set to break ground this summer. 

Mr. Rogove said he did have an opportunity to speak with Joe Petrocelli, the designated master developer for the Town Square project, about how the buildings can support one another in these downtown revitalization efforts.

“In order to be able to advance those [Phase 2] efforts, we really need to make sure that we can advance with that first phase, bring a public face, get these plans out there and proceed with getting the funding necessary to realize the second phase,” Mr. Rogove said. “We just wanted to start the conversation knowing the interconnectedness of the efforts of the Town Square and our endeavor here.” 

The organization is currently operating out of a space at Tanger Outlets, however, the expansion to the East Main Street space would allow them to be centrally located to other regional attractions, such as the Long Island Aquarium and The Suffolk Theatre. It would also promote long-term viability of the business, enhance capacity and create more local jobs. 

For the first phase of the expansion, LISC has secured roughly $1.8 million in grants — specifically $1 million from the Suffolk County JumpSMART grant program and $800,000 from the New York State Empire Development program. 

The construction to activate the building for use by this summer would entail an interior buildout of the upper level of the space, mechanical system upgrades and a new exterior façade — all of which totals to an estimated $800,000. 

If the town’s building department removes the stop work order and approves the necessary building permits this month, the renovations can be completed by mid-June. With exhibits ready-to-go at its Tanger location, a soft opening could happen in mid-July. The goal is to have a grand opening on Aug. 1. 

Still early in the design phases, the exact timeline for the second phase is to be determined. However, the current plan is to relocate the Science Center entrance and add new windows that align with the Town Square. This phase also includes the installation of a 150-seat planetarium, wind and solar exhibits and a maker space. 

A $1.12 million New York State Market NY grant and $460,000 grant through the New York State Council for the Arts Capital Project Funds have been acquired for Phase 2 of the project. Once the storefront opens, the LI Science Center plans to launch a capital campaign to kickstart further fundraising. 

Chris Kempner, the LISC’s development and grant writing consultant, addressed the town board’s financial concerns for the project. At the work session, Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard expressed a need for “assurances” that there will be enough money to finish the project out in these two phases.

The nonprofit is prepared for additional fundraising, Ms. Kempner said, they just didn’t have the location yet. Additionally, the Science Center did have financial opportunities for the museum project, but they were ahead of the development of Town Square and its projected timeline, Ms. Kempner said.

In the past, Ms. Kempner said there was a letter of commitment for a $15 million buildout, but that was for a previous, more complex structure idea. She determined the cost of the project under the current plans will be much lower. Due to the project’s focus on legacy and innovation, Ms. Kempner said she was confident the federal government would financially support the project as well. 

“There’s interest in getting involved [financially], we just didn’t feel comfortable with that until we had a plan,” Ms. Kemper said. 

The nonprofit LI Science Center was founded in 1990 and opened in 2019 at its former location at 40 Peconic Ave., on the ground floor of the Summerwind Square apartment building. Several years ago, the group acquired the former Swezey’s building in downtown Riverhead, where it had plans to expand. 

Over the last couple of decades, the LI Science Center has offered affordable hands-on learning experiences, educational and STEAM programs for visitors who are preschool to high school aged. 

Last summer, the Riverhead Town Board approved a resolution seeking to acquire the East Main Street property for “general municipal purposes” and directed the town attorney to take all actions “necessary and appropriate” to obtain it. 

The town is looking to acquire the building through New York State’s eminent domain law, which allows local governments to seize private property for a public use in exchange for fair compensation as determined by the courts — even if the property owners are not looking to sell. A public hearing must be held to allow for community input before initiating eminent domain procedures.

A public hearing has been set for Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. on the proposed acquisition of two East Main Street properties in downtown Riverhead — the Long Island Science Center building and the cocktail bar Craft’d — that Riverhead Town is interested in acquiring through eminent domain for its Town Square project.

Science center president Larry Oxman previously called out “inaccuracies” within the environmental review of the Town Square project and the false claims that East Main Street “building is crumbling and about to fall down.” He provided town officials with a state licensed structural engineer’s report that showed the building is “structurally sound.” 

That report also recommended repairs that should be implemented in the center’s proposed renovation project to “ensure there is no condition that would result in structural decay to the building.” 

Mr. Rogove mentioned in his presentation that the LISC installed a new temporary roof to address water infiltration issues and the building is in “stable shape” to commence the proposed renovations. 

In terms of flood mitigation, he added remedial work will be done to the basement of the building to make it more flood resistant, as it will likely be used for offices and mechanical spaces. A water retention unit would also be stored in the building for stormwater collection. 

After the work session, Mr. Hubbard confirmed that if the Town Board decides to allow the Long Island Science Center’s plans, they would cancel its “condemnation proceedings” to acquire the building.  

“I hope that happens, I really do want the Science Center there, but sometimes you got to light a fire under somebody to get some reaction,” Mr. Hubbard said. “We feel that’s what we did, and hopefully we got a good reaction.” 

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Town attorney Erik Howard presented a draft of the modified rules at the board’s Jan. 30 work session. He said the proposed additions and clarifications to the current public comment rules are intended to eliminate confusion about Town Board protocols, as well as improve overall efficiency and public input in meetings. 

The last time the Town Board rules were updated was in 2019, Mr. Howard said, and the revision before that was around 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the use of virtual conferencing, which Supervisor Tim Hubbard said “most town governments have stopped using all together.” 

The more significant rules changes have to do with decorum during regular Town Board meetings, comments on resolutions and comments on public hearings. 

Audience members who wish to comment on resolutions or any general matters relevant to Riverhead Town, according to the proposed revisions, “shall be in-person, physically present” before the Town Board. Additionally, they can speak for no more than three minutes, as opposed to the currently allowed five minutes. Speakers will not be allowed to comment on resolutions via Zoom or other videoconferencing applications. 

Additionally, speakers would be permitted to yield their time to other speakers, but must refrain from making repetitive remarks and reading from written comments submitted by others, according to the rules draft. 

“We looked into what other towns do and what’s required under New York State Open Meetings law — the town isn’t required to provide time for comment on resolutions or comment on any matter,” Mr. Howard said at the work session. “My recommendation is that we keep comment because I think the public’s participation in that is important. Many other towns don’t do five minutes; they do three minutes.” 

Council members Bob Kern, Kenneth Rothwell and Denise Merrifield, who were present at the work session, noted that limiting the amount of speaking time gives more people a chance to make their opinions known. Mr. Rothwell noted that in the past, he has been in meetings that lasted up to two hours and has seen people leave instead of waiting for a turn at the podium.  

“I’d rather give everybody a chance to speak than have a few individuals come forward for longer periods of time,” Mr. Rothwell said. 

For public hearings, there will be no time limit on public comment. However, a speaker is only allowed at the podium once per public hearing. As with resolutions, commenters at public hearings would have to refrain from reading written comments submitted by others. Commenting via Zoom or other videoconferencing applications would be allowed during public hearings.

Mr. Howard said the Department of State’s Division of Local Governments suggests that in a heavily attended public hearing meetings, town officials can consider limiting the time to three minutes, implemented on a “case by case” basis. Incorporating a sign-in sheet for speakers was also discussed to improve intake of the meeting minutes and avoid long lines at the podium. 

On decorum at regular meetings, audience members would be prohibited from holding signs, signboards, posters and banners, as “such instruments serve to distract, disrupt and/or obstruct viewing of the meeting and given opportunities to speak before the Town Board on a variety of matters do not substantively contribute to the business of the Town Board,” the draft document stated. 

The current rules read that “no member of the public shall engage in any disruptive demonstration or otherwise disrupt the formality of a Town Board meeting.” Mr. Howard’s latest draft expands upon this by saying that all speakers — including the Town Board members — should avoid making partisan political comments and “personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks” directed at anyone, including board members, town staff, general public and others.

The document continues: “Any person, including recognized speakers, who makes such remarks or otherwise disrupts the meeting with loud outbursts, shouting, threats or other disruptive conduct” would receive a warning. If the disruption persists after the first warning, the supervisor or a board majority would order that person to leave “and may utilize law enforcement to enforce such order of removal.” 

Unless a person fails to maintain decorum and courtesy, any criticism of Riverhead Town policies, procedures, programs or services, as well as acts or omissions of the Town Board would not be considered improper or grounds for ejection from a meeting. 

Mr. Hubbard mentioned the most recent hearing concerning Scott’s Pointe amended application, where those who spoke in opposition — and raised concerns about unauthorized construction, town code violations and the environmental impacts of the project — were often met with boos and jeers from the audience.

“I had an individual call me the next day after the meeting saying that there were … were rude and derogatory comments made [in the audience] to certain individuals that were talking about a different position than the majority of people here were,” Mr. Hubbard said. “That won’t be tolerated either — the board can’t talk to the public like that, the public can’t talk to the board like that, and the public can’t talk to the public like that, either.”

Kathy McGraw of Northville brought up these proposed rule changes at a Feb. 6 board meeting and urged that it consider keeping the five-minute time limit, as well as continue to allow comments over Zoom for those who are unable to attend. 

“Why not be a leader on this issue, rather than a follower?” Ms. McGraw asked, addressing Mr. Hubbard. “Show the other towns and the people of Riverhead that you want to hear from your constituents, and for meaningful opportunity to make comments, five minutes is much better than three.”

Councilwoman Joann Waski, who was absent from the work session, said at the Town Board meeting that Ms. McGraw and others have “overstayed” their time at the podium or on Zoom in the past. She said it is important for councilmembers to hear from everyone in the community, and the three-minute rule would allow that. 

She added that the use of Zoom is a cost to taxpayers and since town governments are not required to use it anymore, the ability to “slice away at spending a little bit” should be seen as a positive. 

Mr. Hubbard reiterated that these measures are not intended to stop people from commenting on town government matters and any written comments that are submitted are distributed to the board members, as well as put into the record by the town clerk. 

“We’re not really stopping people who can’t come to a meeting from getting their comments being part of the record,” Mr. Hubbard said. “So many times, we have instances with issues with Zoom — we … pay two employees to be back there [in the booth], and one can handle it much easier when we’re just doing it this way.

“It’s not about following or leading, it’s about efficiency in government,” he said.

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