Riverhead · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Riverhead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Commercial Fire Protection Compliance
The Fire Marshal's office has transitioned to an online platform to track commercial fire system inspections, which has generated some questions and confusion among local business owners.
Brush fire staging area at Veterans Park (EPCAL)
A $100,000 state grant secured by Assemblywoman Giglio will build a staging area for firefighters battling brush fires along Sound Avenue, where dead trees and roadside conditions have made firefighting dangerous.
Police staffing and recruitment
Crime is down sharply — 113 criminal incidents in January vs. 164 a year ago — and council members credited the town's investment in growing the force to 100 officers five years ago.
FOIL Redactions of Hispanic Committee Emails
Colin Tooker said his FOIL request for Hispanic Development Empowerment and Education Committee records returned 13 pages fully redacted, and he has filed an appeal; the town attorney sent a lengthy reply the same day.
Fireworks permit process streamlining
Fireworks applications would move from the Town Clerk's office to the Fire Marshal's office, with two local law amendments published for review.
Councilmember Waski Social Media Post Controversy
Multiple speakers chastised Councilwoman Waski over a Facebook post about 9/11 hero and former FDNY firefighter Kevin Shea; she apologized on the record, and Shea invited her to get to know him. The exchange dominated the latter half of public comment.
Domestic incident reports on the rise
Domestic incident calls jumped to 85 in May from 64 the prior month. Chief Frost said there's no clear pattern and noted the department's outreach to the Hispanic community and school resource officers help keep trust high.
Sound Avenue / Toomey Avenue No-Parking Zones
Medical-office patients parking on Northern Parkway's north side have left a residential block congested and unsafe to pass, especially during snow season. The board wants a weekday-only no-parking rule there, with a public hearing for residents to weigh in.
Hazmat Fee for Solar and Battery Storage Projects
New fees — 1% of each project's decommissioning fund — would pay for fire marshal hazmat equipment and training for solar and battery storage sites. Residents noted it doesn't apply retroactively to the ~600 acres already approved in Calverton.
Police department state re-accreditation
The Riverhead Police Department went through its state re-accreditation review and expects a favorable recommendation, confirming compliance with 112 New York State standards.
Shoplifting and crime control enforcement on Route 58
A Route 58 store's new GPS-like merchandise tracking drove reported incidents up, and the crime control unit is working with loss prevention and a new countywide trespass affidavit that turns repeat retail theft into felony burglary charges.
Anti-Bias Task Force leadership dispute
The board addressed controversy over the task force's board liaison and former director; Supervisor Halpin said the liaison stays and the mission will be reviewed, while residents urged independence and the former chair's return.
Promotion of Officer Suprina to Sergeant
Officer Matthew Suprina was promoted to sergeant and sworn in, strengthening police department leadership.
Downtown panhandling and quality of life
Chief Frost said panhandlers near Main Street keep cycling through the courts with multiple tickets. Police are asking residents and businesses to call 911 every time so cases build up.
Weekend Snow Emergency Preparedness
A major storm is coming; the highway department is short-staffed and hiring, and residents are asked to park off the streets.
New voting machine demonstrations
Suffolk County Board of Elections will demo new touch-screen voting machines at town hall between mid-February and mid-April, with a recorded tutorial for Channel 22 and the town website so voters can learn the new system.
Flock Safety Cameras on town roads
A new agreement lets Suffolk County install license-plate-reader cameras along town road rights-of-way, with town police getting access for public safety — and hold-harmless language protecting the town.