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.
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.
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.
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.