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.
ICE Enforcement and OLA Safety Law Debate
OLA of Eastern Long Island and a long line of residents urged the town to adopt a local law governing how ICE operations interact with local police — transparency, identification of agents, and limits on town resources. The board took no action but heard roughly a dozen speakers.
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.
RVAC Ambulance Barn Project and 75-Year Lease
A new ambulance corps building is moving forward — $6.4 million raised toward an $8-9 million modular facility, entirely through donations and ambulance billing, not taxes. Construction bid expected out next month.
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.
Bail reform impact on policing and costs
Councilmembers Kern and Waski pressed Chief Frost on how state bail reform releases arrestees the same day, driving repeat arrests and officer time off the street. They want the monthly police report to show how many arrestees are released immediately so the public understands the cost.
Proactive code enforcement expansion
Councilmembers Waski and Rothwell proposed hiring part-time evening code enforcement officers to proactively sweep the town for overcrowded housing, cars on lawns, unregistered vehicles, and trash — arguing fines will make the positions pay for themselves. Safety of children in overcrowded homes was a central concern.
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.
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.
New Riverhead Ambulance District building
A new ambulance headquarters at 1111 Osborne Avenue will replace the aging building, funded by $6.5 million in private donations plus RVAC ambulance billing revenue — designed to cost taxpayers nothing. The board bonded up to $8.1 million as the backstop.
Federal funding for police vehicles
Congressman LaLota secured $250,000 for the Riverhead Police Department to buy four new vehicles. That means updated patrol equipment without hitting local taxpayers.
Formation of town HazMat response team
The town now has an official HazMat response team and emergency response plan — better protection when hazardous material incidents happen.
FEMA grant for high-speed patrol boat
The Police Department wants to apply for federal DHS FEMA funding to buy a high-speed rapid response patrol vessel.
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.
Post-July 4 Storm Recovery and Yard Waste Relief
After the severe July 4 storm, the yard waste facility opens to all residents July 8–12 with just proof of residency, and Alive on 25 was postponed. Crews are still clearing trees and downed wires.
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.
E-Bikes and E-Scooters on Town Trails
Kids on electric dirt bikes and scooters are causing safety problems — two crashes on Route 58 already, and Stony Brook is seeing a rise in trauma cases. The draft code would let Riverhead police issue town summonses instead of cumbersome county charges, impound bikes, and require helmets for all ages, while keeping e-bike access for seniors on the Peconic Trail.
Police body camera program benefits
Chief Frost reported body cameras are reducing complaints against officers, deterring frivolous lawsuits, and helping cases — even the Justice Court used footage to prove a case last month.
Arming Riverhead fire marshals
Riverhead's fire marshals are sworn peace officers but currently unarmed, even when investigating arson scenes that can turn into felony crime scenes. The board is weighing policies for firearms carry, training, psychological testing, and insurance — with a resolution possible at a future meeting.
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.
Mobile Stroke Unit location on Route 58
Stony Brook Medicine wants to base a mobile stroke unit — an ambulance with a built-in CAT scanner — in the back of the Old Country Road shopping center. Riverhead's volunteer ambulance corps says it would dramatically speed stroke care for the whole East End, at no cost to taxpayers.
OLA public safety law and ICE enforcement concerns
Several residents urged the board to adopt the East End public safety/accountability law governing communication between federal agents and local police, delivering a petition to the clerk. Others, including Colin Tooker and John McAuliff, argued immigrants commit crime at lower rates and that ICE raids, not immigrants, are the real safety concern.