Riverhead Supervisor Delivers Final State Of Town Address: 'Grateful'

RIVERHEAD, NY — Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar delivered her last State of the Town address this week.

In her speech, she expressed gratitude for having been elected as Riverhead's 63rd supervisor, pride about the progress made during her four-year administration and her thoughts about a bright future for the Town of Riverhead.

Aguiar entitled her address "The Foundation has Been Laid for Riverhead’s Bright Future."

Aguiar told those gathered that she was "extremely proud of all we have accomplished over the last four years. We have received various smart growth awards, millions of dollars in monetary grant funding and recognitions from every level of government informing us of our ability to grow responsibility, while protecting our environment."

Aguiar thanked the town board for their support and efforts during her administration. Quoting President Ronald Reagan, she said: "'By working together, pooling our resources and building on our strengths, we can accomplish great things.' It is exactly what we strived for as a team under my administration.'"

Aguiar added that she was particularly proud of the "unprecedented" $29.4 million in grant funding awarded to the Riverhead Town over the last four years for the betterment of residents, businesses and visitors. Those grants included the prestigious$10 million New York State Downtown Revitalization award, which is funding transformational projects in downtown

Riverhead, along with other funding grant sources. Those projects include:

▪ An amphitheater, expansion of the Suffolk Theater, construction of Town Square street paving, safe pedestrian crossings and signal improvements, a rowing facility from the riverfront, reflective artwork, public parking retail/commercial near the railroad, and enhancements of the Riverhead Free Public library entrance.
▪ A total of $782,500 has been raised for an adaptive playground with water features and educational activities for children of all abilities and ages and their families.
▪ Just last month, she said, Suffolk County awarded $2M toward a downtown parking garage and $250,000 to help revive the struggling, historic Vail Leavitt Theater.

The supervisor vowed that downtown revitalization would continue and predicted that thetransit development area near the train station, "our most blighted area, will soon be gentrified."

Two master developers have been identified and approved: Joseph Petrocelli for the downtown area and RXR/GGV for the TOD, she said.

Also, despite the global pandemic and 40-year highs in inflation, Aguiar said she is leaving the Town of Riverhead strong with fiscal health stability. In 2022, Moody’s Investor Services Inc. provided another sign of Riverhead’s fiscal strength when they increased the town’s bond rating from Aa3 to Aa2, which is the third highest rating, she said.

As the town’s chief financial officer, Aguiar said her administration took a proactive approach in budget matters and was proud of the accomplishments achieved to protect taxpayers. The 2022 budget was the first budget adopted by the town board in more than 20 years where property taxes were not raised, she said. Strong inflationary pressures, however, resulted in reasonable overall tax rate increases of less than 5 percent for 2023 and 2024.

As a retired law enforcement officer, the supervisor said that public safety was a top priority. In 2021, Riverhead replenished the ranks by hiring 19 police officers, reduced mostly due to attrition. Furthermore, in 2023, Riverhead increased the staffing level by seven police officers.

By this coming summer, an additional five police officers will be added to the police force.

"This is the first time in Riverhead history the police force has been strengthened at this level," Aguiar said.

Aguiar said throughout her tenure she sought to "be responsive to the needs and concerns of
Riverhead residents and businesses"

There were widespread, growing concerns about the financial wherewithal of Calverton Aviation Technologies to carry out the project proposed in the December 2018 contract, she said.

As a result, in March 2022, the Town Board sought review from the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency to determine if CAT was, in fact, capable of fulfilling their obligations. Following months of document submission and review by the IDA, as well as two public session forums, in October 2023, the IDA determined CAT was unable to provide adequate assurances of its financial capability to develop the EPCAL property. The IDA’s determination enabled the CDA to move forward with the next steps toward redeveloping in a manner benefitting the community, creating jobs, while protecting the environment and quality of life of Riverhead’s residents. Aguiar said she is confident the next administration will be able to find solutions that are beneficial to the residents and the region.

Among the most recent long-term goals achieved is the relocation of Town Hall to the new 4.5-
acre campus at 4 West Second Street, previously the Peconic Bay Medical Center East End
corporate offices, Aguiar said.

The $20 million acquisition consists of the primary office building, a two-story commercial building, a historic residence, M&T Bank and 200 parking spaces.

The proximity of the new Town Hall to downtown Riverhead, Aguiar said, creates "a perfect
synergy to our downtown revitalization efforts." The state-of-the-art, three-story facility has
37,000 square feet of office space. The Town of Riverhead closed on the property on January
11, 2023 and it is now fully operational, she said.

The relocation of Town Hall now enables the town to commence the process of converting the
former Town Hall into a much-needed Justice Court facility, adjacent to police headquarters. To
that end, on October 24, the Town Board officially dedicated the prior Town Hall as the
future sight of Judge Allen M. Smith Justice Court.

Thanks to the efforts of Councilman Kenneth Rothwell, Aguiar said, the new $2.3M town hockey rink was opened at Veterans Memorial Park in Calverton earlier this month. The rink is inside a 125-foot by 225-foot inflatable dome.

"This government partnership with the not-for-profit Peconic Hockey Foundation will increase recreation options for the Long Island region, which includes ball fields, pickleball courts, a dog park, and the nine-mile recreation trail," Aguiar said.

In addition, she said, the town will soon undertake a sports complex feasibility study at EPCAL. The two-phase study will include a market analysis, facility report, detailed financial forecast, economic impact analysis and will provide a feasibility report, thanks to a $30,000 grant from New York State.

Other key achievements mentioned by Aguiar during the address, included:

• Riverhead obtaining $11.4 million to provide public water to Manorville residents with
contaminated wells and other water upgrades.
• A combination of federal and state grants totaling more than $350,000 that enabled the town to acquire new Meals on Wheels vehicles and buses to provide enhanced services to Riverhead’s senior population.
• Union contracts, including the CSEA, Police Benevolent Association and Superior
Officers, were settled in 2023.
• Utilizing public input, the update to the Comprehensive Plan will be completed in spring
2024.
• In October 2023, the former Island Water Park, now known as Scott’s Pointe, consisting of a year-round indoor surf pool, opened. The $50 million dollar facility sits on 43-
acres, encompassing state-of-the-art activities for all age groups and a restaurant. A 22-
acre lake will host a floating aqua park, kayaking and other sports activities, she said.
• After decades of closure, this past spring, Riverhead High School saw the reopening of the observatory, which was closed in the 1980s. The observatory housed a 15-foot telescope and was revived in large part due to local contractor Joseph Petrocelli, who donated his services, she said.
• Plans are underway to convert the 50,000 square feet armory, which has been vacant
for 22 years, into a YMCA.
• The return of drag-racing to Long Island at EPCAL has been a "resounding success," Aguiar said.
• Riverhead being named as top destination a number of media outlets including Forbes Magazine, which named Riverhead among its Top 50 Travel Destinations; Riverhead ranked #11, she said.

"It is important to note our successes were the result of teamwork with our town employees, along with every level of government, who made so much happen under my leadership," Aguiar said. "I am certain I am leaving Riverhead in a significantly enhanced state than when I took office just four years ago. Unequivocally, Riverhead is clearly on the right path."

She added: "Again, I cannot state strongly enough how grateful I am for the opportunity to have served as your supervisor since 2020. I also want to thank our elected officials, our board and committee members, my office staff, our police, and fire department, and all our town employees who care about our great town. Without you, none of these accomplishments would have been possible. Diligent teamwork and planning efforts have brought Riverhead to the precipice of finally seeing its longstanding dreams and realization of economic development success and prosperity throughout our town. I am excited about the prospects of Riverhead’s future and believe I have strongly positioned Riverhead to achieve our mutual goals. Our residents deserve nothing less."

Aguiar pledged to continue to work closely with Supervisor-elect Tim Hubbard to ensure a smooth transition and to be available whenever advice or counsel is needed.