I have just returned from my last trip of the year to the Pines. I
drove the length of the beach and it is
a disturbing
sight. There is very substantial erosion from just west of Cedar Walk to just west of Fisherman.
The trap bags, where they are still there, are in the middle of a tidal area.
Some of the preliminary FIMI dune restoration work is moving ahead. Three houses are in the process of being moved back, but the project as a whole is moving more slowly than we had been led to believe. There have been hang-ups at the Army Corps of Engineers which, we understand, are related to a reduction in staff at the Army Corps. We are doing all that we can to speed things up including reaching out to Congressman Lee Zeldin, our House Representative, who is on the committee that has Army Corps oversight. A pre-selection notice has been issued that on December 20th the contractor for the heavy demolition phase (that is the demolition of entire houses) will be selected. We have not been informed when the demolition work will begin. The Army Corps is retaining the option to permit removal of demolition debris by the ocean, which might help move things along. The demolition of decks and pools will be handled separately, and at the moment the majority of those appraisals and permits are delayed at the Army Corps.
Sayville Ferry's fare increase application continues to move through the Suffolk County legislative process. FIPPOA has filed a request with the legislature seeking more transparency and partnership in the approval process. We have been joined by the Water Island and Cherry Grove community associations. The communities have jointly requested a meeting with SFS and Suffolk County to discuss the rate increase application; that meeting is scheduled for Monday. We are also seeking a commitment from Sayville Ferry that the schedule additions this past fall be made permanent in the Spring and Fall. We also seek that all future rate increase applications first be brought to the communities. Special Thanks to Tad Paul and Henry Robin for reviewing the financial submissions and representing FIPPOA at the County Legislature.
The Fire Island Association (FIA) has joined the communities and made its own submission. The FIA states that its two principal goals are community and partnership. The FIA in its letter notes that because the ferry company has a monopoly in each market, it is incumbent on the County Legislature to exercise great care in approving the application as it cannot be left to the market place to regulate fares.
PSEG has plans to lay a large new electric line along the roadway in the community during the 2018-2019 winter. This work will require digging a large trench in the roadway to lay a new line (and the conduit that houses it). The silver lining to this particular problem is that PSEG has committed to giving us a new roadway at the end of the project. FIPPOA will be working closely with PSEG and the Highway Department to try to design a roadway that can work better.
I am very pleased with the progress on the reconstruction of the freight dock. The freight dock was divided into two parts in order to allow
 c
ontinued use of the freight dock during reconstruction. The final work to the first part is underway and it should be completed by Christmas. The second part of the project will begin shortly thereafter and should be complete by February. The contractor has had a crew there every possible work day, and I am impressed by the quality of the work. The entire freight dock has been widened and this will permit easier docking for both the garbage boat as well as the freight boats.
The fire marshal has approved a new design for the gas tank transfer platform. The new facility will be much more substantial, affording greater protection to the community. FIPPOA has long sought to correct what we believed was an inadequate gas tank storage facility. All in all, I am very pleased by the assistance we have been provided by the Town of Brookhaven in rebuilding the dock. Rob Maag, the Town employee assigned to supervise the project, has been very helpful and attentive to the project.
Happy Holidays!
Jay
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