Baymen Sound Alarm Over Shellfish Dredging

How the clams you buy were taken from local waters cold have a big effect of the health of environmental waters.

By James Kelly
jvk@longislandergroup.com

The Town of Huntington is reviewing restrictions on mechanical dredging for shellfish.  Councilman Mark Cuthbertson will be moving to restructure the Commercial Fishing Advisory Council, and have members review the effect of mechanical dredging on the Town of Huntington waterways and its impact on clam and oyster beds.

“Think of basic physics, mechanical will have more degradation,” said attorney Darrin H. Berger who is representing the North Shore Baymen’s Association in opposition to mechanical dredging.  He went on to explain that mechanical dredging is a “Type 1 Action” under state environmental quality review laws, meaning it is more likely to have a significant impact on the environment. Hand harvesting and raking for clams and oysters have no significant impact.  Berger said the mechanical dredge is much larger and heavier and is moved with the assistance of power.  Rakes on the other hand are limited by human strength, a lot less than boat-pulled dredges.

Baymen’s Association president Charlie Murphy  said there are two basic issues:

First is protecting the environment. With mechanical boat-pulled dredges, shellfish beds are disrupted and the cycle of rebirth can be destroyed. This can be detrimental to more than the clams; the overall environmental health of our waters is at risk.  Last summer our beaches were often closed due to poor water quality.  One of the key reasons was the over harvesting of clams and oysters through the use of mechanical dredging. Murphy said. These heavy devices rip up everything in their path, disturbing the beds.  Clams and oysters filter approximately 50 gallons of water per day, so without them water quality suffers.

Second, we must allow for the propagation of clams and oysters.  This will preserve our way of life as a waterfront community.

Berger, in a letter to the town board, pointed out that the State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources found dredging for shellfish reduces the longevity of the beds. The heavy mechanically-pulled equipment disrupts the replenishment of the shellfish since the dredge results in a higher mortality of other shellfish too small to be harvested, as well as other fauna on the waterway’s floor.

The town board has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Aug. 6,  at 7 to get input on restructuring of the Commercial Fishing Advisory Council which Cuthbertson said will guide the board on this issue.

Lightning Strike Wreaks Havoc At Little Shelter

Workers found a water fountain memorial to Little Shelter’s former vice president Ruth Weiss shattered from the lightning strike, and damage to an electrical control panel that will cost an estimated $20,000 to repair.

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

Thunder crashed and lightning lit up the night sky when a colossal storm hit the Island on July 17. The storm - the aftermath of Tropical Storm Barry - hit Little Shelter Animal Rescue particularly hard.

A lightning strike caused massive damages to an electrical control panel and destroyed a memorial, executive director David Ceely said. Around 10:30 p.m., two kennel workers were taking care of the dogs when they heard a loud crash.

“It came out of nowhere, the sky just opened up and there was this huge explosion, the sky just lit up like it was daylight,” dog handler George Phillips said.

Venturing outside to investigate, they smelled smoke in the air and discovered lightning had struck a tree. The tree’s bark was burned off, as if the lightning skimmed it “like a cheese grater.” A memorial fountain for Little Shelter’s former vice president Ruth Weiss was shattered by the force. Pieces of the fountain were scattered around the vicinity.

“Without a doubt we will get the memorial fountain replaced,” Ceely said. “It was outside of our cattery, and the cats loved to sit there and watch the birds that would play in the fountain. It was a big part of the shelter’s history.”

Catastrophe continued as Little Shelter realized the phone, internet, A/C and alarm system were not functioning. The shelter’s electrical control panel had been struck and it blew, ruining the systems it was connected to.

“The control panel in the basement was completely fried,” Ceely said. “There were sockets that had soot coming out of them. It was burned, there were char marks behind some of the outlets in the cattery.”

Little Shelter’s industrial air conditioning system didn’t survive the surge when lightning struck. Replacing the unit will cost about $20,000, according to executive director David Ceely

The surge destroyed the shelter’s industrial air conditioning unit that keeps the cattery and one of the kennels coool. Little Shelter staff took measures to keep the animals cool, turning lights off during daytime and increasing the frequency of cold water changes. They have received an outpouring of support, with many community members donating portable and window air conditioners.

“Our buildings our old, so it’s important to keep the animals protected from heat or cold,” Ceely said. “Temperature control is important because you want to keep them comfortable and their stay at the shelter the best that it can be. When you lose an air conditioner of that magnitude during a heat wave, it’s pretty scary.”

Ceely estimates repairs will cost $30,000. The phone system control panel and central alarm station are over $1,000 to replace, and the air conditioning unit was valued at $20,000. The shelter will take steps to prevent a repeat of the incident, and is considering a supporter’s suggestion to place copper lightning rods nearby.

“As we do these repairs, we will see if there’s any upgrades that might be needed and would help protect from this,” Ceely said.

Little Shelter is accepting donations to aid this effort at 33 Warner Rd, Huntington and online at littleshelter.org.

Code Changes To Ease Rental Crunch

Huntington Township Housing Coalition president Roger Weaving speaks in support of less restrictive code governing accessory apartments. Changes enacted by the board earlier this month will allow more accessory apartments in areas where they were previously restricted.

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

Huntington Town Board members approved major accessory apartment code changes that will allow more homeowners to apply for accessory apartment permits. The changes, adopted at the July 16 board meeting, are aimed at creating affordable housing options for renters and income opportunities for homeowners.

It can be a struggle to find affordable housing in the Town of Huntington with newly built  apartment buildings skewing toward the luxury end; one bedrooms rent for over $1,800 a month.

The code changes were co-sponsored by Supervisor Chad Lupinacci and Councilwoman Joan Cergol.

“These measures are good for property rights, families just starting out, and those on fixed incomes,” Lupinacci said. “It opens up the affordable apartment rental supply, as accessory apartments tend to be offered at lower prices than the apartments created as part of new construction.”

A significant change to the code permits homeowners to live in the accessory apartment while renting out the main portion of their home.

“The accessory apartment amendments are a win, win, win as they will make it possible for our older residents to age in place, allow our younger residents to attain the dream of homeownership,” Cergol said.

The housing advocacy group Huntington Township Housing Coalition worked with the board to craft the changes, emphasizing the benefits of property owners remaining in their homes with a higher income and creating larger rentable units for families.

“Older people may have had to leave the area when they retired, because of taxes,” Coalition president Roger Weaving, Jr. said. “But having an accessory apartment provides them money to make their tax bill. A young person can live in the apartment and rent out the home for more money. Then as their family gets bigger, they can rent out the apartment. It gives the homeowner a lot more flexibility, that allows us to retain young and old people.”

In an effort to make more homes eligible to accommodate accessory apartments, the code change reduced the minimum lot size requirement from 7,500 square feet to 5,000, and the lot frontage requirement from 75 linear feet to 50. This revision allows for apartments in neighborhoods with smaller acreage – typically those near transit and village areas – the opportunity to create a legal accessory apartment.

“The problem was in places like Huntington Station with 50 foot frontages, they didn’t have an option to make it legal,” Weaving said. “You can’t change your yard from 50 feet to 75 feet. When an apartment is illegal, there’s no guarantee it’s going to be safe. Legal apartments are safer, better for the neighborhood and ensures the tenants can exercise their rights.”

A public safety measure passed prevents basements or cellars from housing accessory dwelling units, unless a permit exists or is pending.

“As we assess our options to increase the availability of affordable housing, we need to consider alternatives to the options that would add to an unsustainable burden on our infrastructure and find creative ways to tap into our existing housing supply to fulfill the housing needs for those who feel they can’t afford to live on Long Island,” Lupinacci said.