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Residents accuse Shelter Island board of short-circuiting process for property purchase
Summary
Multiple residents and neighborhood groups told the Town Board that last-weekend notice and a broad $2 million authorization left insufficient opportunity for public review; speakers urged a facilities master plan and a permissive referendum before major financing.
A stream of residents criticized the Town Board's handling of an opportunity to bid on a School Street foreclosure auction, pressing for more notice, a facilities master plan and clearer limits on how bond proceeds could be used.
Steven Jacobs, one of the first public commenters, listed procedural questions for the record: "My questions are, when was the idea of the town purchasing this property first raised? When was it decided that the town should pursue purchasing it?" He also asked why the town would authorize up to $2,000,000 when the parcel's advertised strike price was reported around $400,000.
Kim Noland, speaking for the Shelter Island Association, echoed concerns about timing and transparency and questioned how the proposed authorization fits with recent uses of reserve funds and the board's budget priorities. "It just seems to me that this needs a lot more study," she said, pressing the board to explain the intended use and the process for any future zoning changes if housing were contemplated.
Former town engineer John Cronin flagged hazard-mitigation and infrastructure priorities—he reminded the board that past engineering estimates for nearby stabilization work had reached into the millions and urged the town to factor federal funding uncertainty into any acquisition decision.
Board members acknowledged the public concern and said staff and bond counsel needed time to evaluate options after the town learned of the auction; the supervisor also said a technical "notify me" email trigger failed in this case and apologized for the short notice. The board still voted to authorize bidding and later adopted the bond resolution, saying the step preserved an opportunity while further public processes and a master plan proceed.
The public comment period and the dispute over process closed with the board agreeing to consult counsel and investigate possible language changes (for example, limiting bond authorization to a specific purchase price instead of a general cap) before final execution.
