Business Owners, Residents Discuss 'State of Mattituck'

Mattituck business owners and community members joined elected officials Monday night for a well-attended gathering aimed at sharing their vision for the hamlet in 2016.

The event, hosted by the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce, centered on the state of Mattituck and issues, including affordable housing, code enforcement, and the “sense of place” that residents share and hold so dear.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell spoke at the meeting, addressing issue such as affordable housing and code enforcement. The issue of affordable housing is critical, he said; the public needs to turn out en masse for forums on the issue, much as they have done for community meetings on helicopter noise and deer concerns.

Russell said he values the feedback from the public at chamber and civic meetings, with public input critical. “The years of experience sitting in that room is so valuable to officials like me if we are going to be successful at what we do,” he said.

Also discussed were plans for a new sports complex in Mattituck as well as the former Hudson City bank building on Main Road.

Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski discussed a proposal by Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy Jr. to collect a hotel motel tax from airbnb operators, and said many questions are swirling around the tax — some involving hotel, motel and B & B property owners who have not paid the tax in the past, as well as airbnb owners and private individuals who rent their homes for a number of weeks — that Krupski said a meeting is being scheduled to help answer all questions.

The meeting will be held on March 30, with all East End chambers of commerce and civic groups invited. “We’re trying to cast a wide net,” Krupski said. No location has yet been chosen, he said.

The legislator also discussed legislative committee meetings that will be held on the East End this year, making it easier for local constituents to raise issues and concerns.

Terrance McShane, president of the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce, gave an overview of highlights from the past year.

The Chamber gave four $1,000 scholarships to Mattituck seniors, three from the Chamber itself and the fourth in conjunction with CJ’s American Grill.

The Chamber also held the annual Love Lane Street Fair, bringing thousands to the hamlet, lit over 90 Christmas trees through Mattituck, with each tree placed in front of a member business, maintained flower boxes on and around Love Lane, and held Santa Day, with Mr. and Mrs. Claus coming to Rite Aid in the Shopping Center by Mattituck firetruck. Local businesses donated cookies, hot chocolate and candy canes to the children and parents.

“With Santa Day we were able to bring back the free movie through the generosity of the following members: Cedar House on Sound, Cardinale Realty/DanielGale Southebys, Suffolk Security, Custom Lighting of Suffolk, Twomey Latham Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo, Time To Grow Preschool, Laurel Stone Supply, Village Cheese Shop, BNB, Mattituck Laundry, Frank Kestler & Alex Ferrone Photography,” McShane said.

In addition, the Chamber held a Christmas tree lighting, with caroling by the Mattituck Cutchogue school chorus, and had its first Menorah lighting through the generosity of the North Fork Jewish Community. Both the Christmas tree and the menorah were lit by a solar-powered generator.

The Mattituck Chamber of Commerce is a not for profit organization dedicated to helping the small businesses in and around Mattituck grow through conversation, education, networking, and shared ideas.

Mary Eisenstein, president of the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association, discussed accomplishments in 2015 of the brand-new community group. From April to December, the civic saw 128 memberships, which reflect over 175 people, she said.

MLCA established a civic association scholarship of $500 for Mattituck High School graduating 2016 senior, and created a Citizen of the Year Award.

The MLCA, as part of its mission to inform and educate, has invited guest speakers including Paul Connor, president and CEO of Eastern Long Island Hospital, to discuss the alliance between ELIH and Stony Brook — Connor was also present at last night’s meeting and spoke.

The MLCA has also convened two roundtables and a public forum on traffic safety and calming at the Main Road, Love Lane and Old Sound Avenue intersection, with cumulative attendance of 250.

Goals for the future, Eisenstein said, include establishing a new committee, “The Image of Mattituck-Laurel,” chaired by Robert Harper, plans to attend park district meetings and continue to attend planning board and town meetings, and increasing membership.

In addition, Eisenstein said, the MLCA plans to create a youth advisory committee comprised of Mattituck High School juniors and seniors.

The MLCA will meet Saturday, January 30 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in Mattituck to discuss and manage land use and development in the hamlet, asking residents what they’d like Mattituck to look like in 10 years.