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Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Lynn Hallarman

The March 26 meeting of the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees was marked by public comments on communication policies, a resident complaint and an emerging capital improvement plan for parking. 

Resident calls for dialogue 

Longtime resident Myrna Gordon called for “improved transparency and communication” from the board of trustees. She expressed concern that the trustees were no longer responding to basic questions during public comment, describing it as a frustrating shift in practice. 

“We used to have a conversation,” Gordon said. “Now we’re told — make an appointment.” 

Mayor Lauren Sheprow responded: 

“Let’s keep that conversation going. Come and visit me any day.” 

Village resident Matthew Franco speaks during public comment. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

Gordon countered: “I’m talking about here at the podium, which is important.” 

Village attorney David Moran clarified that the change in policy was intended to “protect trustees from being put on the spot or answering inaccurately in public without adequate preparation.”

“We have been very polite. We have been very orderly. We ask questions because we want answers now — not silence,” Gordon said. 

Village resident and declared 2025 trustee candidate Matthew Franco alleged that during a meeting held earlier in March in Sheprow’s office, the mayor made “disparaging and false remarks about him [Franco] and his son,” in connection with an unspecified incident involving golf course fees incurred by his son. 

Moran urged Franco to submit a written complaint, noting a more specific and detailed account would allow the board to assess the allegation.

Parking fees 

The meeting shifted to a proposal from the Village Parking Committee, which recommended a three-year freeze on parking fees to provide more consistent rates for visitors. 

“You can’t keep charging our customers more and more money every year and keep raising the rates. I mean, you’re killing businesses down here. You can’t just keep taking and taking and taking,” parking committee chair James Luciano said. 

Trustee Kyle Hill proposed an amendment to omit the rate freeze. 

“Parking revenue is tremendously important for the village’s budget, while we all want stability, we need to leave room to adjust based on performance given the experimental changes to the rates,” Hill said. 

In the final vote, the board retained the committee’s recommendation for a rate freeze. The suggestion will now be considered as part of a parking capital plan being developed by the village treasurer Stephen Gaffga.

Beginning on April 16, a $1.00/ hour parking fee will be enforced from Monday to Thursday and a $3.00/ hour fee from Friday to Sunday. There will be no minimum parking time. 

Two percent tax cap 

Later in the meeting, the board approved a procedural tax cap override. This measure gives the village the option to exceed the 2% New York State tax cap if necessary. 

Gaffga emphasized that adopting the override serves as a financial “insurance policy” in case of unforeseen costs before the next budget cycle starts at the beginning of May 2025. 

Prom dress donation

Anthony Flammia, assistant code enforcement supervisor, announced a community-wide prom dress donation drive organized under the banner of Codes Care. Gently used dresses and accessories will be collected through April 25 at the Port Jefferson Village Center. Free try-on events are scheduled for April 26 and 27. 

Visit the village website for dates of upcoming meetings: www.portjeff.com.

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The new street sign is unveiled at the entrance of Harborfront Park in Mayor Robert Strong's honor on March 15. Photo by Luciana Hayes

By Luciana Hayes

Saturday, March 15, family and friends of former Port Jefferson Mayor Robert T. Strong gathered near the entrance to Harborfront Park to witness the dedication of the new road being named in his honor on the five-year anniversary of his passing. 

After passing in 2020, Strong was unable to have a proper memorial due to the rapid-spreading pandemic at hand.

Mayor Lauren Sheprow speaks of former Mayor Robert Strong on March 15. Photo by Luciana Hayes

Strong, born June 16, 1936, in New York City, was often described as being generous, kind and dedicated. He passed away March 15, 2020, after complications from lung cancer at age 83, but before his passing he lived a very fulfilling life. He attended SUNY Oswego where he met his wife of almost 50 years, Evelyn Strong. After graduating from Oswego, Strong became a middle school social studies teacher in 1958 in the South Country Central School District until becoming assistant principal in 1966. The Strongs, along with their two children, Robyn and Robert Jr., moved to Port Jefferson in 1968. In 1995 Strong was elected mayor with 835 votes after previously serving four years as a village trustee. He served as mayor for four years until 1999 and made lasting impacts that continue to benefit the Village of Port Jefferson.

Prior to Strong’s term as mayor, in the 1960s and 1970s, an oil company (now known simply as Mobil) existed on what is now known as Harborfront Park. The board of trustees of the Village of Port Jefferson attempted to purchase the land for $3 million, but the motion failed with a vote of 657 to 358. But Strong was determined to use the land for the good of the community. In 1997, the residents of Port Jefferson voted 738 to 131 to approve the village purchase of the Mobil property for $1.7 million. Following the purchase, Strong established a community-based volunteer group that further developed the land for the community and made it what it is today.

Mayor Lauren Sheprow led the dedication by explaining Strong’s impact on the community and his impact on his friends and family. Having known the Strong family growing up, Sheprow described her memories of Robert Strong. She said, “writing this history, this story of his work here in the village is really cathartic for me and I feel so fortunate to be able to do so.”

Father Frank Pizzarelli, the director of Hope House Ministries, led the blessing of the newly dedicated road. Having also known Strong, he contributed with a short and sweet speech about his friend, stating, “one of the things that impressed me about Bob was his dedication to service.” 

Strong’s children, Robyn and Robert Jr.,  also spoke briefly about their father. Robert Strong Jr. said, “you know people say ‘I had the best dad and my dad was the best,’ I know this is a cliche but I had the best dad.”

The event concluded with the unveiling of the new road sign that now reads “Mayor Robert T. Strong Way” next to the entrance into the park that Strong fought so hard to develop. While his term as mayor was short, his impacts on the community will last many lifetimes.

For more information visit the Village of Port Jefferson website (www.portjeff.com).

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Sal Filosa and Jenny Bloom cut the ribbon for the new Teen Center at 205 Main Street on March 14. Photo by Heidi Sutton/TBR News Media

By Heidi Sutton

It’s been 10 years in the making but it was all worth it when the doors to the new Port Jefferson Free Library Teen Center swung open after a ribbon cutting event on March 14. A large crowd, including Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, and Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, attended the celebration which continued into the evening and at an Open House on March 15. 

According to a press release, the library purchased the 1812 Bayles house at 205 East Main Street 10 years ago with plans of turning the former “Scented Cottage” store into a Teen Center which had been operating out of a rental space across the street from the library.

New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay and Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich present certificates to staff of the Port Jefferson Free Library. Photo by Heidi Sutton/TBR News Media

A designated “Safe Space,” the new Teen Center features “multiple small rooms offering teens the ability to browse the library’s book, video and game collections, get homework and college application help, play board and video games, access craft supplies or participate in the busy schedule of program offerings,” according to the release. The Center, which is geared for teens in grades 6-12, also features a 3-D printer, homework stations and laptop computers. 

Working with BBS Architecture and Belfor Property Restoration, the library preserved much of the building’s charm, including 5 fireplaces, a beehive oven, the front “Dutch Door,” and the original pine floors. A covered front porch was added after Kate Von der Heyden of the Port Jefferson Historical Society shared historic photos which showed a previously existing Greek Revival-style porch. Amendments include a wheelchair lift and wider doorways.

“The reputation of this institution transcends the boundaries of the village. This is a draw for kids not just in this community but all the surrounding communities. I want to thank you for putting this together and for doing it in such a sensitive way that it maintains the streetscape and the look and feel of the village; it is such a great enhancement,” said Councilmember Kornreich.

“I am so grateful to this library board, to the leadership here and to the community for having the foresight to obtain this historic building, maintain it and renovate so that it can continue to be part of the beating heart of our library system and be a safe, wonderful and fun place for the teens,” said Assemblywoman Kassay.

“… So proud to walk through these doors for the first time and see what’s inside. I want to use it! There’s a nook and cranny for everything. I’m so glad that my nieces and my nephews and their friends will be able to use it as they come through middle school into the high school … It’s an incredible facility and what a great resource for them,” said Mayor Sheprow, who went on to thank Head of Teen Services Sal Filosa and Library Director Jenny Bloom for bringing the Teen Center to fruition.

“Growing from our one-room rental space to multiple rooms with a covered porch offers a variety of spaces for teens to relax, do homework, play games, or create art. We hope they consider the Teen Center to be their new ‘home away from home,” said Filosa.

“The restoration of the Bayles House and development of the new Teen Center has been the dream of a decade of Board Trustees, Staff, and community members, and the Library is very proud to welcome the community to the grand opening, and for teens for generations to come,” added Bloom.

The Teen Center is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 631-509-5707.

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Peter Sloniewsky

In the new year, the Port Jefferson Country Club’s governorship has remained an issue among the trustees and the public. 

Prior to the Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 29, Mayor Lauren Sheprow wrote to the membership of the country club that she was planning to introduce a resolution that would solicit a Request for Expression of Interest  to create a 10-year strategic plan for the club at a cost of no more than $50,000. An EOI is a competitive process used to get information from potential consultants about interest in a project and does not require any actual investment. 

Tom Natola. Photo courtesy of portjeffcc.com

This plan would include both capital and operations planning for the course and the campus and comes after a number of controversies stalled last year’s planning efforts. Debates over junior membership, initiation fees and other components of the membership package stretched across the month of December before being cut short by a surprise announcement by General Manager Tom Natola that rates, playing and access policies would not change between 2024 and 2025. 

At the Jan. 29 meeting, the trustees both debated Sheprow’s proposal and engaged with one another about resolving the current controversy of junior membership rates. After a recommendation from the town attorney, Sheprow removed the $50,000 number. 

Trustee Robert Juliano questioned why the club’s Board of Governors  or Country Club Management Advisory Council were not just asked to develop such a strategic plan. The town attorney stopped this discussion, stating that it was a non-public matter of “job performance.”  Sheprow later told TBR News Media that she “first requested that [Natola] develop a strategic plan in October of 2023” before coming “to the conclusion that professional assistance may be needed.” 

Trustee Kyle Hill also moved to push this job to the BOG and CCMAC and showed a reluctance to spend money on such a plan whether that was the intention of the resolution or not. He also argued that the membership of the club had not been adequately consulted, and that there was a risk for “reputational damage” to the board of trustees as a result. Regardless, the EOI was passed 3-2 among the trustees, with trustee Stan Louks (who previously served as liaison to the country club) and Hill opposed. 

CCMAC Chair Lisa Perry told TBR News Media that CCMAC had not met to discuss the proposal of a consultant-driven strategic plan, but that Sheprow had mentioned her intention to take this approach. Sheprow also defended this approach to TBR News Media: “With the complexities of all the moving parts surrounding the property … I consider it my direct responsibility, for the best interests of all our residents/taxpayers, to take lead on this, and soliciting expressions of interest was the first step to help educate the Board of Governors and the CCMAC on what services are available.”

However, later public comment showed some discontent with this strategy. Resident Matt Franco called to disband the BOG and implement bylaws. Looking ahead, he also argued that the $50,000 for a strategic plan would have to come from a rainy-day fund, and that the goal of a general manager at the club should be to take lead on designing that 10-year plan. 

The trustees also unanimously certified a set of rules for the club for 2025 identical to the 2024 rules (as Natola’s announcement had promised) with the change of moving juniors start times from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. 

Just two days later, in a surprise to the club’s members, Sheprow announced the resignation of Natola. Rather than immediately seeking a replacement, she wrote that a combination of the BOG, CCMAC and the return of   Louks as liaison to the club would lead its governance. Sheprow told TBR News Media that it is “a best practice for any country club to have a general manager” but stated faith in Louks to assist in managing the club for the time being. Perry also asserted to TBR News Media that, while the CCMAC had not yet met, she had faith in the club’s other management along with Louks to keep things running smoothly. 

In hindsight, Sheprow told TBR News Media “a bylaws document for the BOG is essential to define the makeup and roles and responsibilities of the BOG,” but also that this was “another long outstanding deliverable anticipated from the GM.” She also reflected that the BOG had done well in 2023 (when it was re-formed) but that, once controversies arose, “it became evident that a resident majority is important.” Alternatively, Perry claimed that she would “personally be in favor of the BOG having an equal number of residents to nonresidents,” but noted that it does currently have a resident majority. 

The Port Jefferson Board of Trustees will meet again on Feb. 26.

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Peter Sloniewsky

Village of Port Jefferson trustee Kyle Hill authored an open comment letter Sept. 6 to the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany expressing “our concern regarding any proposed amendments to the New York State Foundation Aid formula that may lead to reductions in funding for the Port Jefferson School District.” 

The letter was co-signed by all of the village trustees with the exception of Mayor Lauren Sheprow. 

The Foundation Aid formula, enacted in 2007,  is used by New York State to allocate a large portion of its education resources to school districts. Its calculations are based on a variety of different factors such as local contributions, student demographics and enrollment, and was used in the 2024-25 fiscal year to allocate more than $24.9 billion of the state’s $35.9 billion education funding package. 

As the current formula incorporates old data and statistics, researchers at the Rockefeller Institute are in the early stages of a study to rewrite the formula. This study was sanctioned in April’s state budget by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and legislative leaders in coordination with the state Education Department.

The existing formula contains a caveat that the state cannot provide less Foundation Aid than it did the year prior, regardless of changing factors. In practice, this means that school districts like Port Jefferson — with low or declining enrollment — would benefit. 

In the last state budget negotiations, Hochul recommended that this rule, entitled the “hold harmless” provision, be cut. As a result of this hypothetical cut, which was rejected by the Legislature, Port Jefferson schools would have suffered a massive 28% cut to their Foundation Aid. 

The Rockefeller Institute study will be presented to the governor and Legislature once completed. 

As Hill wrote in the trustees letter, “When Long Island schools like Port Jefferson School District, do not receive adequate funding from Albany, it further agitates the preexisting pressure on municipalities like ours to hold the line on taxes as the cost of living has become unmanageable for far too many of our constituents.” 

Hill also noted that the Long Island region receives less in state funding than in other areas, such as transportation and infrastructure. 

According to Port Jeff Board of Education President Ellen Boehm, “The numbers are skewed due to a few high-wealth residents in a small geographic area. … Our participation rate [in reduced lunch benefit programs] has grown. … This proves that we have residents that are facing economic hardships.” 

In Port Jefferson schools specifically, Foundation Aid makes up approximately 6 percent of the total budget — a modest but important percentage, especially considering the area’s high taxation rate, large special-education program and increasing volume of English as a New Language students. 

Boehm and Hill alike do not deny that the state’s Foundation Aid formula has flaws. 

The BOE president told TBR, “The formula the state currently uses simply needs to be reconsidered — not just the ‘hold harmless’ clause. … The overall cost of operating [on Long Island] is just far higher than in other areas of the state and should also be taken into consideration.” 

In a press release, Hill said, “Albany continues to look at Long Island like its piggy bank.” He also reminded policymakers that “Long Island sends more revenue to Albany than it gets back, and local villages and towns have to pick up the slack.” 

Hill added in the trustees letter that the discussion of equitable school funding “should be in the broader context of how resources are allocated across New York state.” 

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. File photo by Heidi Sutton

By Peter Sloniewsky

The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees met on Aug. 28 to hear testimony from the public and vote on a number of resolutions. 

At the beginning of the meeting, the trustees heard the accounts of a number of people involved in the Citizens Commission on Erosion. Those present reported that they had voted, 9-2, in support of a Coastal Technologies pilot program. This program would contribute to reforestation along the East Beach Bluff at a cost of $27,560, as well as begin permanent infrastructure construction with the installation of 580 cliff-stabilizer devices. 

Photo captured from the BOT meeting’s livestream. Courtesy Inc. Village of Port Jefferson YouTube page

Both Mayor Lauren Sheprow and trustee Kyle Hill spoke against rushing into the agreement before there was a unanimous vote to table. Sheprow said, “We can’t approve this without understanding what the cost of installation will be,” and also stated that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was in the process of revising the village’s permit for work along the bluffs. Hill had other concerns. “It would be helpful to know … what is the metric for success in the pilot program?” he asked. He did display confidence that he “can get to yes,” but wanted more specifics on the project as a prerequisite. 

The chairperson of the Citizens Commission spoke against the resolution at the beginning of the meeting for two reasons: First, he felt it required an all-village referendum and, second, the village should wait for an update from the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to the “change of scope in work on existing plans.” Another meeting member was concerned about the perceived vagueness of the proposal, asking, “Is this going to be reviewed by perhaps someone with contracting experience and clean it up?” and describing it as “extraordinarily loose and vague.” 

Not all of those present agreed. Another member of the commission described the gradual destruction of the bluff as a “domino effect,” and that, while this pilot program wouldn’t be the “overall solution,” he thought “the majority felt that it was worth a trial.” He dissented from the chairperson’s idea of a referendum because he thought previous actions taken by the trustees had been successful — specifically, he referenced the upland wall built under Mayor Margot Garant’s tenure, and because time was an important factor. 

In addition to the unanimous tabling of the Long Island-based Coastal Technologies proposal, the Board of Trustees approved some other initiatives: clearing streets for the Sept. 27 homecoming parade and for the Oktober Harvest Festival, as well as accepting appointments to and resignations from various village boards. The board also enacted some proposals to support village landscaping and content creation, briefly discussed the future of the power plant as a renewable energy plant, and rejected proposals for sidewalk repair and concession operations. 

The Board of Trustees will meet for a work session on Sept. 11 before a formal public meeting on Sept. 25.

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Project Action Committee member Beth Watson, trustee-elect Kyle Hill, Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay, Andy Freleng, director of Planning & Building Department, PAC members Bob Laravie, Mary Ann Bernero, Frances Campani and Michael Schwarting. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

Increasing intense storms and rising sea levels compound the risk of damaging and costly flooding in the Village of Port Jefferson. 

On June 20, village officials hosted the second of two interactive community workshops to explore project proposals for addressing flood risk in the downtown area. The initial workshop was held in April 2023. 

Climate Resilience Plan

In 2021, the village secured grant funding from the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils to tackle the longstanding flooding problem in Port’s downtown watershed. The total project is budgeted at $110,000, for which the state funding covers 75% ($82,500) and the village is responsible for 25% ($27,500), according to village Treasurer Stephen Gaffga.

Village officials formed the Project Action Committee, composed of expert consultants, to collect and analyze data related to flood risk and use it to create the Climate Resilience Plan. The plan currently outlines five potential projects focused on innovative flood and storm surge prevention as part of the village’s strategic planning. The purpose of the June workshop was for PAC leadership to receive community input on several of their proposals and to inform the public about the committee’s progress. 

The initiative, led by outgoing Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay who is the village’s sustainability commissioner, includes PAC members such as architectural experts from Campani and Schwarting; Amani Hosein, legislative aide to Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook); village residents and other local experts. 

Mayor Lauren Sheprow, Kassay, trustee-elect Kyle Hill, Andrew Freleng the village’s director of Planning and Building Department, Kornreich, several PAC members and members of the public attended the workshop. 

“Our village is experiencing issues related to stormwater runoff, a high-water table and tidal flooding that all impact downtown Port simultaneously,” Kassay said. “Tonight’s workshop is part of the village’s ongoing efforts to explore all angles of the problem and to find solutions that will truly make a difference.” 

Project proposals

Michael Schwarting, partner of Campani and Schwarting Architects, presented updated committee findings and outlined five potential projects. A breakout session allowed the public to learn about individual projects from PAC experts. 

“The village watershed is a bowl, collecting water from the south, east and west, all going to one place — down into the commercial district of Port Jefferson,” Schwarting said. “Then there is the harbor from the north, whose sea level is rising and having increasing storm surges.”

According to data from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Long Island region is predicted to experience a sea rise of up to 12 to 25 inches by around 2050.

Blue line represents downtown watershed area in the village of Port Jefferson. Maps courtesy of CASA.

Overview of the projects: 

1.  Develop designs for reducing stormwater flowing from the numerous steep streets upland of the village into the downtown area. 

2.  Assess the flooding problems of the culvert (underground drainpipe) that collects stormwater from Main Street and Barnum Avenue to Old Mill Creek at Village Hall. Convert portions of the culvert into a series of cased ponds for flood mitigation. The water is naturally cleaned when exposed to light. 

3. Complete the 2011 Old Mill Creek restoration plan from Brook Road to the harbor, restoring Old Mill Pond and daylighting the creek culvert — removing obstructions covering the creek — from West Broadway to the harbor.  

4. Update the 2013 village-approved Harbor Front Revitalization Plan in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, incorporating storm flood mitigation and rising tides solutions as well as creating a green Harborfront Park. This plan would require relocating the harborfront marina parking. 

5.  Research ways to contain stormwater on-site in public off-street parking lots and mitigate these heat islands with trees. 

Water table levels below the surface of the village of Port Jefferson. Courtesy of CASA

Public concerns, official responses

Most concerns voiced at the meeting focused on project feasibility and potential costs to the village. One resident questioned the impacts on village parking if the Harborfront area, currently used to park up to 300 cars, is converted into a green space. 

To date, Campani and Schwarting Architects has billed the village $33,200 for its work studying the flooding problem as PAC members. According to Gaffga, the village has been reimbursed $17,850 of this cost by the state as part of the grant funding. The state grant will ultimately cover 75% of the total costs of the PAC initiative studying flooding risk in downtown Port.  

This reporter asked PAC members if the impacts of the recent uptick in housing development projects and installation of impervious surfaces, such as the Mather Hospital parking lot and asphalt repaving of the walkway at Harborfront Park, have been accounted for in the data analysis and project proposals.  

“That is a good question,” Frances Campani of CASA responded. “We can consider overlaying those impacts in our next mapping update.” 

“This is a step-by-step process,” Sheprow told TBR in a post-workshop interview. “The village has to put together many preliminary studies like the PAC initiative to garner support from the state to win big funding opportunities for major infrastructure projects. Without the studies, we’ll never get those large state and federal grants.”    

Rendering of the proposed Harborfront Park. Courtesy of CASA

New funding

Kassay informed the public at the workshop about the recent attainment of a $300,888 grant, including $270,799 from FEMA with the difference covered by the village, for an engineering study of flood mitigation at especially vulnerable sights in the downtown watershed. Kassay hopes this new funding for an expert engineering study will create synergy with the PAC initiative to set up the village to receive funding from New York State to implement the proposed projects and other innovations. 

The full workshop and slideshow can be viewed on the Port Jefferson YouTube channel. Comments about the project proposals are open until July 15. 

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