Sag Harbor, NY- Legislator Bridget Fleming introduced and co-sponsored several pieces of legislation during the Tuesday March 16, 2021 General Meeting of the Legislature to secure needed resources for the East End to support the arts, water quality monitoring and improvement, and the paratransit system. Additionally, the Legislature recognized Water Mill resident Marit Molin, who was named the Suffolk County Woman of Distinction 2021.
- IR 1084 Legislator Fleming Sponsors Resolution to Allocate Limited Reserve Funds for the East End Special Players
- IR 1119 Legislator Fleming Sponsors Resolution to Draft Public Access Easement for Access to the Shinnecock Canal
- IR 1104 Fleming Co-Sponsors Grant Filing for Paratransit Funds
- IR 1130 Fleming Co-Sponsors Resolution to Accept $250,000 in Grant Funds from Restore America's Estuaries
- IR 1079 Bond Resolution Approved to Fund Water Quality Monitoring Off Shelter Island
- IR 1118 Temporary Access Agreement with National Grid along Sunrise Highway in East Quogue Approved
- IR 1187 $1.7 Billion in Federal Funding For Reconstruction of the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Approved
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Legislator Fleming Sponsors Resolution to Allocate Limited Reserve Funds for the East End Special Players
Legislator Fleming successfully sponsored IR 1084, which amends the 2021 Operating Budget to allocate funding for Cultural Arts Programming to the East End Special Players. East End Special Players will receive $2,195 from the limited reserve funds.
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Fleming Sponsors Resolution to Draft Public Access Easement for Access to the Shinnecock Canal
The approved introductory resolution 1119 directs the Division of Real Property Acquisition and Management to draft a public access easement for two properties for access to the Shinnecock Canal. The Canoe Place Inn and Boat Houses development along the Shinnecock Canal is approaching completion, and includes some town houses on the east side of the canal. In the zoning designation that the Town of Southampton passed to allow for this development there was a directive that public access to the canal be provided along a walkway in front of the townhouses. The access requirement is dependent in part on the County’s granting access to county-owned underwater lands for a walkway along the canal.
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Fleming Co-Sponsors Grant Filing for Paratransit Funds
Legislator Fleming co-sponsored IR 1104, which authorizes the filing of a grant application for federal funds worth an estimated $15,700,000. The resolution estimates the grant funds will be split between five Capital Projects (CP). The capital projects and their estimates are as follows: $1,625,000 for CP 5658 “Purchase of Paratransit Buses”, $8,750,000 for CP 5648 “Purchase of Automated Vehicle Locator System”, $1,500,000 for Installation of Bus Shelters, $3,375,000 for Purchase of Battery Electric Transit Buses, $200,000 for CP 5655 “Origin to Destination and Demographic Survey” and $250,000 for project administration.
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Fleming Co-Sponsors Resolution to Accept $250,000 in Grant Funds from Restore America's Estuaries in
The successful passing of IR 1130, co-sponsored by Legislator Fleming, accepts grant funds from Restore America’s Estuaries in the amount of $250,000. The funds will be used to install innovative-layered soil treatment area septic systems within coastal wetlands in order to lessen the impact of nitrogen pollution in accordance with the Suffolk County Sub-watersheds Wastewater Plan. It is anticipated that the grant will fund the installation of four systems, two of which will be in the Long Island Sound watershed and two in the Peconic Bay watershed.
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$1.7 Billion in Federal Funding For Reconstruction of the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point Approved
The legislature approved a resolution to enter an agreement with the State to proceed with The Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point, New York, Combined Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project (FIMP) for initial construction with a 100% federal contribution of $1.7 billion. The project will advance erosion control and hurricane protection measures thereby protecting the barrier islands and the mainland from the Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point—almost 83 miles of coastline. For the Project to proceed, both the State and the County were required to agree to be local sponsors of the Project and for the State to enter into a Project Partnership Agreement with the Federal Government and a separate Local Project Partnership Agreement with the County. The Project plans and designs have not yet been finalized, and separate agreements will have to be entered into local town partners.
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Bond Resolution Approved to Fund Water Quality Monitoring Off Shelter Island
This resolution issues $150,000 in bonds in connection with equipment purchasing costs under CP 8235.311 “Peconic Bay Estuary Program,” a resolution approved by the legislature last December without the bond authorization. The equipment will be used to monitor water quality off a dock on Shelter Island. “It’s a complex ecosystem in the Peconic Bay, there are a number of contributors to the Peconic Bay Scallop die-off over the past two years. It’s really important we move forward with this,” stated Legislator Fleming arguing passage of the resolution.
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Temporary Access Agreement with National Grid along Sunrise Highway in East Quogue Approved
KeySpan Gas East Corporation, more commonly known as National Grid, will temporarily use 0.25 acres of two properties on either side of the Sunrise Highway and County Route 31 interchange in East Quogue to install equipment. National Grid will install 8,500 feet of 16-inch gas main, a gas regulator station, and a 12-inch gas main within the public right of way along County Road 31 in East Quogue. Suffolk County will receive $907 for use of the property. National Grid will also restore 6,000 square feet of property with native grasses and plantings, which they will maintain for 3 years.
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Legislator Bridget Fleming Recognizes ‘Women of Distinction,’ Countywide Honoree Marit Molin
Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming and her colleagues recognized Marit Molin of Water Mill as the countywide recipient of the “Suffolk County Woman of Distinction” honor during the March 16, 2021 General Meeting at the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge. Later in the day, at 1pm, Ms. Molin was physically presented with her proclamation at the Sag Harbor district office of Legislator Fleming. Reverend Tina Pamela Norton, Chair of the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission, and Grace Ioannidis, Director of the Office of Women’s Services came to the Sag Harbor office for the presentation.
Since 2003, in recognition of Women’s History Month, the Suffolk County Legislature has honored women in March recognizing and acknowledging the work they do to better their community and Suffolk County. One outstanding woman is chosen from each legislative district, and from that pool of honorees, an overall countywide winner is chosen by the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission as the “Suffolk County Woman of Distinction.”
Ms. Molin is the founder and executive director of Hampton Community Outreach (HCO). At the outset of the pandemic and the sudden economic shutdown that followed, Ms. Molin wanted to find a way to feed people in need in her community and help struggling restaurants stay in business. She began a fundraising campaign that raised $250,000 in cash donations and $70,000 in food donations, helping her achieve both goals. In 2020, HCO delivered 5,000 cooked meals and 18,000 pounds of fresh produce. In addition, since March of last year, HCO has delivered groceries and medical supplies to 150 households biweekly and continues to do so.
A licensed social worker and practicing therapist, Ms. Molin saw the need for therapy among underserved individuals. She raised funds that were used to provide therapy for these individuals at no charge. She also started a tutoring program to help children in desperate need of academic support. Ms. Molin also created the #ICARE kindness campaign to raise funds to address the needs of marginalized people. Services have included urgent medical care for the poor and uninsured, birthday celebrations, and ongoing art and tennis instruction for children at no charge. Ms. Molin also founded Hamptons Art Camp in 2018 to provide a creative, active and fun environment for children from different backgrounds. Approximately 40 percent of campers attend for no charge.
Legislator Bridget Fleming, who nominated Ms. Molin as a resident of the Second Legislative District, said, “As this COVID-19 pandemic has brought strains and challenges to every member of our community, Marit has provided opportunities for girls and others to give of themselves to truly help their neighbors and community. Her initiative brilliantly served a double purpose. It has fed the hungry and offered a lifeline to local businesses in tough times. Every restaurant that participated is still in operation. Marit’s efforts shine and offer as a model for how volunteer service in the community has far-reaching and far-lasting beneficial effects on our community. She is well deserving of the honor of Suffolk County’s “Woman of Distinction”.
“I commend all of these women for their dedication to their communities, their extraordinary leadership, and their unending generosity when it comes to giving their time and attention to worthy causes,” said Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco. “They are role models for young girls everywhere and the epitome of community stewardship. My colleagues in the legislature and I offer our congratulations and gratitude to Marit Molin and the other Woman of Distinction honorees.”
Ms. Molin has been a socially conscientious voice in the Hamptons community for many years and is a troop leader for Girl Scout Troop #642, which consists of 11 girls who live on the Shinnecock Reservation. She and her husband have two children.