Southold Town Waffles Over Riverhead YMCA

Cutchogue resident Arnold Blair approached members of the at Tuesday’s work session, suggesting that they pass a resolution to support the

Blair said that he has been following the YMCA proposal since its first inception over 10 years ago under the Gene Cochran administration. And now that the current group supporting a YMCA now has $6 million out of the $8 million needed to make their goal a reality, Blair said he is seeking support wherever he can.

“I just think the YMCA is a great facility,” Blair said. “We took a tour of the Bay Shore Y and it was amazing to see the community using it. There were kids all over the place. I know that this board has, but that is a long way off — this is right around the corner for everyone on the North Fork to use.”

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said that, with the Riverhead Town Board now focusing on the recent public debate on the issue, he “doesn’t like mingling in boards’ business.”

“There was a meeting the other night where the Riverhead Town Board members might have changed their mind set a little,” Russell said. “They’re going on listening tours of meetings and thinking about finding other existing infrastructure.”

Councilwoman Jill Doherty said that if and when the Riverhead Board passed a resolution of support for the YMCA, then the Southold Town Board should revisit the issue.

Board members were mostly silent until Councilman William Ruland said, “I’ll have to think about it.”