The Riverhead Town Board has made the decision to discontinue Zoom meetings as of 8 July, 2021.  According to Tim Gannon's article in the 16 July 2021 News Review "We’re going to end Zoom for our meetings because we want people here,” Ms. Aguiar said. “There’s no reason to have Zoom anymore.”

“It was a necessity during the pandemic but it certainly isn’t a necessity now, when we have open seating for everybody,” said Councilman Frank Beyrodt."

"Councilman Ken Rothwell agreed, saying “it’s time to turn back to the way things were before [COVID].”

"Councilwoman Catherine Kent said many people found Zoom to be convenient, particularly for some of the advisory committees she’s involved in.

“People have busy schedules and more people were able to attend with Zoom,” she said."

"Ms. Aguiar said that advisory boards, such as the town’s downtown advisory committee or its alternative transportation committee, can continue to meet by Zoom, but they will need to set up the Zoom programs themselves, or just meet in person."

In light of the increasing numbers of the Delta variant of COVID and TRANSPARENCY in government we are petitioning the Town Supervisor and Town Board Members to reconsider its decision and immediately reinstate Zoom to all Town Board, Board and Advisory Committee meetings in the Town.

Zoom meetings allow Riverhead residents with busy schedules, health issues, lack of transportation and the inability to attend due to meeting times the ability to participate and to facilitate the future direction of the Town.

There are many issues that are pending in the Town that can negatively impact our tax base and quality of life, such as the sale of EPCAL, solar farms in Calverton, a two (2) story medical building with 79 parking spaces in the RLC zone in the hamlet of Aquebogue, the lease or purchase of the former KMart building for Town offices, to name a few.

Zoom is also the now and future of group participation. We need elected and appointed officials who encourage and support all means of public participation.

Please sign this petition, forwarded it to your friends and neighbors and telephone the Town Supervisor and Town Board members at 631-727-3200.

We cannot allow them to stifle our voices!