Government

Peconic Landing hosts groundbreaking, finalizes emergency agreement

Bob Syron, CEO of Peconic Landing, speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)
Bob Syron, CEO of Peconic Landing, speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

Peconic Landing and the Greenport Fire District put the finishing touches on a new emergency services agreement Monday to address the impact the lifecare community’s expansion will have on the local fire department.

During the Southold Town Planning Board’s work session, Peconic Landing attorney Charles Cuddy said the Greenport facility will hire an additional eight EMTs in order to handle the expected increase in emergency calls after the expansion is completed in January 2016.

Later Monday evening, the Greenport Village Board approved the new deal during its regular meeting by a 4-0 vote. Mayor David Nyce was absent.

The agreement includes an incentive for Peconic Landing employees who are also members of the Greenport Fire Department. Those employees will be given two-year leases to live at Peconic Landing “until there are additional trained EMT Peconic Landing employees,” the agreement states.

Mr. Cuddy said the additional EMTS will eliminate the burden of mutual aid calls to neighboring fire departments for Peconic Landing.

“They shouldn’t have any more mutual aid calls [at Peconic Landing],” he said. “We might be able to even mutual aid them.”

Peconic Landing officials were joined by elected officials at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)
Peconic Landing officials were joined by elected officials at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

Commissioners in both the East Marion and Southold fire districts had written to the Southold Town Planning Board expressing concern over the proposed expansion, which would add 46 senior apartments, 16 private skilled nursing accommodations and a 16-suite “memory care facility” for seniors with cognitive impairment.

The Planning Board is expected to set a special meeting for next Monday, Sept. 29, to vote on the site plan for expansion.

Peconic Landing held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, which had been scheduled for months, with more than 200 guests in attendance, including many local elected officials.

“This is going to be great for the entire community,” said Town Supervisor Scott Russell.

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With Cyndi Murray