http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/legis/resos2002/i1245-02.htm

Intro. Res. No. 1245-2002 Laid on the Table 2/11/2002
Introduced by Legislators Fields, Carpenter

RESOLUTION NO. 195 – 2002, DESIGNATING SUFFOLK COUNTY AS AMERICA’ S LIGHTHOUSE COUNTY

WHEREAS, Suffolk County has an amazing lighthouse heritage; and

WHEREAS, from Montauk Point in 1796 to the current preservation struggles, the lighthouse legacy of Suffolk County parallels that of our nation, and has been an important part of our nation’s growth; and

WHEREAS, Suffolk County’s lighthouses have provided safe passages for millions of European immigrants, and untold tonnage of commercial cargo headed to and from the port of New York and up and down the Atlantic seaboard; and

WHEREAS, since 1796, twenty-six (26) lighthouses have been built in Suffolk County at eighteen (18) different locations, fifteen (15) of which still stand, giving Suffolk County the distinction of having more lighthouses than any other county in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Long Island Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society (“the Chapter”), is dedicated to preserving and promoting the lighthouse heritage of Long Island by working with the public and various levels of government to preserve the two (2) endangered lighthouses on Long Island: those at Plum Island and Cedar Point Park; and

WHEREAS, the Cedar Island lighthouse is owned by Suffolk County and has been the subject of neglect and vandalism since it was burned in 1974; and

WHEREAS, this lighthouse, built in 1868, like its predecessor, helped many ships sail safety into and out of Sag Harbor to aid the whaling ships, which are credited with contributing to the wealth, importance, and fame that the port of Sag Harbor attained in the early to mid-1800’s; and

WHEREAS, the Chapter is negotiating a stewardship agreement with the Suffolk County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department, with the intent of creating a partnership to restore and preserve this important piece of Suffolk County history; and

WHEREAS, the Chapter and County are working on a grant that will allow for a professional historic preservation architect to assess the structure for preservation planning; and

WHEREAS, an event in the park for Saturday, March 23, the first Saturday of this Spring , would be a wonderful opportunity for the County to publicly proclaim its appreciation for its lighthouse history and its dedication to preserving the lighthouse it owns for the benefit of the citizens of Suffolk County; now, therefore, be it

1st RESOLVED, that this Legislature hereby declares Suffolk County to be America’s Lighthouse County; and be it further

2nd RESOLVED, that the 1st Saturday of Spring is hereby designated as "Suffolk County Lighthouse Day" within the County of Suffolk in recognition of the twenty-six (26) lighthouses built within Suffolk County since 1796 and the remaining fifteen (15) lighthouses that give Suffolk County the distinction of having more lighthouse than any other County in the United States; and be it further

3rd RESOLVED, that the 1st Saturday of Spring every year thereafter is hereby designated as “Suffolk County Lighthouse Day” within the County of Suffolk; and be it further

4th,RESOLVED, that this Legislature, being the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) lead agency, hereby finds and determines that this resolution constitutes a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(20) and (27) of Title 6 of the NEW YORK CODE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS (6 NYCRR) and within the meaning of Section 8-0109(2) of the NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW as a promulgation of regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and legislative decisions in connection with continuing agency administration, management and information collection, and the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is hereby directed to circulate any appropriate SEQRA notices of determination of non-applicability or non-significance in accordance with this resolution.

DATED: March 19, 2002

APPROVED BY:

/s/ Robert J. Gaffney
County Executive of Suffolk County

Date of Approval: March 27, 2002