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	Town Endorses Law on Child Sex Abuse By Robert Wargas Suffolk Life January 23, 2008 http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19223983&BRD=1776&PAG=461&dept_id=6363&rfi=6 The town of Southold is joining the New York Coalition to Protect Children in the support of state legislation that would extend the statute of limitations on child sex abuse acts, said Town Supervisor Scott Russell. Having already passed through the New York State Assembly with nearly unanimous bipartisan support, the bill now is in the state Senate. Officials resolved at last week's town board meeting that such legislation is necessary because "sex crimes against children are damaging to the most vulnerable in our society and the predators should not be permitted to roam freely after a limited time." The bill would extend the time period in which offenders may be prosecuted for sexual crimes committed against a child younger than age 18. The statute of limitations on child sex crimes would be extended to five years, but that time limit would not begin running until the child has reached age 23 or until the crime is reported to the authorities - whichever happens first. The bill is being sponsored by NYS Senator Ken LaValle (R-Selden), who could not be reached for comment, as of press time. New Suffolk Drainage Improvement Project Officials have begun the bidding process for the New Suffolk Drainage Improvement Project. The town beach in the New Suffolk area floods frequently due to the high water table, Russell said, and officials want to install underground drainage catch basins to prevent runoff into the bay. The town budget allows for bids of up to $350,000, Russell said. Fishers Island Sewer District Although Fishers Island has had a sewer district for about a century, the town board finally formalized its presence in a resolution at last week's board meeting. Russell said Fishers Island residents created the sewer district years back, when approval wasn't necessary. Now, the recent resolution recognizes the district under current law. "Talk about crossing the T's and dotting the I's," Russell quipped. Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication Grant The town will receive a $50,000 New York State grant for the removal of phragmites, tall aquatic plants that Russell said "choke the life out" of certain waterways such as Marion Lake in East Marion. Since getting rid of phragmites is no easy task, they will have to be dug out and then incinerated, Russell said. The supervisor believes that phragmites, along with road runoff, are slowly killing the waterways and that this grant is only "a drop in the bucket" in terms of addressing the whole issue. Goldsmith's Inlet Dredging A Success According to Highway Superintendent Pete Harris, successful dredging at Goldsmith's Inlet has led to clear waterways. The dredging was completed at a cost of approximately $40,000, and no other work should be required for at least a year, he said.
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