Kathy's Korner One of Ours Has been Treated Shabbily

Our own plane and helicopter hero has been dissed by the Supervisor, Yvette Aguiar, and I can't keep quiet about it. As we all know John Cullen, has followed the plane and helicopter traffic in our skies for years. His knowledge and success in securing us quiet skies is unparalleled. John served on the Gabreski Airport Task Force this past year. In early May, Supervisor Aguiar contacted him about serving again. After speaking with the Supervisor's assistant, John emailed to accept the position on May 9th.

Two months pass, and knowing there is an upcoming Task Force meeting, on July 10th John emails the Supervisor and her assistant saying he has heard nothing from the Task Force. He asks that they check with the Task Force to verify he is on the list and to have the Task Force send him an invite to the meeting. Hearing nothing from anyone, a week later on July 18th, John repeated his email to the Supervisor and her assistant only to be told that the Supervisor, learning the Town can only have one person on the Task Force, had preferred to have Town Board Member Kern as the town's representative.

Is this the way John Cullen should have been treated? I think not. After he accepted the position, at a minimum he should have been notified of the choice of Bob Kern. And why Kern would be preferable to John makes no sense whatsoever given John's long-time involvement with air traffic. I would also note that the Supervisor appointed Bob Kern to the Navy Restoration Advisory Board on the contamination at EPCAL, and I am told by a reliable source he has never participated in a meeting.

I have written to the Supervisor, and if you feel as offended as I do by this treatment of John, by all means let her know. Her email is: aguiar@townofriverheadny.org.

Sorry, just had to get this off my chest.