this is a tale about how a small community insists on being heard ramps
community insists on being heard ramps
community insists on being heard ramps up the political discourse and help
up the political discourse and help
up the political discourse and help shape its own destiny
shape its own destiny
shape its own destiny who are we we’re orient we’re the end
who are we we’re orient we’re the end
who are we we’re orient we’re the end next stop Portugal with the tail of the
next stop Portugal with the tail of the
next stop Portugal with the tail of the dog we’re a hamlet in the channel South
dog we’re a hamlet in the channel South
dog we’re a hamlet in the channel South hold about 750 people out of about
hold about 750 people out of about
hold about 750 people out of about 22,000 about 5 square miles out of 54
22,000 about 5 square miles out of 54
22,000 about 5 square miles out of 54 we’re older than the rest of the town on
we’re older than the rest of the town on
we’re older than the rest of the town on average 58 compared to 48 in the town as
average 58 compared to 48 in the town as
average 58 compared to 48 in the town as a whole our buildings are older two out
a whole our buildings are older two out
a whole our buildings are older two out of three hundred historically preserved
of three hundred historically preserved
of three hundred historically preserved buildings in all of South hold about 150
buildings in all of South hold about 150
buildings in all of South hold about 150 half of them are in orient when we’re
half of them are in orient when we’re
half of them are in orient when we’re rural in the rest of the town and we
rural in the rest of the town and we
rural in the rest of the town and we have more preserved land than the rest
have more preserved land than the rest
have more preserved land than the rest of the town we’re less commercial we
of the town we’re less commercial we
of the town we’re less commercial we have one full-time store a few part-time
have one full-time store a few part-time
have one full-time store a few part-time stores a service station and a few
stores a service station and a few
stores a service station and a few trades people this is our downtown we
trades people this is our downtown we
trades people this is our downtown we are different not so much but enough we
are different not so much but enough we
are different not so much but enough we vote a little differently we’re gay or
vote a little differently we’re gay or
vote a little differently we’re gay or than the rest of the town and we are our
than the rest of the town and we are our
than the rest of the town and we are our own unique little community what do we
own unique little community what do we
own unique little community what do we want we want what everyone wants we want
want we want what everyone wants we want
want we want what everyone wants we want our interests recognized our needs met
our interests recognized our needs met
our interests recognized our needs met our values preserved how do we get that
our values preserved how do we get that
our values preserved how do we get that well we don’t get to decide directly we
well we don’t get to decide directly we
well we don’t get to decide directly we don’t have a legislative body the
don’t have a legislative body the
don’t have a legislative body the nearest legislative body is the town but
nearest legislative body is the town but
nearest legislative body is the town but we don’t have direct representation on
we don’t have direct representation on
we don’t have direct representation on the town board nor on the Planning Board
the town board nor on the Planning Board
the town board nor on the Planning Board nor the board of trustees nor the Zoning
nor the board of trustees nor the Zoning
nor the board of trustees nor the Zoning Board we have to depend that the
Board we have to depend that the
Board we have to depend that the at-large representatives elected
at-large representatives elected
at-large representatives elected primarily by the 21250 other residents
primarily by the 21250 other residents
primarily by the 21250 other residents of Southold
of Southold
of Southold will look out for our interests hmm we
will look out for our interests hmm we
will look out for our interests hmm we do have a civic organization the
do have a civic organization the
do have a civic organization the organization Oh ay OH ay is a 501 C 3
organization Oh ay OH ay is a 501 C 3
organization Oh ay OH ay is a 501 C 3 not-for-profit organization educational
not-for-profit organization educational
not-for-profit organization educational not religious not political our primary
not religious not political our primary
not religious not political our primary purpose is to bring information to the
purpose is to bring information to the
purpose is to bring information to the community of or
community of or
community of or about issues that are critical to its
about issues that are critical to its
about issues that are critical to its well-being what does OE do well we
well-being what does OE do well we
well-being what does OE do well we witness we try and go to every town
witness we try and go to every town
witness we try and go to every town board meeting that has an issue that
board meeting that has an issue that
board meeting that has an issue that affects orient we go to the Planning
affects orient we go to the Planning
affects orient we go to the Planning Board meetings the Zoning Board meetings
Board meetings the Zoning Board meetings
Board meetings the Zoning Board meetings the Historic Preservation Commission
the Historic Preservation Commission
the Historic Preservation Commission meetings and we watch and we listen we
meetings and we watch and we listen we
meetings and we watch and we listen we don’t speak much because we don’t take
don’t speak much because we don’t take
don’t speak much because we don’t take positions on individual issues in
positions on individual issues in
positions on individual issues in general unless they have a broad
general unless they have a broad
general unless they have a broad community impact and our members have
community impact and our members have
community impact and our members have weighed in on it
weighed in on it
weighed in on it but we’re there and the commissioners
but we’re there and the commissioners
but we’re there and the commissioners get to know us and we think our presence
get to know us and we think our presence
get to know us and we think our presence makes a difference we think they’re more
makes a difference we think they’re more
makes a difference we think they’re more thoughtful and more careful because
thoughtful and more careful because
thoughtful and more careful because we’re there we sometimes fight the Orion
we’re there we sometimes fight the Orion
we’re there we sometimes fight the Orion Association was founded in the 1980s
Association was founded in the 1980s
Association was founded in the 1980s when there was a plan to bring dense
when there was a plan to bring dense
when there was a plan to bring dense housing to our small community there was
housing to our small community there was
housing to our small community there was strenuous objections we fought the plan
strenuous objections we fought the plan
strenuous objections we fought the plan the plan was abandoned we fought again
the plan was abandoned we fought again
the plan was abandoned we fought again when there was a plan to bring a major
when there was a plan to bring a major
when there was a plan to bring a major water main project here because that
water main project here because that
water main project here because that seemed to signal more density for this
seemed to signal more density for this
seemed to signal more density for this Hamlet that the community didn’t want
Hamlet that the community didn’t want
Hamlet that the community didn’t want that plan also died a transportation
that plan also died a transportation
that plan also died a transportation committee came up with an idea to have
committee came up with an idea to have
committee came up with an idea to have massive trucking come through our Hamlet
massive trucking come through our Hamlet
massive trucking come through our Hamlet they were going to reduce traffic on the
they were going to reduce traffic on the
they were going to reduce traffic on the New England Thruway and instead put it
New England Thruway and instead put it
New England Thruway and instead put it on our single two-lane road in Orion and
on our single two-lane road in Orion and
on our single two-lane road in Orion and they were going to have bigger trucks
they were going to have bigger trucks
they were going to have bigger trucks and more of them we fought this the plan
and more of them we fought this the plan
and more of them we fought this the plan was abandoned a congressional committee
was abandoned a congressional committee
was abandoned a congressional committee came up with an idea to have 750 condos
came up with an idea to have 750 condos
came up with an idea to have 750 condos on Plum Island we’re the path to Plum
on Plum Island we’re the path to Plum
on Plum Island we’re the path to Plum Island this would have crowds and
Island this would have crowds and
Island this would have crowds and traffic and overwhelm our infrastructure
traffic and overwhelm our infrastructure
traffic and overwhelm our infrastructure we screamed the town listens and the
we screamed the town listens and the
we screamed the town listens and the town came up with a zoning plan that we
town came up with a zoning plan that we
town came up with a zoning plan that we hope would yet to be seen but we hope
hope would yet to be seen but we hope
hope would yet to be seen but we hope will help keep Plum Island in its
will help keep Plum Island in its
will help keep Plum Island in its natural state recently the state decided
natural state recently the state decided
natural state recently the state decided without consultation with our Hamlet or
without consultation with our Hamlet or
without consultation with our Hamlet or with the town to put massive traffic
with the town to put massive traffic
with the town to put massive traffic signs on again on our little two-lane
signs on again on our little two-lane
signs on again on our little two-lane road leading people know where
road leading people know where
road leading people know where advertising nothing we how the
advertising nothing we how the
advertising nothing we how the politicians joined us the signs came
politicians joined us the signs came
politicians joined us the signs came down
down
down but we are not primarily a lobbying
but we are not primarily a lobbying
but we are not primarily a lobbying group we’re not a legislature mostly
group we’re not a legislature mostly
group we’re not a legislature mostly we’re educational we reinforce our
we’re educational we reinforce our
we’re educational we reinforce our tactical issues we’ve been doing here
tactical issues we’ve been doing here
tactical issues we’ve been doing here this is not the big long-term issues
this is not the big long-term issues
this is not the big long-term issues that we often face we know how to put
that we often face we know how to put
that we often face we know how to put out a fire we know how to wage war do we
out a fire we know how to wage war do we
out a fire we know how to wage war do we know how to create methods to deal with
know how to create methods to deal with
know how to create methods to deal with those slow changes those things that
those slow changes those things that
those slow changes those things that reshape our community possibly in ways
reshape our community possibly in ways
reshape our community possibly in ways that we don’t care for do we know how to
that we don’t care for do we know how to
that we don’t care for do we know how to wage peace what we needed was a big
wage peace what we needed was a big
wage peace what we needed was a big long-range plan something strategic well
long-range plan something strategic well
long-range plan something strategic well the town is already working on a
the town is already working on a
the town is already working on a strategic plan they’re holding meetings
strategic plan they’re holding meetings
strategic plan they’re holding meetings they’re inviting people in and many from
they’re inviting people in and many from
they’re inviting people in and many from worrying have gone and we participated
worrying have gone and we participated
worrying have gone and we participated and spoken up a good deal at these
and spoken up a good deal at these
and spoken up a good deal at these meetings the town of South South holds
meetings the town of South South holds
meetings the town of South South holds moving in a pretty good direction but it
moving in a pretty good direction but it
moving in a pretty good direction but it doesn’t necessarily cover the exact and
doesn’t necessarily cover the exact and
doesn’t necessarily cover the exact and specific needs that this hamlet needs so
specific needs that this hamlet needs so
specific needs that this hamlet needs so we began to have meetings a few people
we began to have meetings a few people
we began to have meetings a few people started to get together and three became
started to get together and three became
started to get together and three became six and six became a dozen and then 30
six and six became a dozen and then 30
six and six became a dozen and then 30 and then a hundred and thirty talking
and then a hundred and thirty talking
and then a hundred and thirty talking planning meeting trying to figure out
planning meeting trying to figure out
planning meeting trying to figure out what orient needs what we are what we
what orient needs what we are what we
what orient needs what we are what we love and what we’re going to be there
love and what we’re going to be there
love and what we’re going to be there were many many ideas and complaints and
were many many ideas and complaints and
were many many ideas and complaints and issues that people raised in these
issues that people raised in these
issues that people raised in these meetings when people raised these kinds
meetings when people raised these kinds
meetings when people raised these kinds of concerns it generally falls into
of concerns it generally falls into
of concerns it generally falls into three categories the broadest are
three categories the broadest are
three categories the broadest are feelings I won orient to be just the way
feelings I won orient to be just the way
feelings I won orient to be just the way it was when I was a kid even if my
it was when I was a kid even if my
it was when I was a kid even if my idyllic memory is not really accurate or
idyllic memory is not really accurate or
idyllic memory is not really accurate or that the most specific is I don’t want
that the most specific is I don’t want
that the most specific is I don’t want to see any fences or any hedges on any
to see any fences or any hedges on any
to see any fences or any hedges on any road in Orient
road in Orient
road in Orient do these approaches work are these
do these approaches work are these
do these approaches work are these really the broad values that we have to
really the broad values that we have to
really the broad values that we have to try and pursue no neither of them lead
try and pursue no neither of them lead
try and pursue no neither of them lead to success the first is much too broad
to success the first is much too broad
to success the first is much too broad and vague it means different things to
and vague it means different things to
and vague it means different things to different people
different people
different people and it doesn’t lead to any particular
and it doesn’t lead to any particular
and it doesn’t lead to any particular action the latter is much too specific
action the latter is much too specific
action the latter is much too specific and too personal it doesn’t take into a
and too personal it doesn’t take into a
and too personal it doesn’t take into a the needs of others farmers may need
the needs of others farmers may need
the needs of others farmers may need fences to help take care of deer some
fences to help take care of deer some
fences to help take care of deer some people love hedges and we’re committed
people love hedges and we’re committed
people love hedges and we’re committed to trying to represent the broadest
to trying to represent the broadest
to trying to represent the broadest community interests not just a subgroup
community interests not just a subgroup
community interests not just a subgroup so we have to go for a middle-level
so we have to go for a middle-level
so we have to go for a middle-level a policy based approach not platitudes
a policy based approach not platitudes
a policy based approach not platitudes not procedures so we talk these things
not procedures so we talk these things
not procedures so we talk these things through and we try to figure out what
through and we try to figure out what
through and we try to figure out what kept coming up over and over and what
kept coming up over and over and what
kept coming up over and over and what people wanted and what was likely to
people wanted and what was likely to
people wanted and what was likely to lead to something that could be
lead to something that could be
lead to something that could be implemented we came up with 9
implemented we came up with 9
implemented we came up with 9 propositions in four major areas I’m not
propositions in four major areas I’m not
propositions in four major areas I’m not going to go through the whole set of
going to go through the whole set of
going to go through the whole set of propositions you can see them on our
propositions you can see them on our
propositions you can see them on our website the four main areas were
website the four main areas were
website the four main areas were building in land-use traffic
building in land-use traffic
building in land-use traffic agriculture and pest control and water
agriculture and pest control and water
agriculture and pest control and water quality these are the things that kept
quality these are the things that kept
quality these are the things that kept coming up and these issues really were
coming up and these issues really were
coming up and these issues really were it seemed like we might get a consensus
it seemed like we might get a consensus
it seemed like we might get a consensus on some of them I’m gonna give you one
on some of them I’m gonna give you one
on some of them I’m gonna give you one example of an issue that came up people
example of an issue that came up people
example of an issue that came up people in Oriya kept saying we don’t want to
in Oriya kept saying we don’t want to
in Oriya kept saying we don’t want to end up like the some of the Hamptons we
end up like the some of the Hamptons we
end up like the some of the Hamptons we don’t want our small housing to be
don’t want our small housing to be
don’t want our small housing to be dwarfed by hulking McMansions crowding
dwarfed by hulking McMansions crowding
dwarfed by hulking McMansions crowding out neighbors until the neighbor sells
out neighbors until the neighbor sells
out neighbors until the neighbor sells to the next hedge fund mogul and he puts
to the next hedge fund mogul and he puts
to the next hedge fund mogul and he puts up a behemoth and then there goes the
up a behemoth and then there goes the
up a behemoth and then there goes the neighborhood people didn’t want that so
neighborhood people didn’t want that so
neighborhood people didn’t want that so we had a proposal that said housing a
we had a proposal that said housing a
we had a proposal that said housing a new construction or renovations in
new construction or renovations in
new construction or renovations in housing has to be in scale with the
housing has to be in scale with the
housing has to be in scale with the other housing in the neighborhood a
other housing in the neighborhood a
other housing in the neighborhood a policy not a procedure as to how to do
policy not a procedure as to how to do
policy not a procedure as to how to do it not just we don’t like big houses but
it not just we don’t like big houses but
it not just we don’t like big houses but something that would lead us to
something that would lead us to
something that would lead us to something we could agree upon so we had
something we could agree upon so we had
something we could agree upon so we had these great ideas how do we get a sense
these great ideas how do we get a sense
these great ideas how do we get a sense of what the what oregan feels about it
of what the what oregan feels about it
of what the what oregan feels about it even a hundred people talking is not a
even a hundred people talking is not a
even a hundred people talking is not a whole community we created a ballot the
whole community we created a ballot the
whole community we created a ballot the ballot would allow people to vote
ballot would allow people to vote
ballot would allow people to vote individually on each proposition and
individually on each proposition and
individually on each proposition and then we sent out over a thousand letters
then we sent out over a thousand letters
then we sent out over a thousand letters we had 400 people on our mailing list
we had 400 people on our mailing list
we had 400 people on our mailing list who got multiple mailings we asked other
who got multiple mailings we asked other
who got multiple mailings we asked other organizations to send out to their
organizations to send out to their
organizations to send out to their members as well we had ads and
members as well we had ads and
members as well we had ads and newspapers and several stories ran as
newspapers and several stories ran as
newspapers and several stories ran as well we then created a paper ballot that
well we then created a paper ballot that
well we then created a paper ballot that could be voted on on
could be voted on on
could be voted on on paper or by mail we got responses over
paper or by mail we got responses over
paper or by mail we got responses over three hundred and sixty people answered
three hundred and sixty people answered
three hundred and sixty people answered the ballots that’s more than half of the
the ballots that’s more than half of the
the ballots that’s more than half of the eligible voters in Orion we had over a
eligible voters in Orion we had over a
eligible voters in Orion we had over a hundred people give us detailed comments
hundred people give us detailed comments
hundred people give us detailed comments so we had a huge response on something
so we had a huge response on something
so we had a huge response on something that didn’t elect officials didn’t raise
that didn’t elect officials didn’t raise
that didn’t elect officials didn’t raise lower taxes it wasn’t the kind of thing
lower taxes it wasn’t the kind of thing
lower taxes it wasn’t the kind of thing that drove people to the polls and yet
that drove people to the polls and yet
that drove people to the polls and yet we got a great response okay we got the
we got a great response okay we got the
we got a great response okay we got the responses
responses
responses how many yes responses do we get how
how many yes responses do we get how
how many yes responses do we get how many favorables and what level would we
many favorables and what level would we
many favorables and what level would we need in order to say this is the will of
need in order to say this is the will of
need in order to say this is the will of Orion
Orion
Orion this is something that we can go to the
this is something that we can go to the
this is something that we can go to the town authorities and say these ought to
town authorities and say these ought to
town authorities and say these ought to be implemented we weren’t sure what
be implemented we weren’t sure what
be implemented we weren’t sure what level of support would justify a
level of support would justify a
level of support would justify a statement like that sixty percent
statement like that sixty percent
statement like that sixty percent seventy seventy-five we thought we’d get
seventy seventy-five we thought we’d get
seventy seventy-five we thought we’d get strong support for some propositions but
strong support for some propositions but
strong support for some propositions but we didn’t know how much and how many as
we didn’t know how much and how many as
we didn’t know how much and how many as it turned out it didn’t matter every
it turned out it didn’t matter every
it turned out it didn’t matter every proposition got at least four out of
proposition got at least four out of
proposition got at least four out of five of the Orion stakeholders
five of the Orion stakeholders
five of the Orion stakeholders responding in favor of that proposition
responding in favor of that proposition
responding in favor of that proposition one of them getting a ninety two percent
one of them getting a ninety two percent
one of them getting a ninety two percent support rate we wanted to hear from
support rate we wanted to hear from
support rate we wanted to hear from orient Wow
orient Wow
orient Wow Orion speaks and with nearly a unanimous
Orion speaks and with nearly a unanimous
Orion speaks and with nearly a unanimous voice so we now have these ideas these
voice so we now have these ideas these
voice so we now have these ideas these things that the Orion community says
things that the Orion community says
things that the Orion community says that it wants what’s next how do we make
that it wants what’s next how do we make
that it wants what’s next how do we make it happen
it happen
it happen well we told the community we told the
well we told the community we told the
well we told the community we told the town the results of this meeting we then
town the results of this meeting we then
town the results of this meeting we then form committees in the four major areas
form committees in the four major areas
form committees in the four major areas to try and work with town officials and
to try and work with town officials and
to try and work with town officials and other experts so we could try and put
other experts so we could try and put
other experts so we could try and put together plans to get from what we
together plans to get from what we
together plans to get from what we wanted to how to do it to how to
wanted to how to do it to how to
wanted to how to do it to how to implement it and we now have that we are
implement it and we now have that we are
implement it and we now have that we are now having those committees begin to
now having those committees begin to
now having those committees begin to work with town officials and other
work with town officials and other
work with town officials and other experts to help us get to something that
experts to help us get to something that
experts to help us get to something that can be actually implemented well the
can be actually implemented well the
can be actually implemented well the town go along we don’t know for sure
town go along we don’t know for sure
town go along we don’t know for sure perhaps the town will let us have
perhaps the town will let us have
perhaps the town will let us have certain policies and procedures that are
certain policies and procedures that are
certain policies and procedures that are applicable to our small community
applicable to our small community
applicable to our small community perhaps the town will decide to
perhaps the town will decide to
perhaps the town will decide to implement some of these policies for the
implement some of these policies for the
implement some of these policies for the whole community
whole community
whole community perhaps the town will talk and meet and
perhaps the town will talk and meet and
perhaps the town will talk and meet and dither and do nothing any differently we
dither and do nothing any differently we
dither and do nothing any differently we don’t know for sure but we’re going to
don’t know for sure but we’re going to
don’t know for sure but we’re going to find out this community meets informs
find out this community meets informs
find out this community meets informs each other advocates and fights and we
each other advocates and fights and we
each other advocates and fights and we know how to do it in a disciplined and
know how to do it in a disciplined and
know how to do it in a disciplined and controlled way when we when when the
controlled way when we when when the
controlled way when we when when the Orion community speaks the town the
Orion community speaks the town the
Orion community speaks the town the county and the state do listen when we
county and the state do listen when we
county and the state do listen when we call up a meeting and ask people to come
call up a meeting and ask people to come
call up a meeting and ask people to come out they show up in numbers far greater
out they show up in numbers far greater
out they show up in numbers far greater than in other Hamlet’s and in the town
than in other Hamlet’s and in the town
than in other Hamlet’s and in the town as a whole we invite politicians to our
as a whole we invite politicians to our
as a whole we invite politicians to our meetings and they come and I see one or
meetings and they come and I see one or
meetings and they come and I see one or two of them here tonight the press
two of them here tonight the press
two of them here tonight the press follows what we do we’re going to
follows what we do we’re going to
follows what we do we’re going to continue to watch to inform and to work
continue to watch to inform and to work
continue to watch to inform and to work toward the goals of what the Orion
toward the goals of what the Orion
toward the goals of what the Orion community wants but we’ve already
community wants but we’ve already
community wants but we’ve already accomplished a great deal
accomplished a great deal
accomplished a great deal hundreds of people have come out and
hundreds of people have come out and
hundreds of people have come out and been involved in this process
been involved in this process
been involved in this process talking debating listening to what this
talking debating listening to what this
talking debating listening to what this community wants to be we’ve had more
community wants to be we’ve had more
community wants to be we’ve had more than half the adult population actively
than half the adult population actively
than half the adult population actively working on designing plans for the
working on designing plans for the
working on designing plans for the future of Orion and we will continue to
future of Orion and we will continue to
future of Orion and we will continue to inform to lobby to work together this is
inform to lobby to work together this is
inform to lobby to work together this is now a better informed better engaged
now a better informed better engaged
now a better informed better engaged community than it was in the past and
community than it was in the past and
community than it was in the past and our community votes we’ve already won
our community votes we’ve already won
our community votes we’ve already won thank you
”
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