The town has been in litigation with Great Rock's owners for allegedly holding non-golf related events at the site, and also has opposed their plans to build 78 condominiums there, said Wading River resident Dominique Mendez at a Town Board meeting Tuesday.
"Blackwells is not just an inappropriate choice of venue, but it's a slap in the face of residents who have been fighting the expansion and the non-conforming business being operated there," she said. "I've never heard of a Town Board having an event at a place they are suing for having similar events."
Supervisor Phil Cardinale, a Democrat who lost a re-election bid on Nov. 4, said the GOP's fundraising bash, scheduled for last night (Wednesday), may itself be illegal. He added that he will ask the town's code enforcement officers to investigate it.
"If it's a non-golf event, it's a problem," Mr. Cardinale said.
"They can cater. But it has to be golf-related catering. They've already signed a stipulation to that affect," Mr. Cardinale later said. "Are [the Republicans] going to be golfing first? If not ... that's an illegal gathering. But we can't do a thing to the Republican Party."
All five Town Board members will be Republicans come January. Four of the five won election Nov. 4.
Ms. Mendez also questioned whether the new Town Board members will continue to pursue issues against Great Rock's owners.
"I can assure you it would not cloud any type of decision I make," said Councilman George Gabrielsen. Councilwoman-elect Jodi Giglio said she was told by town officials that the covenants banning non-golf events at Great Rock were never recorded.
tgannon@timesreview.com