Head of the Harbor police chief leaves nonprofit role amid dispute over overpass and pond repair

Head of the Harbor's police chief has resigned from the board of a nonprofit amid a dispute over the ownership of an overpass and mill pond in Stony Brook that were destroyed in last August's storm.

Charles Lohmann, who served on the board of directors of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization for three years, told Newsday he had grown increasingly uncomfortable serving in the dual roles. The nonprofit continued to challenge Head of the Harbor and other local governments' contention that the nonprofit owns the road and is responsible for its repairs.

The Stony Brook mill pond drained out when a dam collapsed in the Aug. 18-19 storm that battered the North Shore of Suffolk County. The collapse also wiped out a 200-foot section of the Harbor Road bridge, which links Stony Brook, in Brookhaven Town, and Head of the Harbor, in Smithtown.

Work to rebuild the pond, bridge and dam has stalled since December as Brookhaven and Head of the Harbor officials tangled with the nonprofit over the properties' ownership. 

Head of the Harbor officials have backed calls for state or county intervention to resolve the conflict, saying the bridge collapse makes it harder for village residents to get help in emergencies.

Lohmann said serving in both roles had become "untenable."

"The obvious problem is that being in both organizations simultaneous, trying to come up with a resolution to solve this problem, I just didn’t want to create any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest," Lohmann said in a phone interview. He said his resignation took effect Friday.

Ward Melville Heritage Organization president Gloria Rocchio on Monday said Lohmann was a "very good trustee."

"We understand Chuck’s position, the conflict," she said. "We actually thought that having him on the board was very good because it got them [Head of the Harbor officials] involved in the organization." 

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico has said work to rebuild the dam, bridge and pond cannot start until the Ward Melville Heritage Organization signs papers seeking state and federal reimbursements. Brookhaven officials say repair costs are expected to run $10 million.

Brookhaven officials have said the land belongs to the nonprofit, citing title searches commissioned by the town and Suffolk County. Ward Melville officials dispute that assessment, saying its own title searches show the ownership is unclear but the town "maintained" the bridge in the past.

Lohmann declined to weigh in on the ownership issue. He expressed frustration with the slow pace of talks aimed at starting repairs.

Panico said in an interview Monday that town and Ward Melville officials may meet later this week to discuss reconstruction.

"I remain willing to meet. I, like most everyone in Brookhaven and Head of the Harbor, have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Ward Melville may be walking away from 75% reimbursement" for repair costs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Panico said. "We are unable to compel them [the nonprofit] to sign on the bottom line" to start construction.

Rocchio said the nonprofit is awaiting reports that will determine engineering requirements for the pond and dam reconstruction. She declined to discuss the ownership controversy.

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.