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Bio
Joe Finora is a professional civil engineer specializing in marine structures and coastal infrastructure.
Experience
Joe has 15 years of experience in marine and waterfront engineering. He has inspected, analyzed, and designed various marine structures and has led above and underwater inspections of waterfront facilities in New York Harbor and abroad for clients such as the Port Authority of NJ and NJ and the United States Navy. He is currently the Town Engineer for the Town of Shelter Island where he provides engineering support for, and acts as the chief technical advisor in all matters of engineering nature for the Town. He is also a co-founder, with his brother, of the Hampton Oyster Company, a Peconic Bay based aquaculture operation.
I am uniquely qualified to serve as Trustee because I combine professional engineering expertise with a lifelong connection to Southold’s waterways. I hold a master’s degree in maritime engineering and bring over 15 years of coastal engineering experience, including erosion control, bulkhead and dock design, structural inspections, and water resource management. I am also the co-founder of an oyster farm in Peconic Bay, where I work daily to restore habitat, improve water quality, and support local jobs. As both a marine professional and lifelong resident raising my family here, I understand our challenges firsthand and can deliver science-based, practical solutions.
The most important issue facing the Trustees is how we respond to unprecedented development pressure, erosion, and rising seas. Southold’s shorelines and groundwater are under threat, and these problems cannot be delayed or politicized. They demand expertise and action. With a master’s degree in maritime engineering and more than 15 years of coastal engineering experience—from erosion control to bulkhead design and water resource management—I bring unmatched professional qualifications. I know how to apply science-based, practical solutions that protect our waters, safeguard property, and preserve Southold’s way of life for future generations.
Preserving Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound requires more than good intentions—it demands proven expertise. Caring about our community is important, but it is not enough to meet today’s challenges. These waters face unprecedented development pressure, accelerating erosion, and the growing threat of sea level rise. My unmatched background—a master’s in maritime engineering, over 15 years of coastal engineering experience, and direct stewardship as co-founder of an oyster farm—uniquely qualifies me to execute real, science-based solutions. I will put my experience to work to strengthen shorelines, safeguard water quality, and preserve these waterways for future generations.
Yes. Too often residents don’t fully understand the Trustees’ critical role in protecting shorelines, wetlands, and waterways. I would work to improve transparency by providing clear, plain-language updates on decisions and engaging schools and civic groups in environmental education. By making the Trustees’ work easier to follow, residents will see both the seriousness of the challenges we face and the science-based solutions required to protect our waters.
Bio
Liz Gillooly is a dedicated incumbent Trustee for Southold Town, running for re-election on a platform centered around environmental protection and community enrichment. She currently serves as Director of Operations at the North Fork Arts Center, where she helps expand local cultural opportunities. Liz is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed sailboat captain and small business owner, giving her real-world experience with both maritime issues and entrepreneurship. With the recent arrival of her first child, she’s even more committed to preserving and enhancing Southold for future generations.
Experience
Liz has spent over a decade working on the water, running her own sailing business as a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain. That experience gave her a direct view of the changes happening in our fragile wetlands and a sense of urgency to protect them. She now serves as Director of Operations at the North Fork Arts Center, where she manages grants, finances, and community partnerships to strengthen local arts and culture. As a Southold Town Trustee, Liz has worked on coastal resiliency, wetlands protection, and sustainable development — always with a focus on balancing environmental stewardship with community needs.
My strength as a candidate comes from being able to see Southold from multiple perspectives at once: as a small business owner, as someone who’s worked daily on our waters, as a nonprofit leader, and as a parent raising the next generation here. That mix of experiences keeps me grounded in the practical realities our community faces. I know what it means to manage tight budgets, to navigate regulations, to respond quickly when problems arise, and to plan for the long term. As a Trustee, I bring that same combination of pragmatism and foresight to decisions about our shoreline, our natural resources, and our shared future.
The most pressing issue is the growing pressure on our fragile coastline. Rising seas, stronger storms, and more intense development proposals are converging at once — and Trustees are on the front lines. I’ve updated Town Code to make the review process more transparent and respectful for applicants, while ensuring stronger guidelines are based in precedent. Looking ahead, I’ll push for more community education so residents understand why these protections matter.
As Trustees, we’ve been requiring larger vegetated, non-turf buffers along shorelines to filter runoff before it reaches our bays. We’ve also taken the lead in requiring innovative alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems for all major renovations and new construction. Alongside efforts to limit excess nitrogen from fertilizers, these steps directly protect water quality. Moving forward, I want to expand community education so residents understand how their choices help keep our bays and the Sound clean for future generations.
Yes. We’ve made real progress by updating sections of the Code to make our process clearer, fairer, and more consistent for applicants, while also strengthening environmental protections. But too often, residents don’t see how these changes connect to their daily lives. The next step is better communication — explaining in plain language what’s been accomplished and why it matters, and partnering with groups like the Conservation Advisory Council to bring that information directly to the community.
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