By:  Progress for Westhampton Beach

The meeting was opened with the presentation of awards for best holiday lighting decorations with Trustee DiBenedetto doing the honors.¹⁾winners were previously reported by the Southampton Press here

The Board proceeded through the agenda and completed village business expeditiously.  Plans for long overdue repairs for Main Street were moved along with the acceptance of the proposal for design options made by village planner Kyle Collins.

During the public comment portion of the meeting the Mayor told the audience that a public hearing on the adoption of a proposed local law to create the position of Police Commissioner will be noticed in official newspapers.  The public hearing is expected to be held on Thursday, February 5, 2015 during the regular Trustees’ meeting.

The ice rink has been returned to service after a two year hiatus. The skating rink has been relocated to the Great Lawn across from St. Marks, and with the temperature at 8 degrees Fahrenheit  skating will again be an available diversion.  The first meeting of the New Year was then adjourned and everyone buttoned up a little more carefully to head home on a cold night.

By:  Progress for Westhampton Beach

A full meeting agenda was routinely handled by the Mayor and the Board of Trustees.  The public hearing on the addition to the village code that will provide for restrictions on vehicles on the beach drew some inquiries.

The Village Attorney, with more sure-footedness than a Flying Wallenda, explained:

The Town Trustees contend they have jurisdiction allowing them to permit motor vehicles on the beaches of Southampton Town.  The Town grants vehicle access to the ocean beaches throughout the year with the only prohibition being from May through September from 9 in the morning to 6 at night.

The Village of Westhampton Beach permits vehicle access to the ocean beach at Lashley Beach between October and mid-December when the fall fishing season closes.

The code provisions will permit village police to regulate those vehicles that traverse the beaches in the Village of Westhampton Beach, whether they have come from another access point at anytime of the year, or from the village access point open only during the fall fishing season.¹⁾perhaps the most important regulation being the 10 mph speed limit

This brief synopsis by Mr. Angel avoided a decent descent²⁾correction courtesy of polite reader.  Although in looking at the correct word, it would seem it could involve removing mercaptan glands from a skunk! into the arcana of the colonial Dongan patent,³⁾An historical exposition of the Dongan patent and relevant history is found here in an 1889 New York Court of Appeals case. a topic that years ago Judge Theodore Sharretts, Jr.  could have explained in great deal, if given sufficient time.

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The Board of Trustees authorized the Clerk to publish a notice for bids for the demolition of the unsafe Guldi house at 9 Griffing Avenue.

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The Board of Trustees awarded the Community Development Block Grant as follows:

$2,600.00 to Family Counseling Services

$2,800.00 to HUGS, Inc.

$2,600.00 to WHB Historical Society

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Mr. Shanley of Beach Lane asked the Mayor about burying electrical service lines on Main Street.  Mr. Shanley had advocated  to prior administrations that this be done in conjunction with the construction of the long stymied sewer system.

The Mayor had met with representatives from PSE&G this past Wednesday, and one significant impediment is the requirement that electrical service to many of to the various Main Street establishments must be upgraded.  This is a matter that implicates each shop owner quite directly in the pocket book.  It will require a lot of leg work to make it work, and no doubt will be the subject of future work sessions.

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Upon the recommendation of Village Justice, Robert A. Kelly, Jr., Janet Jurgielewicz was appointed as a Clerk for the Justice Court from the Civil Service list.  Justice Kelly conducted interviews of all eligible and interested candidates for the position and made his recommendation to the Mayor as provided by law.⁴⁾Village Law § 4-400 (1)(c):  The Mayor appoints the clerk of the court of the village, if the village has a court, only upon the advice and consent of the village justice  She will succeed Leanne Reilly who has handled the post after the retirement of Warren “Red” Eckart.

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On a seasonal note, one young resident approached the podium to voice her distaste for the white lights decorating the trees on Main Street.  File that under:  De gustibus non est disputandum⁵⁾maxim:  in matters of taste it must not be disputed.

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After a pitch to privatize electrical inspections in the village and an illuminating rejoinder by Building Inspector Paul Houlihan, the public meeting was closed with the Trustees entering an executive session to address DPW personnel matters.