By:  Progress for Westhampton Beach

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 and the first matter taken up was the last item on the agenda.   

The village attorney requested the matter of Public Meeting Procedures be considered by the Board of Trustees.  After sitting through the public hearing on the matter of the local law to create the position of Police Commissioner he suggested the Board implement rules that are successfully used at public meetings conducted at other municipalities so that each person’s right to be heard would be protected.¹⁾“The application of parliamentary law is the best method yet devised to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member’s opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion.”
[Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised [RONR (11th ed.), Introduction, p. liii]

This brought to mind a quote that has been attributed to Barry Goldwater “to disagree, one doesn’t have to be disagreeable.”

With respect to public hearings

• Mr. Angel suggested that people who wished to speak sign up on a list or a card with their name and address so that when the public hearing was opened each person could be called to the podium to be heard in the order in which they signed up.  This would insure that everyone who wanted to speak would be certain to have the opportunity, and no one should be able to insist on speaking without having gone to the podium where he could be seen and heard by all.

• Comments from speakers should be addressed to the Board collectively, and that it is improper to request an individual board member to give a final opinion on the the question presented by the hearing while the hearing is still open.  The Board has yet to deliberate on facts and opinions presented at such a hearing and any final expression on the issue would be premature.  However much a Trustee might be swayed by the passions of the moment, it is appropriate to leave room for calm reflection.  In the end, each member of the Board of Trustees bears the responsibility for the decision made after the hearing. 

With respect to work sessions

• The Board might consider having a comment period at the close of a work session.  Interjections by the audience during discussions by the Trustees can be disruptive to a productive meeting.

• Individuals who have an application or matter directly under consideration by the Board could make such presentations as the Board requests during the meeting in support of that particular business.

At the public hearing on February 5th those who actually went to the podium to speak to the Board of Trustees, for the most part, demonstrated the decorum appropriate to a public hearing, they were able to disagree without being disagreeable.

After the village attorney concluded his proposed changes to meeting procedures the Board continued with the evenings agenda…

The Board reviewed a variety of requests for use of village property that had been submitted by the Library and the Chamber of Commerce.

The next matter, the proposed plan for the Main Street Streetscape by the village planner, Kyle Collins, had to be held over, as he is still preparing his presentation.

The Board continued to discuss the proposed Fuel System, it was reported that the village of Quogue has already completed a small system and is not interested in partnering with the village.  Trustee Urban volunteered to check with Westhampton Beach Ambulance and the Fire Department to see if they would like to partner on a fueling system.  The Mayor will speak with the Town of Southampton, insofar as patrol cars in the western part of the town might use a refueling facility here, and the Mayor will also check with the Village of Westhampton Dunes.  It is a project that would benefit the Village, it is only a question of whether some efficiency of scale can be achieved by partnering with others.

The Trustees received four proposals to operate the Roger’s Beach snack bar.  The highest bid was submitted by JR WATER CORP. of 45 Moses Lane, Southampton, NY.

The resume for JR WATER CORP. included its operation of:   the General Store at Hither Hills State Park; the Beach Hut at Hither Hills State Park; the concession at Montauk State Park; the concession at Ponquogue Beach; the concession at Tiana Beach; and the snack bar at Quogue Beach.  It has operated at all of these locations from 2009 to present, with the exception of Tiana Beach which began in 2008 and the snack bar at Quogue Beach which began in 2014.

Aside from a good track record and broad menu, it was the highest bidder and has agreed to pay the village $14,000 for the coming season.   The Board will vote to award the concession at the next meeting, JR WATER CORP. appears to be the front runner.

The Board began a discussion of 2015 Beach Passes, Rules and Regulations as it endeavors to alleviate the crowding that has occurred more frequently at village beaches in the last several years.  Among the considerations are restricting some of the beach stickers that have been given as a gratuity to weekdays only, or the number issued be more restricted.

Discussion continued concerning replacement of the railing at Roger’s Beach around the upper deck, estimates are expected from Ron Hill of Dunn Engineering for alternative proposals.

The Board considered a proposal that the Village advertise its marina in Captain’s Magazine as a means of getting more boating traffic and bringing more foot traffic to Main Street.

Arbor Day will be celebrated on May 1st at 3:00 p.m. with a tree planting behind village hall by a high school student group from CURE.

Provisional Chief Gonce gave an update on a request for new security cameras for the marina and described some of the wiring specifications.  John Kearns agreed to examine whether existing wiring is adequate.

At the close of this evenings work session the Mayor solicited comments, and matters for consideration were put forward,  including extending the hours that bathroom facilities are available at the beach, and possible modifications to restrictions to access to and from some year round residences during times when a state of emergency is in effect.  The give and take was collaborative and respectful.  The discussion was concluded and the meeting was then adjourned.