eruv, Trustee Meeting

Eruv Litigation Report

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By:  Progress for Westhampton Beach

In response to requests from concerned residents, the Board of Trustees requested that Brian Sokoloff, Esq. (the Village’s attorney on the Eruv litigation) give an update directly to village residents on the status of the federal litigation.    Mr. Sokoloff was appointed to represent the Village in this matter by its insurance carrier, and has been paid throughout the litigation by the Village’s insurance carrier.  This litigation began in January of 2011 and concerns events alleged to have occurred in the Village between 2008 and the commencement of the lawsuit in January of 2011.

Yesterday, September 8, 2015, a settlement agreement between  the Town of Southampton and  some of the plaintiffs in the two federal cases was filed in federal district court.  A copy of that stipulation of settlement is here.  Neither the Village of Quogue nor the Village of Westhampton Beach has joined in that settlement.

The Trustees of the Village of Westhampton Beach are continuing to review all appropriate courses of action that will protect the rights of all residents.  No settlement has been authorized at this time and the case remains subject to thorough review by counsel and the Board of Trustees.

Solutions, Trustee Meeting

Sewers, Part III

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On September 3, 2015 the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to authorize the advertisement for civil engineers to provide the professional services needed to prepare a map and plan for a sewer district.

Once this beauty contest is over and a firm is selected, then the next phase will be the preparation of a plan that includes options our community can consider to best meet the requirements of the village.

This is one public works project that won’t sneak up on anyone. There will be plenty of opportunity for residents to be heard as we all become more informed of both the costs and the benefits of addressing the requirements for our village infrastructure.

On a related note, the village’s reconstituted Conservation Advisory Council held its first meeting on Friday morning.  Hopefully this council will be instrumental in working together with the Trustees, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals as the village begins to address those matters affecting water quality as well as other environmental concerns.

more on the September Board of Trustees’ meeting to follow.

Trustee Meeting

September 3, 2015

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By:  Progress for Westhampton Beach

The weather still says its summer, the calendar says school has begun, the equinox1)September 23, 2015 at 4:22 a.m. is still a few weeks away, but summer 2015 is pretty much done with only a belated Labor Day weekend left before the completion of the exodus that has already begun.

The September Board of Trustees’ meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. and the Mayor started off the agenda with the swearing in of two new police officers to join our force.  The Chief reported that it has been seven years since there were any new hires in the department.   Congratulations to Marc DeMartino and Christopher Kelly who each were present and took the oath of office.

The Mayor then proceeded to open a public hearing on a proposed local law to allow for sidewalk displays by merchants who can apply to the Board of Trustees in much the same fashion as permits for outdoor music and dining are currently handled.  It is a good effort to find the balance between the interests of individual merchants trying to run successful businesses and keeping sidewalks clear and the business districts visually appealing.  Ralph Urban proposed one amendment to the law under consideration and that was to place a minimum fine for a violation of the law at $250, this was seconded and adopted by the Board.

The Board attended to the other business on the agenda and then the Mayor requested Brian Sokoloff,  the attorney representing the village in the “eruv” litigation, to give the community a status report. Mr. Sokoloff gave a complete overview beginning with the genesis in 2008 to date.  For those interested, it was informative and the video, when it become available will be posted:  here  (as well as on the village website).

The public comment period was largely consumed by Jack O’Dwyer and his remarks that were a reprise of his last visitation to the Trustees on the topic of the eruv.  Pamela Scheiffer was present and provided a most elegant intervention to bring the public comment period to a close.

More about tonight’s meeting later.

References   [ + ]

1. ↑ September 23, 2015 at 4:22 a.m.