By: Progress for WHB
The meeting was called to order at 7:00. The Trustees worked through the agenda for the work session. The best presentation of the evening was a request by Catherine Penn to be permitted to plant perennials and landscape the three parking islands located in the Mill Road municipal lot at the north end of Glover’s Lane. Catherine is working towards the highest award in Girl Scouting, The Girl Scout Gold Award. Juliet Gordon Low would be glad to see the tradition continue.
This was followed by an initial proposal for the use of Village property by Lorraine Girard for what she described as a Food Truck Festival.This Festival was presented as a fundraiser for the Moriches Bay Project. As a sop to local food merchants Ms. Girard offered that local shop owners could participate as vendors free of charge.
She anticipated having 25 mobile food stands use the Mill Road parking lot after the Farmer’s Market had concluded for the day. The Food Truck vendors would continue from late in the afternoon through the evening hours with the possible accompaniment of music apropos of the cuisine being served: Tortillas – Mariachi music; Keilbasa – Polka music; Bratwurst – an Oom-pah band; etc. The anticipated application will seek to schedule the Festival for a Saturday during the summer, with the hope that it can be an annual event.
The Trustees received the proposal politely. It won’t be until a formal application is submitted that it will be subjected to closer scrutiny.
Trustee Pat DiBenedetto presented the application for the use of village property on behalf of the fire department. Fire Chief Chip Bancroft had a conflicting engagement. The fire department has requested permission to use the old DPW property for practice in cutting up cars with a Hurst Tool and putting out car fires. The department has done these practices at this location previously without reported incident and the request was well received by all members of the Board of Trustees.
Trustee DiBenedetto gave an update to the Board on the annual Holiday Lighting contest and proposed adding new categories for participants.
Maureen Jones a past victor in the contest was present in the audience, no doubt seeking advance intelligence for this year’s competition. Residents its time to get your game on.
Trustee Ralph Urban reported that rules for the use of marina that had been updated last year will be ready for implementation for the 2015 boating season. Payment for slips will be due earlier so that boat slips that are declined can be made available sooner to those on the waiting list.
The Trustees returned to traffic control issues:
- they addressed the specifics for the school speed zone on Mill Road that require correction;
- they plan to relax regulations of Lilac Road to allow for both standing and stopping in order to accommodate student pick up in the afternoon when cars have been idling (standing) and not merely stopping while waiting for their children; and
- Lt. Gonce reported on an occasional issue in the village, municipal parking lots have been used for sleeping in vehicles overnight. Think Conversion Van, not RV. The Lieutenant proposed adopting a local law modeled after a sleeping proscription that has been on the books in the Village of Quogue since 1970.
The Great Lawn across from St. Marks is open space purchased by the village with CPF funds. There are recorded covenants that restrict the use of the property. It was recently brought to the Mayor’s attention that the village has not consistently honored the restrictions, and going forward the use of the property will be more limited unless a waiver can be obtained. There is sure to be a scrum for the reduced allotment of time that will be available.
The Trustees authorized the Mayor to sign a contract with Rosemar for the paving of Mill Road at a price that had been determined on a previous bid with Suffolk County.
In response to requests from residents of Meadow Lane, and in the interests of public safety, the Trustees agreed to the installation of two additional street lamps on the southern portion of Meadow Lane. These lights are to be installed from an existing inventory.
John Kearns reported to the Board on his search for a flat bottom boat for use in annual inspections of storm water outfall pipes. This will be used in maintaining compliance with State D.E.C. requirements.
Repairs for the decking at Roger’s Beach were also discussed with Dunn Engineering to examine the scope of the work required.
At 9:00 the Trustees adjourned to executive session to discuss pending litigation and police personnel issues.
Mayor Moore discussed the project and temporary security measures that will limit public beach access to Lashley Beach while it is an active work site.
The longshore drift of sand on the Atlantic coast from east to west is caught by the jetties. This sand builds up the beaches on the east side of the closely spaced jetties while those beaches to the west do not benefit from the replenishment from the longshore drift.