Clifford Foster, a Sagaponack farmer, a President of the Sag Harbor Savings Bank and last private owner of Long Beach, had a clear vision for his 13-acre property which connected Noyac to North Haven. Seven years after his death in 1943, Foster’s sons Charles and Everett deeded the stretch of shoreline to Southampton Town. As per their father’s wish, the gift came with four explicit demands, which would ultimately shape the future use of this popular Sag Harbor swimming spot.

Firstly, the beach would be known as the Clifford J. Foster Memorial Park. Secondly, no dwellings or campsites would be built upon it. Camping was prohibited along with any private use of the land. Thirdly, liquor and alcohol sales were banned. Lastly, and most importantly, “no regulation shall be enacted which may exclude any resident of the incorporated village of Sag Harbor from the privileges granted to the town of Southampton.”

Above: Clifford Foster’s grandson with Councilwoman Nancy Graboski, Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, and Councilman Chris Nuzzi.

Sag Harbor Historical Society member Jean Held, who curated a show with Dorothy Zaykowski on the multifaceted history of Long Beach, theorized that Foster’s first three provisions weren’t born out of prudishness or curmudgeonly inclinations. Instead, Held believes, Foster wished to preserve the waterfront as a family friendly spot, which children and adults alike could enjoy in a safe and wholesome environment.

Today, in an age when legacies are often dissolved to suit contemporary agendas, Foster’s intentions for Long Beach have been preserved.

During humid summer evenings the parking lot is overrun with preteens and teenagers playing volleyball, noshing on popcorn, and listening to live music during the YARD program’s “Safe Summer Beach” nights. By day, the sandy shores are dotted with multi-colored umbrellas shading sleeping toddlers and octogenarians looking out at the placid bay. Families wade into the salt water, careful to sidestep any jellyfish. And joggers, cyclists or people simply walking their dog travel up and down the length of the Long Beach. Even Foster’s mandate to provide access to all Sag Harbor Village residents is upheld, allowing residents of the East Hampton Town side of the village to purchase beach privileges at the town resident’s rate, Held added.

Although Foster’s wishes endure, many are unfamiliar with his generous donation. Passersby at the parking lot may remark on a large boulder with a greenish metal plaque commemorating January 19, 1950, the day the Foster sons gifted the land, and announcing the beach’s official name of Clifford J. Foster Memorial Park.

Due to the cold weather, or other reasons unknown, at the time of the endowment, the town never held an official dedication ceremony to formally thank the Foster family. Over 60 years later, on Saturday, August 21, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, Councilwoman Nancy Graboski and Councilman Chris Nuzzi held an official re-dedication ceremony to coincide with the Long Beach show currently on view at the Sag Harbor Historical Society.

Southampton Town officials presented Foster’s grandson Clifford, his wife Lee and other family members with a proclamation noting highlights from the property’s storied history and explaining how Foster came into possession of the land. In 1777, Lieutenant Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs landed on the shores with 234 men in 13 whale boats to attack British troops in Sag Harbor. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, Long Beach served as an access point to North Haven for many villagers unwilling to pay bridge tolls. Starting at the end of the 19th century, the E.W. Bliss Company held torpedo tests near the Short Beach area for roughly 25 years. Throughout the years, the waterfront remained a popular recreation spot, due in no small part to the rotating number of businesses located on a separate parcel at the western end of Long Beach. Beginning with Lenny’s “casino,” the spot later became home to the Salty Dog, the Waterside, and McNally’s; and nearby was the Shack and the Oasis.

By 1925, Foster, the son of a prominent captain and landowner, paid Suffolk County $16.24 in unpaid taxes on behalf of the heirs of the Charles Lamont Estate, thus taking possession of the beach land. A year later, Foster bought an additional 13-acre, triangular piece of property, which borders Payne’s Creek and Noyac Road, from Lamont’s son Gerald for $100.

“As a Noyac resident, I have the privilege and pleasure of seeing Long Beach everyday, but I was unaware of its rich history,” Throne-Holst said at the ceremony. “I cannot think of a greater gift a family could give to its community, and I thank the Historical Society for creating a wonderful exhibit so that we can all share in the history of this beloved place.”

“There are millions of stories about Long Beach,” curator Held said of the research she and Zaykowski compiled over the last two years in anticipation of the exhibit. “I feel like I have talked to thousands of people and they all love Long Beach.”

The exhibit will remain open for viewing through the month of September from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment. For further information, or to arrange a visit, please contact 725-5092.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Sag Harbor’s John Jermain Memorial Library scored a victory on Tuesday night in front of the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board and was granted permission for a waiver to undergo site plan approval for a temporary library space on West Water Street, effectively giving the library permission to relocate to another site this fall without review.

The decision will allow the library board of trustees to sign a lease on the 3625 square-foot West Water Street location, which most recently housed Personal Best Fitness. JJML Director Catherine Creedon said moving into the space this fall will allow the library the ability to forgo repairs to the historic library’s furnace, which they plan to replace with a geothermal heating system if they are approved for a sizable expansion to their Main Street facility.

It will also enable the library to apply for a permit through the Sag Harbor Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board to begin cosmetic restoration to the aging library building, including window replacement and masonry work while they await village and county approval for a more than 7,000 square-foot, modern addition they hope to build at the rear of their current building.

On Tuesday night, Sag Harbor Village planning consultant Richard Warren explained that allowing the waiver was in line with last year’s revision to the village zoning code, which included provisions for site plan waivers for changes in use that are permitted or special exemption uses under the new code, does not increase the size of the existing space, and do not require more wastewater treatment or parking.

“This is a perfect example of why we amended the code and put a site plan waiver in there,” said board member Gregory Ferraris.

The library’s environmental review for their expansion project is expected to be revisited at next month’s September 28 meeting.

In other JJML news, in the wake of the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustee’s decision to not extend the village wastewater treatment plant line to accommodate the library project, last week at a library board of trustees meeting, Creedon announced the village board is trying to aide the library through their application with the Suffolk County Health Department for an on-site treatment system.

Trustees denied the library’s application to extend the sewer line earlier this month, citing concerns from neighbors and concerns that the limited capacity of the village sewage treatment plant should be reserved for more environmentally sensitive projects.

However, last week, Creedon said trustees have announced they intend to work with JJML officials by identifying existing land owned by the village that it could offer to the county as open space in return for Pine Barren credits, a gift that will ultimately save the library a considerable amount of money.

“The village trustees are being as supportive and positive with us as they can,” said Creedon.

Popularity: 1% [?]

A proposed 37-lot subdivision on 48.6 acres in Bridgehampton will be back in front of the Southampton Town Planning Board this Thursday, with a public hearing slated for 7 p.m. on the preliminary subdivision application and a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed project.

The project – located west of the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, south of Scuttlehole Road and east of Channing Daughters Winery – was proposed by former Southampton Town councilman Dennis Suskind and William Koral over two years ago and includes plans to dedicate 19.5 acres as open space, some of which is located in an old railroad spur that traverses the acreage.

The average size of each lot is proposed to be 30,024 square-feet.

Neighbors and The Group for the East End have spoken out against the subdivision, citing its proximity to the habitat of the endangered tiger salamander and density concerns, although project planner Kyle Collins has argued the project will link nature trails between Bridgehampton and the Long Pond Greenbelt.

According to Suskind, the project has been moved closer to Barn Lane to address the issue of the tiger salamander at the town conservation board’s suggestion. As of right, he added, they could seek to subdivide the property into 54 lots.

At a Bridgehampton Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on Monday, August 23, the CAC discussed the project with Suskind after the planning board asked for its comments and in general seemed satisfied with the proposal.

“When I talked to the planning department they seemed happy,” said Bridgehampton CAC Chairman Fred Cammann, who noted it is a property zoned for residential development that he does not believe will impact traffic in a meaningful way.

Committee member Jeffrey Vogel added that while no one protested the plans, there were no neighboring property owners present at the CAC meeting.

Suskind agreed that neighboring property owners have had reservations about the project, wanting Suskind and Koral to donate the property or sell it to the town in lieu of development.

While traffic was raised as a concern, Suskind said he believed it was more an issue of a community not wanting to see neighboring property developed.

“I built a house here 30 years ago and I didn’t want anyone building next door to me,” he said, adding neighbors in the Hampton Farms subdivision live in a development similar to the one he has proposed.

“They have lived without having anyone on that property for a number of years and they want it to stay that way,” he said.

“If the integrity of the area was going to be changed I would object, but it is not going to be changed,” said Cammann. “It will be a wooded area and none of (the other subdivisions) have dedicated open spaces.”

Comparing the project to the sentiment that surrounded the construction of the Children’s Museum of the East End, Shira Kalish added, “We might not like 37 houses, but this is not changing the face of Bridgehampton.”

In other CAC news, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst discussed the creation of a Bridgehampton erosion control district, which will connect with a similar district in Sagaponack.

“The way it works is we are looking at only oceanfront properties as being a part of the taxing district,” said Throne-Holst, noting that would comprise roughly 60 properties in the Bridgehampton district and 90 in Sagaponack.

Throne-Holst explained the town will first draw a map of the area and identify property owners before sending them a mass mailing about the concept. There will be a permissive referendum window, which means 30 days after being notified property owners can contest the creation of the erosion control district if they gather enough signatures from residents in the district, which would force the measure onto a ballot. If forced onto a ballot for public vote, Throne-Holst noted it would only be members of the proposed district that could vote on whether or not to create it.

Once created, Throne-Holst said the district could devise erosion control measures to protect their homes, including sand fencing or large scale erosion projects, which would be funded solely by the residents of the district, unless the town decides to add to its coffers for a project that would benefit the whole of the town.

Suskind added that the creation of this district is the only way the town can secure federal and state monies to address erosion. Throne-Holst noted the districts will be able to fund baseline studies that will benefit the town in gaining funding from the federal or state government in the wake of a nor’easter or storm that washes away the coastline.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Richard Blumenthal, the Republican and Conservative Party candidate vying for incumbent New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr.’s seat this November charged last week that the Sag Harbor native risks a conflict of interest in serving both as the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees’ village attorney and as a state assemblyman.

Thiele, a former Republican who switched his party loyalty to the Independence Party last October, is seeking re-election on that party line, as well as the Democratic and Working Families lines. He has been a member of the state assembly since 1995.

“Assemblymemeber Thiele and Sag Harbor Village Attorney Thiele are the same person,” stated Blumenthal in a press release issued last week. “That’s two taxpayer-salaried jobs, two different government constituencies, two loyalties, one person.”

Blumenthal cited a recent Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees meeting where the issue of a commercial mooring field operating without regulation in state waters off Sag Harbor Village’s waterfront as an example of a “risk for a conflict of interest,” noting Sag Harbor Deputy Mayor Tim Culver had said he would work with Thiele as a village attorney to try and find a solution to the problem.

At a village board meeting earlier this month, residents John Brannen and Anita Rainford raised the issue of the non-regulated mooring field, saying it has created a safety hazard and presented issues with navigation.

“Mr. Thiele owes an explanation to both of his public employers as to how he can represent both sides at the same time without a conflict of interest,” said Blumenthal. “Additionally, both the people of Sag Harbor and Assembly District 2 have a right to know if a conflict has occurred before, in order to determine if the conflict outcome was damaging to the interests of one or both.”

On Monday, Thiele denied any conflict of interest, calling the press release one in a series from “the candidate backed by the Crookhaven Republican machine, and this is what they do.”

Noting that he is not in fact salaried by the Village of Sag Harbor, but a contract employee, Thiele said seven years ago, when serving as the village attorney for Westhampton Beach, he approached the state ethics committee and they rendered the opinion that he could in fact operate as both a village attorney and state assemblyman.

“I am a good enough attorney to know to get an official opinion,” he said.

Thiele added that as an independent contractor in village government, he does not collect health insurance coverage or pension credits, and said in his tenure as village attorney not a single conflict has arisen, particularly because Sag Harbor Village has a second village attorney, Anthony Tohill. Tohill, he said, would represent the village in front of any state agency should that need arise.

“All that really was, with the mooring field, was determining who has jurisdiction,” he added. “For the record, it is in state waters and Mr. Brannen will have to raise that complaint with the office of general services. Tim has been advised of this as well.”

“There is absolutely no conflict here,” continued Thiele. “My position with the village is completely transparent and disclosed and if there ever is a possible conflict, Tony Tohill would handle that. That has been the agreement from the beginning – that I would not appear before any state agency on behalf of the village.”

Thiele added it is common for state assembly members to have positions elsewhere, and often it is in the legal field with undisclosed, private clients.

“The only client I have is the Village of Sag Harbor and everyone knows it,” he said, adding that while Blumenthal incorrectly stated Thiele receives two government salaries — one from Sag Harbor and one from the State of New York — should Blumenthal be elected he will leave a six-figure guidance department job, for which he took a four percent raise this year, and collect his retirement along with his pay as a state assemblyman.

“I don’t want to throw rocks, but if you throw rocks at me, I am going to throw them back,” he said.

In related news, this week the New York State Supreme Court has rejected Blumenthal’s appeal to remove Thiele from the Independence Party line for the November election. Blumenthal objected to Thiele’s petition before the Suffolk County Board of Elections, with that board disagreeing with Blumenthal and finding Thiele’s petition signatures valid.

Blumenthal then brought the matter to the State Supreme Court with Justice Kevin J. Kerrigan rejecting his claim that Thiele’s petition did not meet state laws.

Popularity: 1% [?]

On Tuesday night, members of the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board said they favored Elizabeth Dow’s proposal to convert the former Sag Harbor United Methodist Church on Madison Street into a center for textile design, retail and education, but asked for permission to tour Dow’s Amagansett studio before sending a formal letter of support to the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees.

Dow is in contract to purchase the former church from former Southampton Town councilman Dennis Suskind who bought the building in 2008 from a congregation no longer able to afford the upkeep of the aging, historic structure. However, that sale, for a reported $2.1 million, is contingent on Dow being granted a zone change by the village board of trustees to allow her textile and wall coverings design studio and internship program to be housed in the former church.

Earlier this month, trustees seemed amenable to changing the zoning on the property from residential to village business district, with the understanding that covenants would be negotiated between Dow and village officials to ensure it not become a nightclub or convenience store should she ever sell the church.

If Dow is granted the change in zoning, she will still have to undergo review by the planning board, but earlier this month trustees asked the planning board to weigh in on the general concept before they moved forward.

On Tuesday night, Dow’s attorney Tiffany Scarlato presented the proposal to the planning board. Dow hopes to use the former church in what Scarlato calls “a gentle reuse,” bringing the Elizabeth Dow Studio to Sag Harbor, where the company’s wall coverings and textiles would be produced and sold in a retail interior design center. Dow’s internship program, listed in the top 100 American internships by the Princeton Review, would also take place at the church, which would boast an apartment to accommodate employees or students.

Scarlato believes that the property will be able to accommodate an on-site septic system and will not need additional parking for the change in use.

Dow has already reached out to neighboring property owners, said Scarlato, and received “overwhelmingly positive” responses to the concept.

“Elizabeth wants this to be a community project and is willing to work with the community to alleviate any concerns they might have, as opposed to a private residence where village residents would have very little control over anything that would happen there,” said Scarlato.

Board member Jack Tagliasacchi wondered if textile design involved heavy machinery, which could prove noisy for neighbors, although Scarlato said she believed the design process did not involve heavy machinery.

“Is it possible if a couple of us want to go and see the facility,” asked chairman Neil Slevin, referring to the company’s current home in the Amagansett Applied Arts Building.

“I think that would be very positive,” said board member Gregory Ferraris, who recused himself from making any decisions regarding the application, as he is Dow’s accountant and aided her in pricing out the cost of this particular project.

Scarlato agreed to arrange a visit in the next two weeks.

“A project like this is probably good, not only to maintain the building itself, but also to create activity on that side of the village,” said Tagliasacchi.

In other planning board news, the board scheduled two public hearings for next month. The first is for Edward Burke, Jr.’s proposal to allow office uses in his 39 Division Street building. While the property is zoned residential, since rehabilitating the structure, Burke has created five office spaces within the building, and is seeking to legalize those uses through the village planning board.

In addition to planning board approval, Burke will also need variances from the zoning board of appeals, including for parking.

A public hearing will also be held on a proposed addition at James Giorgio’s 127 Main Street Building, which currently houses Lifestyle. Giorgio hopes to add 740 square-feet to the rear of the existing 810 square-foot building.

The public hearings will be held at the board’s September 28 meeting, which begins with a work session at 5:30 p.m.

Popularity: 1% [?]

This week the slate of candidates seeking election to the John Jermain Memorial Library Board of Trustees was announced and with just three residents of the library district running for four open seats on the board, a write-in candidate will likely fill the unexpired one-year term of former board member Theresa Ameres.

Current trustees Carl Peterson and Carol Williams will both seek to keep their seats on the board this September 28, with Linley Whelan joining them as a third candidate.

Peterson was appointed to the board in 2007, filling the seat of Gregory Ferraris, and was re-elected to the board that same year. Williams also began her tenure on the board in 2007. Both are seeking their second elected terms as trustees.

Whelan, who is on the board of directors of the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum, is also a member of Save Sag Harbor and a licensed real estate broker with Brown Harris Stevens.

Barring an aggressive write-in campaign, Whelan stands to fill the seat of current trustee Nancy Hallock, who has decided to not seek re-election this year.

Who will fill Ameres’ unfilled one-year term will remain in the hands of those who bring a pen when they vote in the trustee elections this September. In 2007, architect Kate Evarts was voted onto the board in an organized write-in campaign where she received over 50 votes. She stepped down the following year.

In addition to choosing who will serve on the board of trustees, residents will also weigh in on a proposed $1,195,502 operating budget for 2011, $64,000 of which will allow the library to rent a temporary space on West Water Street this fall. The proposal represents a 9.8 percent increase in spending over this year’s spending plan.

On September 15 at 5:15 p.m., the library will host a budget and trustee forum for residents, which will be followed by the regular board of trustees meeting at 6 p.m.

The budget vote and trustee election will be held on September 28 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Having already assembled a planning reform advisory group, this week Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst promised members of the Bridgehampton Citizens Advisory Committee that she will strive towards creating a more public planning process, where residents can weigh in on development plans and even planned development districts before they get too far down the pike, a criticism with town planning that developers and activists alike have expressed in recent years.

On Monday, August 23 Throne-Holst raised the issue after Bridgehampton CAC chairman Fred Cammann argued that planned development districts (PDD) have “not served Bridgehampton, or really any other place well at all.”

This summer, in the face of several PDD proposals in front of the town board — including one for a mixed-use development in Tuckahoe and another in Water Mill — the town has been criticized for using the zoning tool, which allows developers to forgo seeking a formal change in zoning to accomplish their project and instead asks the town board to overlay new zoning over their parcels for their specific proposal. The concept of the PDD law is that these projects would have to offer a significant community benefit in turn.

This Thursday, the board will host a public hearing that would change the PDD section of the town code to conform with New York State law in regards to what those public benefits should be.

Throne-Holst called the change in legislation “a good beginning,” but added she would like to see the planning reform advisory group, made up of civic group members, planning board members, local attorneys and planners, address the planning process in the town as a whole, with the issue of PDDs at the top of their agenda.

Last year, said Throne-Holst, the town started allowing pre-submission conferences, similar to public hearings, on large projects to hear input from the community before a project was so far down the pike that meaningful change became impossible.

“The idea is before a developer spends thousands of dollars and time and effort in putting together a plan to the best of their ability, the community has a chance to look at the basic idea and weigh in on it,” said Throne-Holst. “It gives the developer the chance to weigh that and develop their plans accordingly, or not, but at least it gives the public the chance to weigh in at an early stage.”

Throne-Holst said she would like to see a similar process set up for proposed PDDs, during which any public benefits would be vetted. The advisory group is also looking at developing a codified list of desired community benefits, hamlet by hamlet, where residents of each community could weigh in on the community benefits they would like to see in their region of the town if a PDD is proposed by a developer.

Creating a clear-cut timeline for how that process, and the planning process in general, is carried out by the town is also a priority, she said.

“It may or may not be able to be done that way, but that is a small laundry list of what we are looking at,” she said.

Cammann said his concern was it seems the PDD process looks at a specific proposal and its community benefits rather than the town understanding what public benefits they would like to see developed.

“The zoning, good or bad, is what we have all become pretty used to and, when a PDD proposal comes in, it is not clear to us that it is beneficial to our community,” he said.

“What was missing, and I think this is what needs to be codified, there needs to be a discussion about whether the benefit should be a specific community benefit or a benefit to the whole town,” said CAC member Janice Delano.

Throne-Holst reiterated that the focus right now is looking at the needs of each hamlet, and that at any pre-submission hearing members of the affected hamlet, or the town as a whole would have the opportunity to weigh in with their concerns.

CAC member Jeffrey Vogel added that he would like to see the CACs have a greater voice in the process, and as of now, he feels often they weigh in, but are not heard.

On the other side of the coin, referencing the stalled condo project at the former Bulova Watchcase Factory in Sag Harbor, CAC member Richard Bruce said he would like to see a process where good projects are shepherded through the town more quickly to encourage good development.

Throne-Holst noted that what is viewed as a good project by some, is often a project detested by others, and whether or not it is a good project tends to be subjective.

For example, with the proposed Tuckahoe PDD, which would create a grocery store, several retail stores and apartments, some affordable in nature, Throne-Holst said she has heard mixed reviews from community members.

“Some people hate it, some people say we need a grocery store in our backyard, we need accessible and affordable retail,” she said.

“I think the end result has to be we create a process that supports what you would call a good application,” she continued. “A process that allows a good application to move forward expeditiously.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

Sag Harbor Village’s harbors and docks have seen a growth in revenues this season, while enforcement of basic waterfront laws has also increased under the leadership of Harbor Master Bob Bori, hired last year by the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees after the resignation of Ed Swenson last October.

According to village records, revenues for the month of July are up some $30,000, from $32,317.90 in 2009 to $62,339.75 this year. While revenues for the month of August are still being collected as the village nears the end of its summer boating season, year-to-date figures show revenues from the village docks are $550,094.85, up from last year’s total of $483,506.65.

Bori, born and raised in Sag Harbor, is a retired Southampton Town Police officer, and said this week that his background in law enforcement coupled with his innate understanding of the waterfront made the job attractive when it was advertised by the village last fall.

“It was a natural fit,” he said.

According to Bori, one of the more significant changes made to the dock system in the village is allowing boaters to reserve in Sag Harbor’s transient slips — a new feature this year. In years past, said Bori, boaters would roll the dice, come into Sag Harbor with the hopes of being able to gain access to a slip never knowing if one would be available. This year, he said, boaters have been able to plan their trip to the village with certainty, which has led to the increase in dock revenues.

“We are seeing a lot of families and retired folks,” said Bori. “It’s been a pleasure for people to know they can make a reservation. In years past, they would come in and not be able to get a slip. We are seeing a more recreational waterfront this year.”

The village also allowed luxury yachts to dock on the west side of Long Wharf during holiday weekends this year, which added to the increase in revenue over last year’s figures. Last year, dockage on the north end and west side of Long Wharf were restricted in an effort to provide residents with greater access to the waterfront, with just the east side open for dockage.

Bori has also made a practice of monitoring which vessels are using the town pump out boats to get rid of their wastewater, a monitoring program that enables the harbor master the ability to know which boats should be checked to ensure they are not dumping sewage into Sag Harbor waters.

Last month, amid complaints about sewage being dumped by boats into the harbor, Bori worked with the town pump out boat operators and local marinas to ensure boaters are using the free town service.

“The town offers two pump out boats, one here and one in Noyac, and it is a free of charge service,” said Bori. “Most people take advantage of it.”

Following the complaints and using the pump out boat operator logs, Bori did board two vessels for inspection, he said, but found they were clean.

“It could have been someone who was here overnight,” he said. “As of the last few weeks we have had no issues with sewage in the water, so hopefully that problem has passed.”

Otherwise, said Bori, it has been a fairly uneventful season with just a few incidents of boats breaking down and needing assistance. He does take issue with the non-regulated mooring field that has popped up this summer east of the breakwater and outside of the village’s jurisdiction.

“There should be, from a safety standpoint, something where somebody has the jurisdiction to make sure it is all safe,” he said. “But the main guys putting moorings out there are professionals. It’s the arbitrary ones we have to be concerned about.”

Next year, Bori said he plans to develop a long term maintenance plan for the village’s docks, including Long Wharf, and the possible expansion of the transient docks after this season’s success with the reservation system.

“Bob has been great,” said deputy mayor Tim Culver, who was the village board’s liaison to the harbor master until this July. “Revenues are up and so is compliance.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

Sag Harbor Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board Chairman Cee Scott Brown has watched over the years as historic homes in the village have been altered, without a permit, their owners either oblivious to the responsibility inherent when owning a residence in the historic district of Sag Harbor, or trying avoid the often costly nature of historic preservation by trying to skirt regulation.

And he has had enough.

Faced with yet another example of a historic home altered for the worse, at a Sag Harbor ARB meeting this week, Brown called on the village board of trustees to increase the village fines for constructing work without a permit, and said he would like to see the village take on an educational role with residents and service providers to ensure historic homes are protected in the future.

On Monday, August 23 Brown raised the discussion after being made aware by Sag Harbor Building Inspector Tim Platt that Melanie Fleishman had replaced a wood shingled roof on her historic Atlantic Avenue home with an asphalt roof. Platt told Fleishman she will need a permit for the new roof, and she will likely appear before the board at its September 9 meeting to address the situation, said Brown. However, Brown raised the issue this week with fellow board memebrs as a jumping off point to discuss the board’s inability to enforce and educate the necessity of historic preservation in Sag Harbor.

Fleishman’s contractor has cited other asphalt roofs in her neighborhood as part of the application to make the new roof legal. While Brown acknowledged there are historic homes with asphalt roofs, Fleischman’s home has traditionally had wood shingles, and should have remained that way.

“It’s about educating the homeowners,” said board member Diane Schiavoni. “And I don’t know how we do that.”

“Basically, there has to be more teeth in what we are doing here, because this is a flagrant flaunting of all we stand for,” said Brown. “If it was asphalt replaced by asphalt, no problem, but it’s not.”

“It also makes me think as board members, why are we doing this and with fines of $50 or $100 why get a permit,” he continued.

Brown added the only other recourse the village has is litigation, where often a judge could look at the cost involved with historic preservation of a home and side with the defendant.

“I think we as a board should go to the mayor and let him know we feel there should be more sting in the penalties that will be incurred if someone violates the law,” said Brown. “Number two, sometimes people just don’t know about the law and we have to get the word out.”

Board member Bethany Deyermond suggested using real estate agents as the front lines for information on the responsibility of owning a historic home. As with any residence in the village, any change to the exterior of a building must be approved by the ARB, which in the case of historic homes has the authority to demand the historic character is maintained, whether through ensuring the roofline is not altered, windows remain antique and siding and paint colors replaced in kind.

Brown added service providers could also be included in the discussion, as they are the ones performing the work on these structures; although he added often companies not from Sag Harbor secure those services.

However, said Brown, the Sag Harbor Historic Society has produced a number of pamphlets, available in the village building department, that detail the village code, requirements for historic preservation, and how to ensure renovations are in keeping with the historic character of Sag Harbor. Should fines be increased for breaches of the village code, Brown suggested that money could be funneled into a mass mailing of these pamphlets to homeowners, contractors and real estate agents alike.

“If you buy a historic home, you have a responsibility to keep it historic,” said Schiavoni.

In other news, the board approved a second story addition at Daniel De Simone and Angela Scott’s Spring Street residence.

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Benito Vila

It started ugly for T&S Mott last Thursday and didn’t get any better as the game went on, Sag Harbor Liquors coming away with a 14-4 win to take the 2010 Sag Harbor Mens’ FastPitch Softball League championship.

The league trophy left Mashashimuet Park the property of Billy Schmitz, Jeremy Karl, Kelly Fox, Jeff Hand, Andy Tuthill, Alex Tekulsky, Brian Anderson, Carl Johnson, Eddie Palomo, Yummi DePetris and Chris Schiaffino for the third time in four years, that group taking part in each Liquors title.

Newcomers Cory Samot and Joe Sullivan were part of the festivities for the first time, with Henry Meyer coming back to help topple Mott, the 2009 champion, after a few seasons away from the field.

Collectively the Liquors team pounded out 10 home runs in the three-game sweep, roping three in game one, three in game two and four in the finale.

But those long hits were not the only reason Liquors came away with the series, the defense behind ace Kelly Fox committing just one error in game two and none in game three to keep Mott from mounting any kind of charge.

While Liquors needed one clutch two-out hit after another to take game one 13-11, that near-flawless defense made the 12-1 game two final and the game three clincher easier than anyone would have ever expected.

Oops & Ouch

A Garrett Lowe single and a Sean Mott walk put two runners on for the Mott team in the top of the first on Thursday. A fielder’s choice and pop out ended that rally two batters later, Mott taking the field eager to keep Liquors from scoring.

That’s not how it worked out. Liquors’ first swing turned into a two-base error, and a single and a stolen base put runners at second and third with no one out.

A long fly to deep right by Joe Sullivan became a two-run sacrifice fly, Chris Schiaffino tagging up from second and sliding under the relay to the plate to give Liquors an early 2-0 lead.

With a walk and a Jared Schiavoni single, Mott managed to get two on in the top of the second with no one out, but a force out from the outfield and a 6-4-3 double play quickly ended the threat.

Liquors Takes It

Coming back in to hit, Liquors all but put the game away, singles by Cory Samot and Jeff Hand putting pressure on Mott and a line drive into the right field corner by Brian Anderson clearing the bases.

An errant relay brought in Anderson and the rout was on, back-to-back home runs by Schiaffino and Sullivan one out later making the score 7-0 Liquors.

Mott didn’t go quietly though, Mike Lyons and Sean Mott ripping long home runs in the top of the third, Liquors holding on 7-3. That Mott rally did little to change the outcome, a two-out hit by DePetris in the bottom of the third bringing in two runs and putting Liquors up 9-3.

In the fourth, a George Hoglund single, a wild pitch and a Mike Semkus single moved Mott a run closer.

The game stayed 9-4 until Liquors exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, Schiaffino and Tuthill hammering shots over the fence to close out the scoring.

MVP

Liquors’ offense booming, Fox’ pitching was once again easy to overlook.

Although Mott reached her for 10 hits Thursday, she induced 13 outs in the air, six ground ball outs and struck out two to keep Mott from making much of their at-bats.

That determined game three followed up a dazzling game two where Fox scattered seven hits and never faced more than five batters in any single inning.

Still, by catching everything hit towards center in the series, and nailing two timely home runs in game one and one each in games two and three, Joe Sullivan also delivered an MVP effort.

Though no such award is given, the contributions of Schiaffino, Tekulsky, Meyer, Hand and Tuthill, both at bat and in the field, could fuel an MVP debate all through the winter.

But what cannot be argued is Liquors’ dominance of the league, the team collecting regular season and post-season titles this year and making the finals 13 times in the last 16 years.

The Mott team coming away dispirited, its reliable pitching and defense ripped apart and its bats kept quiet, the off-season begins with Liquors being the one to beat.

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