Village Notes: Pet law, marina fees up and Kagel
Greenport Village is bringing back its recently departed village treasurer on a contract basis to help hammer out its budget plan for the next fiscal year.
At Monday night’s Village Board meeting, Mayor David Nyce explained that although former treasurer Charlene Kagel had originally planned to retire following the year’s budget preparation, she had decided to retire sooner to spend more time with her grandchildren.
Her resignation was accepted Jan. 27.
To ensure budget preparation runs smoothly, the board approved the hiring of Ms. Kagel through her own personal finance company, East End Accounting Services, Inc., at a rate of $60 an hour for a maximum of 30 hours, equal to $1,800, to assist former village deputy treasurer Robert Brandt with any needed help with preparation.
Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said “this has been done before,” explaining that the board has hired former treasurers to help during similar changeovers in the past.
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With Robert Brandt’s appointment to the vacated village treasurer post, the board also announced the opening of the deputy treasurer position, which is a civil service exempt position. The board is currently accepting applications for the position, which will be posted in a public notice announcing the position’s opening.
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Two village residents Monday evening voiced concern over the lack of snow removal by privately owned businesses, which they say make it dangerous for those on foot trying to traverse the village.
Mr. Nyce said the village has issued summonses to several business owners, and will consider the hieing of a part-time code enforcement officer while planning the coming budget.
The hire would be made to enhance enforcement of brush removal, snow removal, and parking issues.
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Greenport residents John Saladino and William Swiskey, also a former trustee and utilities director for the village, took to the podium to press Mr. Nyce on a $108,000 penalty that was passed onto electric ratepayers after the village missed a required test for one of its generators in the spring.
They asked whether the village had any intentions of pursuing legal action against whomever was responsible for the missed test.
Mr. Nyce said that after an investigation with village’s legal counsel, he “has not been able to find an ironclad legal reason by which [the town] could reboot that money from anywhere else.”
“The village is responsible for making sure that test gets run,” Mr. Nyce said, adding that village officials pursued the New York Power Authority to “accept some of the responsibility.
“[The village] could not get that to happen.”
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The Village Board voted to increase costs for transient boat fees at Mitchell Park marina.
Transient boats looking to spend the night at Mitchell Park Marina will now have to pay a $4 per foot dockage fee for boats 75 feet or more in length.
Vessels seeking 100 amps of power at 240 volts of single-phase usage will now have to pay $75 per cord per night fee, and those needing 100 amps of 480 volt three phase power will have to pay a $150 per cord, per night fee.
Transient mooring fees have also been increased to a rate of $2 per foot, with boats not to surpass 40 feet in length, to improve safety and navigability, village officials said.
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The Village Board unanimously approved an addition to the village code regarding pet waste.
Animal owners are now required to clean up after their animals in any public place or street, including beaches, parks, and playgrounds.
