Village Board Notes: Water taxi to link Greenport and Sag Harbor?
The idea of linking Greenport and Sag Harbor with a water taxi has been refloated by Mattituck businessman Jim Ryan.
Mr. Ryan, owner of Response Marine, asked the Greenport Village Board during a March 8 special meeting for a letter of consent supporting of his project. He first proposed his Greenport-Sag Harbor water taxi last summer, but it never came to fruition.
The biggest hurdle is getting the Sag Harbor Village Board to change its code, which bars ferries.
Both Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce and Sag Harbor Village Mayor Brian Gilbride have said they’d like the public to comment on the proposal before their boards make any decisions.
Mr. Ryan has asked Greenport for permission to dock a 50-foot vessel capable of carrying 53 people in front of the carousel because he believes it would be a good spot for people to catch the taxi.
One way trips would cost $11, round trips $20. If approved, taxi service will start this summer and later be re-evaluated to determine its year-round feasibility.
Mr. Gilbride has asked Mr. Ryan to make a public presentation during the Sag Harbor board’s meeting this week. Mr. Nyce said a public hearing to discuss the proposal has been set for March 16 at 5 p.m.
CHAMBER GRANTED PARK ACCESS
In a split decision, the Village Board last week approved the North Fork Chamber of Commerce’s request to use a portion of Mitchell Park for its third annual summer art show.
The board voted 3-2, with Trustees David Murray and Mary Bess Phillips voting no.
The measure failed during the board’s Feb. 27 meeting, with only two of the three members present voting yes.
Mr. Murray, who voted against the permit at both meetings, has said he couldn’t support the chamber’s permit because he believed fund-raisers clog up access to the park.
Last year the village rejected San Simeon by the Sound’s request to hold a second fundraiser in the park. Board members said opening the park for annual events unrelated to the village could result in space being unavailable to residents.
But both Mr. Nyce and Greenport Business Improvement District president Peter Clarke said they support the art show because it would help promote local artists.
The chamber’s art event is scheduled for July 21.
TALL SHIPS TIX AVAILABLE ONLINE
Tickets for this summer’s Tall Ships of America event can now be purchased through Greenport Village’s website.
The advance sale price to tour six ships is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, with no charge for children under 12. The village has yet to determine how long the advance sales will continue and what the ticket price might be after that.
Ticket holders will be able to tour the Bounty, the largest of the ships, built for the movie of the same name; the Picton-Castle, based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; the Lynx, a replica of an 1812 warship; the Unicorn from New Jersey, which has an all-female crew; the Pride of Baltimore II; and Summerwind, a schooner from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point.
The sail will start in May in Savannah, Ga., before stopping at Greenport Harbor. The tour will then continue to Newport, R.I., and finish in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The vessels will race each other between ports.
When Tall Ships of America last visited Greenport in 2004, the village did not charge an entry fee. It was awarded a state grant to offset the cost of ship appearance fees.
Since that grant came through the defunct “I Love New York” tourism marketing program, village officials have said charging an entry fee will help offset the cost of $130,000 in ship appearance fees.
To purchase tickets, visit villageofgreenport.org.
