Village Board approves new lease agreement with Fire Fighter Museum
The Greenport Village Board has unanimously approved a new lease agreement that allows the fireboat to remain at its current location in Greenport.
Deputy mayor George Hubbard sponsored the resolution at Monday night’s regular board meeting in which the village will charge the Fire Fighter Museum $200 a month in rent for a spot at the county-owned dock.
“Whether it is legal or not, we are going to take our chances with the county,” he said prior to the vote. “I think we have a right to do that.”
The state Metropolitan Transit Authority owns property on Third Street near the East End Seaport Museum where the commercial dock is located. The MTA leases the dock space to Suffolk County, which is currently subleasing to the village for a token fee of $1 per year.
The county retains the right to refuse any sublease agreement the village enters into, officials have said.
The county has not taken action against the village, but ordered Fire Fighter Museum president Charlie Ritchie earlier this month to remove the historic vessel from the county owned railroad dock by March 31 at the expense of either the organization or its individual members.
“Initially we got an ‘OK’ from the county and then we got a ‘no way’,” Mayor David Nyce said at the meeting.
Mr. Nyce said he recently met with county Legislator Al Krupski and believes there’s now a mutual interest between the village and the county for Greenport to take control over leasing space on the commercial dock.
Mr. Ritchie said although he would like to see the fireboat stay in Greenport, he’s continuing to search for alternative ports.
