Mitchell Park moratorium lifted, events policy to follow

The moratorium for Mitchell Park events will end this week.

The Greenport Village Board voted 3-2 during its meeting last Thursday to end the moratorium on mass public assembly permits for Mitchell Park as of May 1. Deputy mayor Jack Martilotta and Trustee Doug Roberts voted against lifting the ban. 

Since last June, there has been a moratorium on issuing permits for park events until a more definitive policy on park usages is developed, something that is expected to be presented at next month’s Village Board meeting.

Discussions over the issue intensified in 2011 after the Village Board rejected San Simeon by the Sound’s request to host a fundraiser at the park. Opposition to the event arose following complaints about non-village events clogging up the park and making the space unavailable to villagers.

Mr. Roberts said before casting his vote that he believes a policy about Mitchell Park events should be in place prior to the village getting rid of the ban. Mayor George Hubbard said the policy will be ready for a vote at next month’s regular meeting and that lifting the policy now will help to better prepare the village and organizers of summer events there.