VILLAGE BOARD MEETING VIDEO FOR 1/13/14: ROMEO APPOINTED/ALIVE AT FIVE PLANS

Before I get into the narrative regarding the video I want to mention that the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government is now on Facebook. We can be found there by searching for: Patchogue Village Citizens For Open Village Government. In the future our video will be posted to that site and via the Patch.  As well we are taking advantage of the fact that Facebook does allow for comments and we will be as a regular feature every week be asking questions about public issues in the village and inviting responses. Anonymous responses should be filtered out by Facebook and if they aren't we will.

We are looking to promote responsible discussion and one way of doing that is making sure that people are accountable for their comments and the first way for doing so is by making sure that real people not anonymous persons are commenting. To that extent discussion is moderated but after that people are free to speak about issues respectfully (no personal or group insults). We want to promote public debate not public degradation. We have two issues on that site already that are open for discussion: sandwich board regulation now pending before the Board of Trustees and the Parking Plus proposal for a two story garage and other changes meant to improve parking issues in the village. All are welcome to join in the discussion.

That said new video of the Patchogue Village Board of Trustees has now been posted to You Tube. Video filmed by the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government a resident citizens group. Patch readers can view the video directly and can skip the narrative below by going directly to the website for the Citizens Campaign: www.patchoguevillagecitizens.com.

The narrative below provides a concise time line of major events at the meeting and is not meant to note every single issue taken up at the meeting. The video has been viewed for technical issues. There are some those issues are brief and corrected during the course of the filming. Video taken by Jo Miller.

Part One

In minutes and seconds

2:40 Board accepts resignation of Village Justice Chris McGuire and then approves Mayoral appointment of Patricia Romeo as Acting Chief Village Justice.

5:02 Acting Judge Romeo sworn into office by former State Court Justice Underwood.

10:47 First public hearing....permit parking on west side of Railroad avenue from Church street to Unity place. One speaker: John Bogack....clarification of permitted parking sought and obtained...village attorney Egan explains legal limits on approval...resolution is approved but Ferb amendment to include east side of Railroad avenue from Church street to Gerard as permit parking too is scheduled for public hearing on 1/27/14 and vote thereafter.

16:41 Second public hearing of the meeting regarding restrictions on size of sandwich boards and placement...Trustee Devlin explains issues and initial proposal...public comment begins

31:59 Pamela Barr

34:38 Nicole Roamer

35:48 Lori Belmonti

35:36 John Bogack

41:55 Dennis Ross

50:03 David Kennedy

56:55 Lori Belmonti (second appearance)

After further Board discussion the issue is deferred for further review, additional public comment on 2/10/14 and the matter is adjourned until then.

Time line now in hour, minutes and seconds

1:01:29 Ownership transfer of Carnegie Library to the Patchogue Medford Library system...village attorney Egan explains legalities...approved

1:03:37 PM library representatives appear thanking the Board for its action and pledging a complete historical restoration and reuse of the building by the community once done.

1:08:13 Polling stations for village election in March designated and approved.

1:09:23 Chamber of Commerce Director Kennedy reports...Art Space exhibit...new publication to track arts events weekly...dates for Alive at Five 2014...parking meter issues...garbage collection issues on main street referred to...further comment on proposed calendar dates including Alive at 5 events deferred till later in the meeting.

1:19:50 Deputy Mayor Krieger reports....Patchogue Theater events....parking metering discussed with disclosure that 1500 dollars had been raised in first week of operation...fines of 25 dollars per violation set by Board....Mayor speculates on 6 million dollar cost for new parking spaces and refers to expected announcement of a new design plan that will address parking issues in the village...

1:33:11 Trustee Keyes reports...CDA budget imminent...additional payments for completed road repairs sought

1:35:35 Trustee Crean reports...beginning of discussion of approval of dates for various village events beginning with discussion of St. Patrick day event....Chamber Executive Director Kennedy returns to the public podium and begins discussion of this event....Part One ends.

Part Two

0:00 Video resumes with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kennedy commenting on planning for St. Patrick's day event...other events discussed...Pet Parade...Nautical festival.

5:07 Exec. Dir. Kennedy begins what turns out to be an extensive discussion of Alive at 5 proposed dates that includes request for consideration of two new aspects: changing the hours to close the event at 10 pm and reinstating one Friday evening...Board and some public comment thereafter about the implications of those proposed changes...end result dates are provisionally approved with final approval reserved for further assessment of security concerns and other factors.

33:10 dates for farmer market approved

36:38 Trustee Ferb reports....comments about Carnegie Library...discussion of future enforcement strategies by village Code Enforcement.

40:18 Trustee Devlin reports...survey of current art scene in village

43:48 Trustee Hilton reports..

Public To be Heard

45:46 Mary Kassner: issue of enforcement of zoning code presented

49:47 Pamela Barr seeks clarification of village rules regarding to some parking at the Congregational Church...reminds officials and public that the church has historical records available to the public going back to the foundation of the church 221 years ago

52:18 Nicole Roamer...issue of employee parking permits and access...Trustee Krieger states that employees may purchase 6 dollar monthly permit however permit does not guarantee any special access to metered parking spaces just reduced cost (main street use metered for all).

58:36 Richard Kemp....ineffective noise controls protested in vicinity of New Village...Mayor responds...need for road repairs brought up...public safety issue regarding village lighting on No. Ocean avenue also brought up

Now hour, minute and seconds

1:09:19 John Bogack....legal loopholes in village noise controls brought up...Mayor responds, public portion is closed....meeting is adjourned.

Just a reminder in closing. The Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government also posts a PDF copy of what is called the Trustee Packet. That copy is obtained by a freedom of information request prior to every meeting. The documents in that packet are the same ones that Trustees refer to during the course of a meeting and are not otherwise public record. They are posted on our site however consistent with the policy goals of the organization: public information ought to be shared where possible whenever possible.

Next video: Monday 1-27-14 6 p.m. Village Hall.