Village Board Votes to End Valet Parking on Public Streets

The Patchogue Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to end valet parking on public streets. Discussion on the issue centered around safety, particularly in the neighborhood around the restaurant.

Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri also announced that the new sewer plant will be opening on Tuesday, May 17.

For more from the meeting, minutes taken by Patch are below:

7:33 p.m. Pledge of allegiance.

7:35 p.m.: Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri said that next Tuesday a new sewer plant will be up and running with a ceremony at the plant around noon time. Bill Hilton will take the first glass of water. “The amazing thing is number one it came in on time and there were no other change orders,” Pontieri said.

7:36 p.m. Public discussion involving the purpose of ensuring that valet and professional parking services not operate on public streets.

“There are concerns of valets running up and down the streets,” Pontieri said.

Deputy Mayor Stephen McGiff: “I was doing research about this and found something from another municipality. A lot of these valet along with the safety element is that it obstructs public travel on the streets. We’ve had complaints last summer driving very fast along these streets, we’ve set up speed traps and its an accident waiting to happen. Conversely the issue is about clogging the public streets.”

7:38 p.m. Discussion among the trustees about safety issues for valet parking as well as business issues for Lombardi’s On The Bay.

7:48 p.m. Trustee William Hilton mentioned that the motion could essentially shut down valet parking at Lombardi's On The Bay.

"I think it’s going to completely fail if we are not even allowing them to go from one side of a street to another. With writing this we are preventing them from even crossing the road from their own valet parking lot," Hilton said.

McGiff said that a committee is being set up to help find a solution.

7:49 p.m. Public comments on the issue opened.

7:52 p.m.: John Bogack said that it would be good for the village and it would calm the streets down.

7:52 p.m.: Another resident expressed concern about how children were previously reported at the village board to have almost been hit by cars driven by valet drivers.

7:53 p.m.: A third resident in public comment said that the board should work closer with Lombardi’s since Patchogue business is now expanding. “Seems to me that the village should work a little closer with Lombardi since people are now coming.”

“They have expanded from their original application for their original capacity for their restaurant. When they opened they were fine,” Hilton said.

“One of the things that are going to happen is to set up a meeting and work with Lomabrdi’s to come up with a plan,” Pontieri said.

The resident says that they should postpone the decision until they meet with Lombardi’s.

McGiff said they have been meeting with them and the legislation is not out of left field.

“If there wasn’t a situation of the valets running up and down the block and being indiscriminate in how they do it, something is going to happen. This is a law, and everything is a work in progress, I think we need to control it now and we can always make changes,” Pontieri said.

8:03 p.m. Board unanimously approves the motion.

8:04 p.m. The board has begun discussion on changing the flow of traffic on Potter Avenue, in order to prepare it for new businesses under construction on Bay Avenue and Main Street which include a Checkers, convenience store and bank.

8:06 p.m. “On the stretch of Potter Street, it would be helpful to try to widen that section because it is narrow,” said Trustee Gerard Crean.

Pontieri said that the village should own that section so that would be possible.

8:07 p.m. Board unanimously approves the change.

8:08 p.m.: Discussion the approval of allowing a charity bike ride that starts in Manhattan that will be passing through Main Street on June 10. The motion owas approved.

8:09 p.m.: Patchogue Chamber of Commerce report is being given by Gail Hoag.

“We have networking this Wednesday at Capital One Bank from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Everyone is invited to that. On Saturday, Paul the Tailor is re-opening. I have been in touch with Rocco, the son, and they are very happy to be re-opening. The tailor was at Nordstrom’s, and everyone misses Paul,” Hoag said. The namesake tailor recently passed away.

 “They’ve asked everyone to stop down at noon on Saturday,” Hoag said. She also said that June networking will be at the Patchogue YMCA Family Center. She also said that her husband George Hoag, who is on the YMCA’s Board, will be honored at an award ceremony on Thursday.

8:13 p.m.: Trustee Jack Krieger asked to clarify that the Battle on the Bay is not happening in Patchogue due to calendar conflicts, because he noticed signs promoting fundraisers for the event and that the event is instead being held in Sayville for 2011.

8:15 p.m.: Krieger is giving the theatre report. Comedian David Brenner performed on Saturday and had dinner at the Main Street Italian Bistro.

 Krieger said that Avenue Sound is holding its annual show on June 11 and 12, and asks for Potter Street to be closed. However another local business on that street would need it to be open. The board motions to approve the request pending an alternate plan.

Krieger also requested and received approval for a Make-A-Wish foundation at Brick House Brewery for Sunday, June 26.

8:18 p.m.: Crean is giving the economic development report. Asked the board come up with a list of businesses that they would like to attract to the village, that can be submitted to the county so such businesses could take advantage of a tax abatement.

8:21 p.m.: Hilton: “We are just finishing up the final proofs for parks and recreation, they should be coming up in ten days. We have a new format and I think you will like it.”

Hilton requested and received approval for Grace Gospel Church to use Rider Avenue complex for a sfotball camp, for Holy Angels Regional School to use Rider Avenue Park and Shorefront Park from May 20-24 and to hire seasonal staff. Also requested and received approval to hold a Liz K 5k memorial run on September 25.

8:25 p.m.: McGiff requested and received approved approval to hire a new public safety officer.

8:25 p.m.: Trustee Lori Devlin requested and received approval to appoint Kathy Seff as an alternate on the ARB board.

8:26 p.m. Trustee Keyes re-iterated the opening of the sewer plant next Tuesday. Requested and received approval to execute the annual Traffic Maintenance contract with Johnson Electrical Construction Corp, and to award the bid for the purchase of a bucket truck to Altec Industries and to have the village board take the lead to apply for a grant for an archway.

8:30 p.m. Public comments. John Bogack asks if there is a formal way to give suggestions to the Village. Pontieri said they always take suggestions but there is no formal suggestion box.

8:31 p.m. Meeting adjourned.