Mascot Dock Will Not Rent Boat Slips in 2012

Mascot Dock will not be open for boats this year as a result of the damages caused to the dock by Tropical Storm Irene last August.

“The future of the Masoct marina lies in what we can get done with the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money,” Village trustee William Hilton said at Monday’s Village Board of Trustees meeting.

Hilton said FEMA will be awarding the Village slightly under $300,000, but a backlog in issuing the policies for using that money will prevent the Village from hiring workers for at least six more months.

“So anticipate work on the dock to not be done for probably about a year from now,” Hilton said.

Additionally Hilton indicated that even after the repairs, the amount of FEMA money will not cover the expenses to allow Mascot Dock to rent out its previous capacity of 60 boats. As a result, Hilton said fully repairing the dock is something that will have to be looked in consideration of the looming New York state two-percent tax cap.

Hilton also said that Patchogue Village lost $19,000 operating the marina after it had to close early for the entire 2011 season due to Irene.

In January, the dock partially re-opened to the public for walking, crabbing and fishing.