One month after Mayor David Nyce refused to speak about a possible lease agreemeent involving Greenport Village and the North Ferry, Deputy Mayor George Hubbard shed some light on the matter Tuesday night.
Hubbard, who was running the monthly village board work session in Nyce’s absence — Nyce will be on vacation until early February — said he wanted to address the issue that had some residents crying out for answers in December.
“I want to give some insight on where we stand,” Hubbard said.
Last month, tempers flared at the Third Street Firehouse as a resident asked Nyce to discuss ongoing negotiations between the North Ferry Company and the Village of Greenport over a proposed agreement that would allow the company to rent the west pier at Mitchell Marina.
Hubbard said Tuesday that there was only room on the west dock for one boat.
The North Ferry “offered a price, we countered, and neither was happy with the price,” Hubbard said. “Right now, there is nothing in writing, no agreement.”
The last time Greenport officials had met with the North Ferry was in August, Hubbard added. “We didn’t sign anything and now, they’re not speaking to us anymore. As of right now, there are no ongoing negotiations, nothing to see.”
The reason why the North Ferry was interested in the pier was due to the “hazards of navigation”; he said, adding that if the matter should come up again, he would inform the public.
North Ferry Manager Bridg Hunt was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.
Last month, resident John Saladino asked the mayor why he could not discuss the matter at a public meeting; Saladino said he spoken to the Suffolk County attorney’s office and been told that no law prevented the mayor from discussing the issue if he so chose.
“The village wouldn’t be put at a disadvantage,” Saladino said.
Saladino maintained that the village could collect $18,000 more that the proposed $8000 to $8500 they would receive from the North Ferry in a proposed long-term lease agreement, by renting the pier to the sea of boats that currently have to be turned away from the dock.
The pier, he said, could generate at least $26,000 as a flood of large boats seek to dock at the west pier, Saladino said after the meeting, adding that the village has made a “significant investment” in electric at the marina last year.
“This is literally something that could put this marina on the map,” Saladino said at the meeting. “We shouldn’t limit our options by taking away rental space. I honestly believe this is something residents should know about. It’s a village asset that produces income for the village, and $18,000 is a lot of money.”
Nyce said the board was “not discussing” the issue “at this time at the advice of counsel, while we are negotiating. The information you have is not complete. We are requested not to discuss this in the public domain. When we are at the point to enter an agreement, we will discuss,” publicly, Nyce said.
Saladino then requested to discuss the matter with Village Attorney Joseph Prokop and asked Nyce if he could do so.
“You are out of order, Mr. Saladino,” Nyce said.
Saladino said he was not out of order. “You’re not being responsive to the public,” he said.
“I”m going to ask you to leave in a minute,” Nyce said, using his gavel.
“This is okay with you guys?” Saladino asked the rest of the board.
“You are out of order, sir,” Nyce said, adding, “That was interesting.”
“It really was,” Saladino said.
“Would you like to leave now, please?” Nyce asked. “Until you come back into order and remain in order you will be asked to leave.”
“I am not leaving. I didn’t do anything,” Saladino said.
“You will remain quiet. Next time you are out of order you will be asked to leave,” the mayor said.
