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|  | | By Arlene Gross | | |
May 15, 2008 | 02:37 PM
Following three minutes of his accusations that the town has secret plans for a new boathouse and boardwalk at Gold Star Battalion Beach, resident John D'Esposito was asked to leave the podium at Town Hall last Tuesday.
"John, stop it now," Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone bellowed. "When you guys come in here now, show a little respect. It's a disgrace when you come in here and act obnoxious."
Acting on a tip just days before from a fellow member of the Alliance for the Preservation of Huntington's Harbors, D'Esposito said he rushed down to Gold Star Battalion Beach to catch the tail end of the Sagamore Rowing Association's anniversary celebration.
"I heard from Sagamore that, yes, there was indeed plans for a new boathouse on town parkland, public parkland, and Ms. Berland you supported it," said D'Esposito, who lives within walking distance of the beach.
"There are no plans, John," countered Petrone. "I haven't seen any ... And there's nothing, to our knowledge, honestly. If we had plans, there would be no reason for us not to share them."
D'Esposito shot back, "We'd like to see the $600,000 that you promised to the county to actually go toward the renovation of the Coindre Hall boathouse."
Petrone replied, "If the county would get moving, we're going to spend it."
The back and forth banter went on, with D'Esposito alluding to rumors of a feasibility study for a boardwalk and with Petrone essentially quashing those rumors, explaining that the town has neither the money nor the property for one.
D'Esposito said, "We're watching and we're concerned."
Petrone said, "I know you're watching, John."
When D'Esposito complained that many of the schoolchildren who use the boathouse live in the south end of the county, Petrone rejoined, "Some of them are from the south end of town and they want to see the water, too."
Councilwoman Susan Berland, who had attended the May 3 event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the rowing association, said, "It was not a surreptitious meeting. It was a celebration of the Sagamore Rowing Club."
But D'Esposito said, "The Sagamore people that I spoke with seem to think that the town was ready to move on building on Gold Star."
Berland said, "I've always supported a boathouse on Gold Star, but there is no plan. I do believe there is a way to do it at Gold Star Beach to make everybody happy."
According to Rich McLoughlin, Sagamore's secretary and treasurer, the only new information he had was that the town will administer the boathouse for the county park.
"They've made their promise to the county that the money that originally was to go to a new boathouse is for the Coindre Hall boathouse," McLoughlin confirmed.
"We're bursting at the seams," he added. "We would love to have another space, but the boathouse was a real turn-off to the neighbors. They didn't want another boathouse on Gold Star Battalion."
Immediately following the town board meeting Petrone remarked upon D'Esposito's claims. "He continuously second-guesses," Petrone said. "He hears something, he comes in and he accuses. He's very condescending. We're here and we'll talk to anyone, but to come in and to just have his attitude...."
"I think he's protective of where he lives," Petrone continued, "and we're protective of 200,000 people that deserve to see the water and be part of the waterfront and I really think that's what it boils down to."
Berland said after the meeting, "I am in favor of building a boathouse. I think that the renovation at Coindre Hall is one thing, but it doesn't add at all to the size of the property. If we could work something out with the county where we could do an addition, I would support something wholeheartedly."
Due to Coindre Hall's historic nature, Berland said the cost for a new boathouse could be prohibitive. She also noted objections from people who live nearby, who fear that a new building could disturb their water view.
D'Esposito later claimed that Gunther Uthgenannt, president of Sagamore, said there are plans for a new boathouse.
But Uthgenannt said he did not even speak to D'Esposito that Saturday of the rowing club's ceremony. "It would be nice to have a bigger place, but it's not going to happen," he said.
Another concerned citizen, Jeff Bartels, of Huntington, focused his attention on the extant Coindre Hall Boathouse.
Claiming his mission at Town Hall meetings is to point out liability and safety issues to the town, Bartels said, "I first suggest that you build a safe boardwalk with railings that goes from Gold Star Battalion beach where everyone accesses the boathouse."
Stating he had already contacted the county fire marshal about outboard gas containers boaters store inside the building, unlit fire exits, broken safety globes on lights and a lack of fire extinguishers anywhere in or out outside of the boathouse, Bartels also complained about the unsafe dock and its lack of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"You have these programs down there and you have zero accessibility for handicapped people and I find it atrocious," he said.
Acknowledging his and Bartel's meeting that had been scheduled for the next day, Petrone said, "We will talk further about this and we will also discuss the fact that it is a county facility."
After that meeting, town spokeswoman Fran Evans said issues of safety and handicapped access were not discussed.
"The boathouse belongs to Suffolk County and we are willing to assist the county financially with the renovations, but must first work out an inter-municipal agreement, which is being negotiated at the present time by the town and county attorneys," said Evans.
But according to county Legislator Jon Cooper's (D-Lloyd Harbor) office, the county attorney's office has been waiting to hear back from the town attorney since the end of April.
Even as they are finalizing the inter-municipal agreement, Cooper's office said, the county's commissioner of parks has committed to moving forward while the final touches are put on the contract. However, there is no specific start date for renovations.
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