By Dylan Friedman
The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting Feb. 26. The meeting addressed a range of topics, including the ongoing bluff erosion issue, the financial status of the Port Jefferson Country Club and updates from the new Code Enforcement Department.
The meeting began with a moment of silence to remember long-time resident Don Pollock, who was often referred to as the “fifth trustee” for his frequent attendance and participation at board meetings.
Public safety was a key focus, with the Suffolk County Police Department providing an update on crime statistics in the village. Officer Robert Dekenipp reported that overall criminal incidents were slightly up compared to last year’s period, with a notable increase in harassment cases.
The code enforcement supervisors, Anthony Flammia and Kevin Cooper, then took to the podium to outline their activities over the past month. They highlighted meetings with local stakeholders, including the business community and residents, and enforcement actions taken, such as issuing violations for vacant storefronts without proper window displays.
Cooper emphasized the department’s focus on transparency, including the launch of an online complaint system for residents.
Additionally, a resident raised concerns about the village’s approach to the bluff erosion issue. Citing the recommendations of the bluff erosion committee, he urged the board to seriously consider a retreat plan, arguing that the current restoration efforts are ultimately doomed to fail.
“Mother Nature will eventually prevail,” he stated.
The resident also questioned the financial status of the Port Jefferson Country Club, saying that the facility is currently $700,000 in debt. “Who’s watching the ship?” he asked, criticizing the lack of transparency and calling for new elections for the club’s Board of Governors.
In response, Treasurer Stephen Gaffga acknowledged the need for greater financial oversight and transparency, noting that the board is working to correct past bookkeeping errors and improve budgeting practices.
“We are asking [department heads] to work collaboratively with the treasurer and the goal is to maintain a flat budget while still building a contingency fund,” Trustee Kyle Hill explained.
Later in the meeting, the board also addressed several action items, including approving a busking program, extending a website and social media management services contract and authorizing various budget amendments to correct past accounting issues.
Notably, the board scheduled a public hearing for March 26 to consider overriding the 2% tax cap. Gaffga explained that this is a procedural step, and the board’s goal is to maintain a flat budget without the need to pierce the tax cap.
In closing, the board appointed a local business owner, to the Public Safety Advisory Council, recognizing the value of her perspective in addressing community concerns.
The next Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees meeting will be held March 12 in the courtroom on the second floor of Village Hall.
For more information visit www.portjeff.com.
