Dear Quogue Residents,

Spring is on the calendar, although definitely not in the air at the moment.  Be patient.  The real thing will be here in May sometime.  A few announcements, some relating to spring and some not:

Village Beach Stickers.  The Village Office will begin accepting applications for Village Beach stickers (and lockers) on Friday, April 1st.  Emails will go out to people on our email list at that time, and application forms will also be available on the Village website at www.villageofquogueny.gov.  Please follow the instructions carefully and take care to submit all the information that is required.  Please remember that applications may take up to five business days to process.   Pick-ups will be on Fridays only from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., commencing on April 29, and also on Saturday May 21, May 28 and June 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  You can also elect to have the stickers mailed to you.

April Leaf Pick-up. The Village Highway Department will begin picking up leaves on April 1.  Leaves must be on the shoulder of the street by April 30 in order to be picked up.  Do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment.  DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.  They will not be picked up, and you will have to remove them.  No brush, such as twigs and branches, or lawn cuttings will be taken away, and mixing this debris with leaves will result in the leaves not being removed.    Brush may be taken to the Town of Southampton recycling facility at 66 Old Country Road in Westhampton from April 15 to May 31. For more information go to https://www.southamptontownny.gov/334/Residential-Yard-Waste-Disposal-Policy.

Jessup Avenue.  If the weather cooperates to warm the ground sufficiently, we expect to have the final layer of asphalt placed on the road by May 1.

Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers.  The restrictions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Quogue enacted last year go into full effect on May 15.  After that date, the operation of those devices will be prohibited on Saturdays (as well as Sundays and holidays) until October 15.  Additionally, the only gas-powered leaf blowers that can be operated in Quogue when they are permitted (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays) between May 15 and October 15 must be rated to operate at a level not exceeding 65db(A).  Landscapers known to the Village have been notified several times of the restrictions, but enforcement will likely be difficult.  You can help by making sure that your own landscaper complies, speaking (politely) with your neighbors and reporting any violations in your neighborhood to the police.

Rentals.  For those of you who rent out your property, remember that the entire dwelling (not a floor or a room) must be rented, the minimum rental period is 14 days, and a rental permit is required from the Village irrespective of the time of year.  A well-intentioned New York State law enacted a couple of years ago threw some sand in the gears of the East End rental market by prohibiting the long-established practice of collecting in advance the entire rent for a multi-month seasonal rental.  A law enacted last fall by the New York legislature sought to legalize the past practice for seasonal rentals, but the requirements are very specific.  The lease must have three particular statements in it, the premises must be registered with the Village and the property may not be rented for more than 120 days in a year as a “seasonal use dwelling unit.”  The Village has an Addendum to its Rental Application (on the Village website) that spells out the requirements and refers to the appropriate section of New York law.   Landlords should consult it and comply lest a dispute with a tenant down the road makes non-compliance an issue.

Village Beach Food Concession.  The owner of the company that operated the Village Beach food concession for the past few years decided to take a step back and uncomplicate his life and so elected not to renew.  We are happy that the Quogue Market decided to expand its operation to the Beach and will commence operating there on Memorial Day weekend.  Please partake liberally of its offerings.

New Village Website.  A new Village website will launch (successfully, we hope) on April 1.

Hampton Theatre.  The Hampton Theatre Company’s production of Ripcord wraps up this week with the last show being a matinee next Sunday, April 3 at 2:30 p.m.  If you have not seen it yet, you should.  It has a very talented cast and is directed by Quogue’s own Andrew Botsford.  Your time will be well spent.  Go to http://www.hamptontheatre.org/ for tickets.

House numbers.  Remember to display your house number prominently.  It is the law, first of all, but more importantly it is for your own safety.  You don’t want an ambulance, police car or fire truck to be delayed looking for the correct house.

Car Thefts.  Theft of automobiles is an active illegal activity on the East End.  Do not ever leave your key fob in an unattended vehicle at your house or elsewhere.  That will help.

It’s coming.  Be happy; you live in Quogue.

Peter Sartorius
Mayor

QUOGUE SPRING LEAF PICKUP PROGRAM

The Village Highway Department will begin picking up leaves beginning April 1^st.   Leaves must be on the shoulder of the street by April 30th in order to be picked up.  Do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment.

DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.  They will not be picked up, and you will have to remove them.

No brush, such as twigs and branches, or lawn cuttings will be taken away, and mixing this debris with leaves will result in the leaves not being removed.  Brush with branches up to 3” in diameter may be taken to the Westhampton recycling facility free of charge from April 15th through May 31st.  For more information, go to www.southamptontownny.gov.

 In addition to the foregoing, property owners and landscapers who take leaves (only) from a Quogue property may make arrangements with the Quogue Highway Department to dump them at the highway yard.  That will avoid having piles in front of your property waiting to be picked up and blowing back onto your lawn.

Dear Quogue Residents,

The winter was looking pretty good with very little snow until the storm this past Friday and Saturday.  Mother Nature more than made up for the earlier shortfall.  Although the snow was characterized as “powdery” in media reports and did in fact blow all over the place in high winds on Saturday, by Sunday morning it was both deep and heavy to move.  The Quogue Highway Department, composed of six hard-working men with the best dispositions you would ever want to find, worked on Friday night, all day on Saturday until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and then again during the day on Sunday.  The clean-up continues this week.  If you have the opportunity, please thank them for all their hard work.  The Police and Fire Departments also responded to several calls during the height of the storm.  As Mayor, I must say that knowing that these very dedicated and competent people are on duty during events like this storm gives me a great deal of comfort.

Although winds were howling from the northeast all day on Saturday, an inspection of the Village Beach on Sunday morning revealed that the dune and steps were fully intact.  Whew!

At the December meeting of the Board of Trustees, it named the members of the construction committee that oversaw the renovation and expansion of the beautiful Quogue Library as its 2021 Persons of the Year.  Congratulations to Lynda Confessore, Sally McGrath, Paul Mejean and Barbara Sartorius.

In Police Department news, we appointed a new full-time officer earlier this month, Jonathan Stanton, and promoted 12-year veteran Bobby Hammel to the rank of Sergeant.  Detective Alex Gladding was named by the Department as 2021 Officer of the Year.  These honors are well-deserved by all of these individuals.

The officers of the Quogue Fire Department turned over at the first of the year.  Ben Hubbard completed a two-year term as Chief and was succeeded by Mike Nelson.  Thanks to both of them for their service to residents of the Village.

We have a new addition to the Village Office staff.  Deanna Miller joined us earlier in January.  She will normally be the first face you will see as you come to the window.  She is currently masked, unfortunately, but her friendly demeanor is still evident.  Please welcome her.

If you are up for a winter walk after the snow clears, head to Dune Road and use the new sidewalk from the bridge to the Village Beach that was completed in November.  Bundle up!

Winter is nearly half over.  Hang in there.  Summer will be here before you know it.

Peter Sartorius
Mayor

Dear Quogue Residents,
Most of you probably heard that Governor Kathy Hochul announced last Friday that effective today
(Monday, December 13) masks are required to be worn in all indoor public places unless the business or
venue implements a “vaccine requirement.” This policy applies to any publicly or privately owned
indoor space that is not a private residence—offices, stores, restaurants, post offices and all
others. Exceptions to the mask requirement exist for persons in a restaurant or bar who are “actively”
or “physically” eating or drinking (figure that out) and for individuals alone in an enclosed room. If the
masking requirement pertains (i.e. the place has not implemented a vaccine requirement), it applies to
everyone in the space over age 2 and able to tolerate a mask irrespective of vaccination status. If a
business or other venue chooses to implement a vaccine requirement, it must require proof of “full
vaccination” (I think we know what that means by now; boosters are not part of that definition) for
persons age 12 and older and a single dose for children ages 5 to 11. The new requirements will be
enforced by local Departments of Health (Suffolk County in our case), and violations by individuals or
businesses can result in civil fines of up to $1,000. The policy applies until January 15, 2022, but I am
pretty sure we will hear more about it before then. You can read more about the Governor’s
announcement and the surge in cases and hospitalizations that prompted it
here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-questions-proof-full-vaccination-or-maskrequirement-businesses-and-venues?emci=e116e11c-f15a-ec11-94f6-0050f2e65e9b&emdi=a23500d2-765b-ec11-94f6-0050f2e65e9b&ceid=239053.
If you have been in town, you have noticed that Jessup Avenue was fully opened and repaved just
before Thanksgiving. The contractor, South Fork Asphalt, will do a little more this month, and the
Highway Department intends to line diagonal parking spaces on the east side of the street, which should
eliminate the fairly randomized mix of parallel and diagonal parking that presently exists. The final coat
of asphalt and lining of the street will be accomplished in the spring. At that point, all the covers of the
drainage structures (primarily) and the curb structures will be flush with the street.
As we continue with the holiday season, please remember to patronize liberally our merchants in
Quogue. In addition to some of the obvious necessities of life (coffee, food and some alcoholic
beverages), there are many great gift ideas for young and old alike available in our stores. Avoid the
malls and crowds (see the first paragraph above), and shop local. You know that you want the stores
here to thrive, and so please use them.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday season, and make sure that you wear those masks to make it more likely
that you can do that.
Peter Sartorius
Mayor

Dear Quogue Residents,

I have had a few inquiries about the U.S. Census, and I will answer them as best I can.  The census is driven by physical addresses.  Aimee Buhl, our hard-working Village Clerk, spent many hours over the last couple of years working with the Census Bureau to verify physical addresses in Quogue.  That does not mesh well with our PO Box-based postal system, unfortunately, and census forms were not delivered through the mail to residents.  Nevertheless, some census forms have been delivered locally.  I know we got one a few weeks ago from a census worker who drove into the driveway.  Irrespective of whether you received your census paperwork, however, you can complete the on-line questionnaire available at https://my2020census.gov/login.  If you don’t have your 12 digit Census ID, you can click below the boxes where the ID would be inserted where it says “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.”  That should enable you to complete the questionnaire, I believe.  Alternatively, the census canvassing period has been extended by three months to October 31.  Although census workers are on the shelf right now because of the corona virus, they are scheduled to resume after June 1 and hopefully they will be fanning out in Quogue after that. Please make every effort to assure that you are counted.

Anyone who is entitled to unemployment benefits is probably aware that getting through to file a claim has been very difficult.  Yesterday, the State introduced a new streamlined system.  Here is the link:  https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/nys-department-labor-launches-new-streamlined-application-new-yorkers-apply-pandemic.  If you still are having trouble, try Assemblyman Fred Thiele’s office (631-537-2583).  He has offered to help constituents navigate through the system.

As you know, Governor Cuomo extended the NY PAUSE until May 15.  Nevertheless, discussions are beginning on the means to open up, and a number of task forces have been formed.  One very big issue is the beaches—whether or to what extent they will be open.  I expect that this decision will be made on a regional basis, but it is a difficult decision and I cannot predict the outcome.  More to follow.

If you want to follow the number of COVID-19 cases in the area here is a link to the Suffolk County website:

https://gis.suffolkcountyny.gov/portal/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/76a26a0c83634266aa9efc35bd4f1975.  A check of the website this morning shows 6 confirmed cases in Quogue on a cumulative basis.

We have had offers from residents to help others who need it (e.g., buy groceries).  If you need some help, please email the Village Office (contact@villageofquogueny.gov).

Please keep at least six feet apart from others, wear your mask when you are in public and stay safe.

Peter Sartorius, Mayor