How Do You Feel About New Special Events Legislation?

Despite the fervent pleas of winery representatives and farmers last week to hold back before voting on special events legislation that they said could hurt their efforts to remain viable, the Southold town board voted to pass the measure.

Sal Diliberto, secretary of the Long Island Wine Council said many, including LIWC's executive director Steven Bate and Joe Gergela of the Long Island Farm Bureau, were disappointed that the legislation was on for a vote despite concerns raised at an earlier meeting. 

The hope, he said, was that the board would review the proposed changes to the legislation.

"At a time when businesses are still suffering from the economy over the past several years, the Town of Southold wants to burden small businesses with time-consuming permit applications and fees and threaten them with burdensome fines and penalties," he said.

The wine industry, he added, is the key component in the economic engine that drives the East End. "The Town of Southold should be doing things to benefit that industry," he said.

Under the new legislation, he added, being slapped with a misdemeanor charge could mean that the New York State Liquor Authority  could make it difficult for businesses to renew their licenses and "put at risk businesses we have spent time and money to build."

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the next discussion before the board will be in regard to identifying uses allowed at wineries. The legislation voted upon, he said, was meant to "codify a process that is already in place."

The goal, he added, was to allow agricultural operations such as farms to be creative and host special events, as well.

Chris Baiz of Southold asked what happened to suggestions, in regard to language, that were made at the last meeting.

"I think we've come a long way, with a great deal of transparency," he said, adding that one more code committee would be welcomed before the vote.

"It would be nice if we could all cross the finish line in accord," he said.

Russell said the suggestions of local farmers and winery owners have always been heard and the board would continue to listen moving forward.

After the public discussion, Councilman Jim Dinizio made a motion to table the vote; the motion was voted down.

Councilman Bill Ruland said he believed the board was at a point where the law should be enacted to see how it worked, and voted yes to adopt the legislation; Doherty also voted yes.

Councilman Chris Talbot voted no. "We are all reaping the benefits of wineries and farms," he said. "For a Republican government to throw another hurdle in the way of these businesses that are struggling to survive — a perfect example is the Peconic Bay Winery, which has closed its doors," he said. "I adamantly vote 'no.'"

His words were met by applause.

Evans and Russell both voted yes, 

What do you think of the new special events legislation? Do you feel farmers and winery owners were not heard? Share your thoughts with Patch.