Liquor Authority's 30-Day Rule Might Help Greenport With Noise Complaints

Just as nightlife is about to go into full swing, the members of the village board are looking at ways to encourage downtown businesses to be respectful of their neighbors and may have found a vehicle courtesy of the New York State Liquor Authority.

Complaints about late night music and noise from bars and nightclubs have come with the growth of the village’s bustling nightlife. During a village meeting on Monday, Greenport Village Attorney Joseph Prokop said that any applicant to the liquor authority for a new or renewal liquor license must give their municipality a 30-day notice before the application deadline. The village can issue a recommendation to the liquor authority on how to proceed with the application.

During the 30-day window, the village can notify neighbors about the application, hold a public hearing, solicit comments from the public about the renewal and issue a recommendation to liquor authority. The liquor authority will then check to make sure the businesses are complying with all local laws, including traffic and noise ordinances and any prior violations of the state’s liquor laws.

Prokop said that his concern is that the village holds only one work session a month and the 30-day notification may fall within a window that the village cannot address the matter in a public setting or contact neighbors in a timely fashion.

“On the 30th day, applicants can get an expedtitor to try to get the license issued immediately,” said Prokop.

Village Mayor David Nyce said friction between business owners and residents is happening more and more, particularly noise complaints, as the village becomes a popular nighttime destination.

“We let businesses do a lot to bring people and businesses downtown. But how do we proceed now?” Nyce said.

Prokop said the village could amend the code or issue a resolution maybe limiting hours of operation but, if it is just a recommendation to the liquor authority, he questioned how specific the board had to be.

To complicate matters further, the village does have a noise ordinance on the books, but Trustee Christine Kempner pointed out Southold Town has no means for enforcing the village’s ordinance at this time.

Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said she understood businesses are trying to make as much money as they can but they have to reach some kind of common ground with neighbors.

Nyce said he wanted to clarify that although the village may hold a public hearing about the license renewal, the liquor authority makes the decision and they are under no obligation to the village or residents to act on their recommendations.

Nyce said he will solicit input from the Greenport Business Improvement District at its next meeting, and Prokop said he will make a draft proposal of the policy to present to the board at an upcoming work session.