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Politics & Government

Parking Signs Removal Causes Conflict

Mayor David Nyce's decision to remove parking signs without consent of the other village trustees resulted in heated exchanges Monday evening.

Without parking meters or money to enforce existing parking regulations, Greenport Mayor David Nyce's decision to remove the new parking signs met with harsh criticism Monday evening.

After a three year process of conducting a parking study and enacting new parking regulations, earlier this year the Greenport Village Board voted against purchasing parking meters for the business district after public outcry over the meters. At the time, Nyce was the sole vote for purchasing the meters. After the vote, Nyce said the village did not funds to pay Southold Town for traffic enforcement. Nyce has since ordered the removal of the parking signs that went up last year. 

Eileen Kapell, wife of former Greenport Mayor David Kapell, called the mayor's act "vengeful." She asked the trustees if anyone of them knew the signs were going to be removed and each trustee said they were unaware the mayor had ordered them removed until after they were gone. She said the very presence of the sings could serve as a deterrent.  Kapell called Nyce's actions "childish," and "inappropriate" and said the signs removal will cause "havoc" for the village.

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Business Owner Perry Angelson agreed with Kapell and said just having the signs does deter people from staying in any one space too long.

"I'm amazed they were taken down becuase they do kind of work," he said.

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Business Improvement District President Peter Clarke said he was "disappointed" in the process that led to lack of support for the meters and enforcement. While Clarke said he understood the budgetary constraints of the village, he was surprised the signs were removed.

Nyce said the village has no money for parking enforcement. He said the sign were put up without board resolution and did not need a board resolution for removal. With the Tall Ships event coming up in May, the mayor explained the village is in the process of readying its streets for the event and removal of the signs is part of getting ready for the event.

"I asked the crews to take them down until such time we can put them up again," Nyce said.

The mayor further explained that currently the Southold Town Police will not enforce the parking regulations unless the village can come up with money to fund a traffic control officer. 

Audience members jeered at the mayor throughout his explanation and, at one point, the mayor asked for the Southold Town Police be called to escort Kapell out of the meeting. Ultimately the police were not called, but the contentious meeting continued.

Prior to adjourning, Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said she was upset and disappointed the signs came down and she said they offered guidance for some people. She said she believes the flow of parking could have been improved and that people did want enforcement. 

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