Dan's Papers - May 6, 2008 - New Proposal Could Keep Nick's Beach Hopping

With the question of whether Nick's beach in Montauk will be issued a permit by the Suffolk County Health Department to operate hanging in the balance, local officials and the Montauk Chamber of Commerce met on April 25 to devise a plan. At issue were observed violations to a New State Sanitary code pertaining to "bathing beaches and bathrooms."

With over 35 Chamber members in attendance, including President Paul Monte and Executive Director Laraine Creegan, plans were made to satisfy the requests of Health Department Bureau Marine Resources Supervisor Mac Waters, who had given the Town of East Hampton a heads up a few weeks earlier about the issue, but had gotten no response. The Town is now hoping to present him with a proposal that will resolve the situation before June 1, the date Waters issues the Suffolk County Beach Permits.

After the meeting, Creegan acknowledged that Waters was correct to insist that actions be taken. Because a permanent bathroom facility cannot be constructed to code by Memorial Day and the portable facilities used last year are unacceptable for massive public use, the board is looking to advise the Town to contract bathroom trailers that have hot and cold running water. Creegan credited Assemblyman Jay Schneiderman, also in attendance along with Town of East Hampton Board members Julia Prince and Pete Hammerle, with actually finding a possible location for permanent bathrooms in accordance with New York State code.

"Jay found a slice of Town land close enough to the beach to be within the required distance," said Creegan. However, now the Town must act on the proposals that Waters hinted would enable Nick's Beach to receive a permit. In a phone interview, Waters said that his goal was not to shut down Nick's, but to enforce the law for the protection of the people who go there. Creegan said the Chamber was in agreement with Waters. But the Town plan to build permanent restroom facilities was rejected by the DEC last year because the proposed building site was in a coastal erosion zone. Under the New York State law, permanent facilities with hot and cold running water must be located within 500 feet of the edges of the lifeguard patrolled swimming area. Creegan said that the site found by Schneiderman is within this distance. Waters did not attend the meeting Friday, but made it known that the proposed steps are possible, and that he hopes to have Nick's Beach opened for use this season.

Creegan added, "The Chamber will do what it must to make sure the Town acts responsibly to do what Waters deems adequate to insure everything is within acceptable safe and sanitary guidelines. Nick's Beach is an important beach to the Village of Montauk."

It won't be too long before crowds of visitors and seasonal residents flock to Montauk, many who head for Nick's beach. Hopefully they will enjoy use of the upgraded restroom facilities. It's what the Montauk Chamber of Commerce wants, what the Town of East Hampton wants and what Supervisor Waters demands as he does his job in the best interest of public health safety.