Bulova Gets a Break

    The Sag Harbor Village Board waived a $206,575 fee Tuesday night for the renewal of the Bulova Watchcase condominium development’s building permit. The village attorney, Fred Thiele, reasoned that the developer, Sag Development Partners, had paid the fee once at a figure deemed “more than sufficient” and that collection of a second fee would constitute an illegal levy.

    New townhouses are now going up next to the old factory building, which is covered with a blue mesh tarp. The village board okayed the developers’ request to install temporary wood stairs, with rail and decking, to sit beside the trailer on Church Street.

    Angela Scott, a resident of Spring Street, spoke at some length on a controversial matter currently being considered by the zoning board of appeals. An application for stairs, part of a Garden Street expansion bordering wetlands, has aroused neighbors’ fears of water displacement. The neighbors, who are already concerned about existing flooding, have gathered expert opinions which have been submitted to the zoning board; now they want the village board to consider them. The board accepted the papers from Ms. Scott, and both Mayor Brian Gilbride and Mr. Thiele said they would look further into the application.

    Also on Tuesday, two restaurant owners voiced concerns about seating limitations. Parking regulations, they said, conflict with occupancy regulations, and the restaurateurs — Matthew Giufrida of Muse in the Harbor and Barbara Manning of The Cuddy, a new restaurant that will occupy the former Phao space — would like the board to reconsider the limitations.

    A request from Sag Harbor’s fire chief, Pete Garypie, to reinstate Scott Ficorilli to the active rolls, was approved. Mr. Ficorilli filed a claim against the village and fire department in July saying he had been improperly removed two months before. Mayor Gilbride recused himself from both processes because of a personal conflict.

    An amended law that would limit parking in village lots to 72 hours was briefly mentioned, but a full discussion was held until next month’s meeting.

    Robby Stein, a board member, explained that some 20 to 30 cars are taking up round-the-clock spots in the lots but are driven only on weekends.