A last-minute addendum to the East Hampton Village Board meeting, a resolution to amend the concession agreement to allow the Beach Hut at Main Beach to serve alcohol on the premises, providing it secures a New York State wine and beer license, sparked more debate than a $6.8 million bond appropriation bill, and it wasn’t even listed on the official agenda.
“I think this is a little premature,” said Arthur Graham, a trustee. “We have village code in place that you cannot drink on Main Beach during lifeguarding hours. Even if we passed this, they would not be able to do it. I think we need to do this all of one parcel, with a public hearing to amend the code, where the public can weigh in. . . . I think there are a lot of details that need to be worked out on this before we vote on anything.”
“Well, the details have already been worked out by our department heads,” said Mayor Jerry Larsen.
“You were going to let us know this was all worked out when, Mayor?” asked Mr. Graham.
“I’m letting you know right now,” said Mr. Larsen. “Our job as a board is to authorize or not authorize and let our department heads take the appropriate actions. And if a law needs to be changed, we will do it before the summer.”
“It would have been nice if we had this whole discussion at a work session,” Mr. Graham said. The board has not been holding regular work sessions for some time.
“If you have concerns, you can actually reach out to the department heads. We don’t have to have all this grandstanding before an election,” said Mr. Larsen.
“It’s hardly grandstanding, Jerry. It’s making sure the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”
Village Police Chief Michael Tracey then spoke about the alcohol and said he was the “lone holdout” when this was originally discussed, the “I wouldn’t do that if I were you” commentator. But after sitting with Drew Smith, the beach manager, Marcos Baladron, the village administrator, and Susan Seekamp, the owner of the Beach Hut, he said his fears were assuaged.
He was worried mostly about glass and debris on the beach, consumption on the beach itself, and under-age drinking. But he said drinking would be restricted to an area under the overhang directly in front of the Beach Hut. Signs would let people know that alcohol consumption was not allowed on the beach itself. A camera, directly over the point of sale, would videotape each transaction, and IDs would be checked. An app would take the name of each person buying alcohol and store the information so it could be retrieved later if there was an issue.
He said Ms. Seekamp “has met all of our suggestions” and that the concession would be closed by 9 each night. The chairs under the overhang would be brought inside each night so that people would not be hanging around drinking on the pavilion. He felt that the lack of parking at the beach would be enough to limit large numbers of people gathering there.
Mr. Smith said the lifeguard station is right by the Beach Hut and that the guards could act as extra eyes should Ms. Seekamp need any assistance. “I don’t foresee this being an issue,” the beach manager said.
Mr. Graham asked if the Beach Hut concession was now extended to include the tables under the overhang and how many tables that included. If so, he wondered, why wouldn’t the village extract more rent for the expanded concession?
“Six tables,” said Mr. Larsen. “We did it last year as well, but it wasn’t in writing. . . . You can only consume alcohol at the beach on the pavilion if you’re buying it from the concession and you’re sitting in her space.” He said the village was the only place where alcohol was banned in East Hampton Town.
I don’t see this as a big draw, he said. “There are people out there who like to throw out a scare card. . . . ‘The buses are coming, and the kids are going to bring their cases of beer.’ . . . But people don’t understand before they speak and that’s what causes a lot of this nonsense to become a life of its own. . . . This is just an amenity for the people . . . at the beach. . . . This is just something nice to offer people.”
“I’m not against the Seekamps,” said Mr. Graham. “I think we are offering them outside tables for their patrons and we’re offering them the ability to sell beer and wine. I’m sure if that was in the bid contract, we would have attracted other people.”
Mr. Larsen said they would sell the beer and wine as a pilot this year and see if there were any issues. The lease could be renegotiated next year.
Mr. Graham also wanted to ensure that the village was covered by insurance. Vincent Messina, the village attorney, said they would be sure there was liability insurance to cover the village.
During the public comment period, David Gans, a village resident, brought up a potential “deficiency of information” in the Seekamps’ license application and that they received a letter from the State Liquor Authority on March 30. Maureen Bluedorn also spoke out against the board’s lack of transparency and said of the application, “How can you approve alcohol to be sold at Main concession without a public meeting?” She said the board’s legislative mantra was “If it doesn’t work out, we can change it.”
A spokesperson for the State Liquor Authority, Bill Crowley, said by email that the Seekamps had left some minor points out of their application, but that wasn’t uncommon. It might delay the application, but only because the agency required the information before they could move forward with granting the license.
In the end, despite the back and forth, the board voted unanimously for the resolution to allow the Beach Hut to serve alcohol for the 2022 season providing they get that license.
A few callers weighed in on the tables outside Hampton Chutney on Newtown Lane. A woman from Amagansett said it was “delightful to have fresh energy on that end of Newtown Lane.” Karen Teller of Springs said she was a “frequent flyer” at the spot and that it “opened up that area” by the train station and has become a place to hang out. She said it’s important that they have the outdoor space and that it brought foot traffic. The tables, she added, don’t “seem to be obstructing anyone’s walking.”
“I agree with you 100 percent,” said Mayor Larsen.
Regina Scully said she owns property right in the village and that it is nice to have a place to “speak to your neighbors” outside in the fresh air. The tables were “such a benefit to the community,” she said.
The tables sit on village property and were donated to the village by the eatery, Mr. Larsen explained, adding that they “are not going anywhere . . . we’re happy to have them.”
“Amagansett’s loss is East Hampton Village’s gain,” said Chris Minardi, the deputy mayor. He said that those who like the tables outnumber those who do not.
