On December 18th, the Suffolk County Legislature agreed to sell the Long Wharf to the Sag Harbor Village for $1. It gives Sag Harbor full control of the Long Wharf. It also makes the village financially responsible to cover the long-term costs of caring for the facility.
It was those costs, that led former Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy’s office to suggest Sag Harbor Village take over the wharf. “I am happy the village is willing to take it,” Jay Schneiderman said.
More than two years of back-and-forth, The Suffolk County Legislature at first would not agree to sell the wharf and the adjoining Windmill Beach to the village, citing its potential value. There were also discussions about the village sharing revenues generated by the wharf — used to dock luxury boats in the summer season — with the county. But according to Sag Harbor Village Mayor Brian Gilbride, the village’s basic upkeep of the wharf often can exceed the $30,000 to $90,000 generated by dockage.
Eventually, with the legislature easing the costs of Long Wharf would probably be best by giving it to Sag Harbor Village. On Tuesday Schneiderman was able to secure a 16-0 vote in favor of the sale. But even that was preceded with yet another discussion about the wharf’s value, according to Schneiderman.
Gilbride said he believes it is in Sag Harbor’s best interest to control the wharf. “It is a big part of our history and it should be ours,” he said.
Gilbride would like the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees to create a reserve account dedicated to the wharf, placing about $100,000 annually into it.