Is the GOP throwing an illegal party?
Town code enforcers may crash victory bash
1 comments below
The Republicans will host a victory party and fundraiser at Great Rock Golf Club's Blackwells restaurant in Wading River, which the town has sued over throwing non-golf-related events.
The town has been in litigation with Great Rock's owners for allegedly holding non-golf related events at the site, and also has opposed their plans to build 78 condominiums there, said Wading River resident Dominique Mendez at a Town Board meeting Tuesday.
"Blackwells is not just an inappropriate choice of venue, but it's a slap in the face of residents who have been fighting the expansion and the non-conforming business being operated there," she said. "I've never heard of a Town Board having an event at a place they are suing for having similar events."
Supervisor Phil Cardinale, a Democrat who lost a re-election bid on Nov. 4, said the GOP's fundraising bash, scheduled for last night (Wednesday), may itself be illegal. He added that he will ask the town's code enforcement officers to investigate it.
"If it's a non-golf event, it's a problem," Mr. Cardinale said.
"They can cater. But it has to be golf-related catering. They've already signed a stipulation to that affect," Mr. Cardinale later said. "Are [the Republicans] going to be golfing first? If not ... that's an illegal gathering. But we can't do a thing to the Republican Party."
Ms. Mendez also questioned whether the new Town Board members will continue to pursue issues against Great Rock's owners.
"I can assure you it would not cloud any type of decision I make," said Councilman George Gabrielsen. Councilwoman-elect Jodi Giglio said she was told by town officials that the covenants banning non-golf events at Great Rock were never recorded.
tgannon@timesreview.com
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1 comments found
They they should just golf f first : 11/21/2009
The answer is so simple, the newly elected republicans should just go golfing first. Golf is a great sport anyway. Then, it seems, they will be within the limitations. I would not be surprised if they did not even know about this stipulation. If the republican's golf first and then invite a few friends, do the friends have to golf?
It does seem like an easy thing to get around and I have to admit that I am a little surprised that a person can, in theory, be loud and a distraction to the community only if they golf first. It is as though the real issue can't be won, that is that their neighbors don't seem to like having them around, golf or no golf, and so by creating a by-law that any catering or event has to be "golf related", detracts from that.
So based on the (helpful) comment made by Phil, again, they should just golf first. This is a "no brainer" since there is no stipulation that you have to be any good at it.
