Village Newsletter

Letter from Mayor Chris Fiore

Good morning, everyone! Summer’s moving on, and the ‘heat dome’ is behind us as we roll into August!

Some bits of information for you from your Board ….. next meeting is Wednesday, August 20 at 5 pm at Village Hall and, of course, on Zoom. We will introduce the wording of a revised fence code with the intention of an update and streamline. As well, we will introduce, for public input, a code addressing solar panels on residences, and that pesky “underwater land” allowance for calculation of residential gross square footage allowable. More on that below in the newsletter. 

As you read in my email to you yesterday, Greg Churchill, a member of the community since ’76 and a Planning Board member for 30 (count ‘em) years, is turning over his responsibilities to a new member, Zach Crawford. Along the same lines, Jane Babcook, a longtime member of the Architectural Review Board, has been named Deputy Chair for that Board. As you are aware, board members donate their time and energy to the needs of the village – we run smoothly and competently thanks to the contributions of the 3 boards and their volunteer members. Congrats and thanks to Jane; welcome Zach!

Thanks to those of you who have made donations and dedication requests to Lovelady Park! There are brochures and donation forms available at Village Hall, and all the information you need is spelled out at loveladypark.org. Still lots of opportunities to contribute or donate a dedication – keep in mind this is an official 501c3, meaning every dollar you donate is a tax deduction to a registered charitable organization. Please consider!

There is an important vote looming for all North Haven Point residents. We have been attempting to procure the parcel of land that is situated on the SW corner of North Haven Way, 3 NHWay. Many of you responded to a plea I made a year or so ago, as we wanted to preserve this parcel from development in perpetuity, it sits directly across Sunset Beach Rd from Lovelady.

The CPF and the Town Council responded positively – they came through with flying colors; the seller is patiently awaiting one last step: 66% of the residents of NHPoint need to vote “yes” on or before the annual HOA meeting on Saturday, August 23, at Village Hall. This vote absolves the parcel from maintenance payments ($1700/yr) and will clear the way for the purchase to be finalized, and that parcel preserved. I will be writing to all NHP residents in the next few days to alert you again to the methodology and paramount importance of this vote. 

Preserving open land has been a priority for me since taking office. The CPF has been most supportive of our requests. I have two additional pieces that are being considered by the Town; one new and one very close to fruition. Hopefully I can share the official news by mid-September. 

Thanks for giving me a bit of your time. Enjoy August and have some fun!!

Chris

Chris Fiore

Mayor

Village News

Two proposed changes to the Village Code will be the subject of public hearings at the next regular meeting of the North Haven Village Board on Wednesday, August 20 at 5 p.m. 

One proposal would set the rules for the installation of rooftop solar panels; the other would add language to the Village Code prohibiting the use of underwater land in calculating the size of a building lot.

Solar Code

The village currently has no code governing the installation of solar panels, even though the Building Department has routinely referred plans that include them to the Board of Architectural Review. 

Deputy Mayor Claas Abraham, working with Mayor Chris Fiore and others, has drafted a proposed local law would allow rooftop solar panels in both of North Haven’s two zoning districts but would prohibit them “on portions of a roof which are visible from an abutting street.” 

The proposal also would codify the requirement for a building permit subject to approval by the Board of Architectural Review. 

The full text of the proposed local law can be found on the village website by clicking here.

Underwater Land

The Village Board has been urged by Village Attorney Scott Middleton, land planner Billy Hajek and members of the Planning Board to add language to the “definitions and word usage” section of the zoning code to prohibit the inclusion of underwater land in calculating the total area in a waterfront building lot. That value determines how big a house in terms of gross floor area can be erected on the property.

The proposed code change, in defining “lot area,” specifies that it “shall not include … That portion of a lot that is underwater (including tidal areas, marshes, wetlands, lakes and/or ponds) or seaward of the mean high-water line.”

The full text of the proposed code amendment can be seen on the village website by clicking here. 

"Slow and Steady Wins Our Hearts" – A North Haven Tale of Turtle Kindness

If you’ve ever driven through North Haven on a warm spring or summer day, there’s a chance you’ve seen a small, dome-shaped traveler crossing the road at a determined (but very slow) pace. That’s a box turtle—our local reptilian neighbor—and for years now, I’ve made it a habit to pull over safely, check for oncoming traffic, and gently help these little adventurers off the road and into the brush… always in the direction they were heading. (Trust me—they know where they’re going.)

As it turns out, I’m not the only one with a soft spot for turtles. North Haven resident Laney Crowell has been rescuing box turtles too, and even encouraged her HOA—North Haven Point—to install turtle crossing signs to raise awareness and protect these ancient wanderers. We recently connected over our shared mission and couldn’t help but laugh at the realization that we’ve probably rescued dozens of the same turtles over the years.

Box turtles are native to our area, and sadly, they’re now listed as a species of special concern in New York due to habitat loss, road mortality, and slow reproductive rates. Unlike other animals, box turtles live long lives (often over 50 years!), and they form strong attachments to their home territories. That’s why it’s important never to move them far from where you found them—and always in the direction they’re walking.

So who was Lovelady Powell, whose name graces the 10-acre swath of open space at 19 Sunset Beach Road owned by the Town of Southampton Community Preservation Fund and managed as a park by the Village of North Haven? Ms. Powell lived for many years at that address. When he was 24 years old, half a century ago, Peter Boody (now a village trustee) was a reporter for The Southampton Press; he interviewed Ms. Powell at her Sag Harbor store, Glad Hand Antiques, for the July 3, 1975 issue of the paper. Here’s a link to that story from the website NYS Historic Newspapers.

Reminder: North Haven Pickleball Open Play

Mondays | 5:00–7:00 PM | Behind Village Hall

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for upcoming Pickleball Open Play sessions! Open to all skill levels—no partner needed.

Upcoming sessions:

✅ August 4

❌ August 11 – No session

❌ August 18 – No session

✅ August 25

✅ September 1

📅 Reserve here: YourCourts.com → Club Events → All Club Events → Pickleball Open Play

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

Board of Trustees Meeting Recaps

Board of Trustees Organizational Meeting Recap – July 2, 2025

• The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Oath of Office: Newly re-elected Trustee Peter Boody was sworn in for a new term.
• Mayoral Appointments:
• Claas Abraham re-appointed as Deputy Mayor
• E. Dianne Skilbred re-appointed as Parks Commissioner
• Additional board and committee appointments were made (see official minutes for full list)
• Annual Resolutions Passed:
• M&T Bank and NYCLASS designated as official Village depositories
• Authorized Signatories on Village accounts: Beth Kamper (Clerk-Treasurer), Chris Fiore (Mayor), Claas Abraham (Deputy Mayor), Dianne Skilbred (Trustee)
• Sag Harbor Express designated as the official newspaper
• Regular Board of Trustees meetings will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:00 PM *
• Next Organizational Meeting scheduled for July 2026

* Starting September 2025 the Regular Board of Trustees meetings will be held on the 3rd Tuesday at 5 PM and the work sessions on the 3rd Thursday at 10 AM. A separate resolution will be passed in due time prior to September.

Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Recap - July 16, 2025

• The meeting was called to order and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Trustee Max Rohn joined remotely.
• The Board approved the minutes of the June 18, 2025 Regular Meeting and the July 2, 2025 Organizational Meeting.

Introductions of Proposed Legislation:

• Proposed Local Law amending Chapter 163-5: Definitions and Word Usage
• Proposed Local Law regarding solar installations

Financial Business:

• The Board approved claim vouchers for:
• AP General Fund (FY 2024–2025)
• General Fund – July 2025
• Trust & Agency – July 2025
• The following reports were reviewed:
• Monthly Budget & Revenue Status Report – June 2025
• Bank Reconciliation Summary – June 2025

Departmental Reports:

• Building Inspector – Attached
• Harbormaster – Attached
• Architectural Review Board, Zoning Board, and Planning Board – Reports on file

Resolutions Passed:

• Authorization for the Mayor to sign the 2025–2026 personnel agreements
• Authorization for the Clerk-Treasurer to attend the NYCOM Fall Training School
• Appointment of Jane Babcock as Deputy Chair of the Board of Architectural Review
• Authorization to advertise public hearings on:
• Proposed amendment to Chapter 163-5
• Proposed solar law
• Authorization to refund a small claim tax assessment
• Acceptance of donation from the North Haven Village Parks & Trails Association for Lovelady Park, and authorization to remit payment to the vendor as invoiced
• Appointment of Zach Crawford as an alternate member of the Planning Board
• Adoption of the Revised 2025 Native Plant List
• Authorization for the Mayor to sign a proposal with Briscoe Protective for a new alarm system panel

Public Participation:

• No comments were made during the public participation period.

Adjournment

Upcoming Village Meetings

Recordings, Minutes and Agendas can be found here

Editor: Peter Boody

Mayor – Chris Fiore

Deputy Mayor – Claas Abraham

Trustees – Dianne Skilbred, Peter Boody, Max Rohn

Clerk - Beth Kamper