Village Newsletter

Letter from Mayor Chris Fiore

CAN WE STILL SAY “INDIAN SUMMER”?

Welcome to the official first weekend of Autumn, 2026! The 70’s are back!!

Hopefully you all made it through the Nor’easter with little to no damage, and your cleanup with gas powered leafblowers is complete. The ban is back in effect until November 1. When gas blowers will be permitted again thru April 30. 

TICKS:

There was an interesting update in The Express on ticks and Four-Poster stations, highlighting the success Deputy Mayor Abraham has achieved with North Haven’s tick-control program and the significant reduction in the local tick population. Click here.

ROUNDABOUT SAFETY:

Trustee Max Rohn has taken on the question of safety at our traffic circle; pedestrians, bikers, and runners experience a dangerous pocket of traffic and limited sight when attempting to negotiate our roundabout. Max has contacted the State (Ferry Road is a state-maintained thoroughfare) and the Dept. of Transportation has acknowledged the need and will commence a study shortly.

We need clearer and better managed crosswalk use, fresh paint, interactive crosswalk signing, and better lighting. Remember to wear light and/or reflective apparel, bike helmets, and bike lights, regardless of the time of day. Max will keep us posted on the progress NYS makes. 

FAMILY WATER DAY:

IT’S TODAY!!! Last weekend’s storm bumped out Family Water Quality Day to….today!!  Bring the kids for a fun exploration experience for land, sea and wildlife. TODAY at 10am at the beach on Sunset Beach Road. Join us and the Group for the East End for this exciting program!

THE RENTAL FEE KERFUFFEL

Most home rentals are complete by now, but I am aware of a bit of holdover angst over the Village’s raising of fees for long term rentals. 

Let’s look at the facts: The village hadn’t touched the fee schedule for many years; the increase was long overdue. As of last April 2025, we ask for a two year rental term at $250/year, up from $200/yr. In response to the tragic recent happenings involving fires and pool drownings, we instituted a required health and safety inspection, also good for 2 years. We require the inspection certifies the smoke alarms, pool fencing and door alarms function according to local and NYS codes.  The owner can hire any certified architect or engineer to perform this inspection. But if you wish, we will send our Building dept. employees to do this, and will charge $1000 for the inspection. 

It makes no sense to have  tax dollars used to inspect a proposed rental property; it should be paid by the owner. Someone complained to me back in the early part of the season that this was a “money grab.’ Hardly. You have options, but we feel it is a small price to pay to ensure safety and health. 

THE FAR

The FAR revision did not make it through the latest Open Hearing. We trustees had wished to introduce legislation that would protect the character and spirit of our neighborhoods, by limiting the proliferation of McMansions, especially on small parcels.  We tried. The voices we heard at the meeting last month do not share our concern about this issue, so we will regroup and evaluate the next approach. 

ENJOY!!

Leaves are turning, mornings are cool and crisp, pumpkins are sprouting. Enjoy this wonderful season!!

Chris

Chris Fiore

Mayor

Village News

All Ashore by October 31!

It’s that time of year again - summer has officially sailed off into the sunset, and our boats need to follow suit.

A friendly reminder to all residents that all boats must be removed from Village beaches and out of the mooring field by October 31.

So before the pumpkins take over and the temperatures really start to drop, please make sure your boat has found its winter home on dry land.

Deadline: October 31. No boats left behind!

Our Mayor Is Officially an Award-Winning Broadcaster

Apparently, running the Village of North Haven isn’t enough to keep Mayor Chris Fiore busy.

When he’s not at Village Hall, you may hear him on WLNG 92.1 FM, where the New York State Broadcasters Association recently honored the station for its public-service program Mayor’s Moment.

Airing at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, Mayor’s Moment brings Chris together with longtime WLNG host and journalist Bonnie Grice and a rotating local mayor or town supervisor to discuss the latest happenings across our East End communities.

Scoop the Poop — Your Neighbors (and Our Waters) Will Thank You

We love our dogs in North Haven. We love seeing them out for their morning walks, evening strolls and occasional attempts to convince their owners that the deer across the street absolutely needs to be chased.

What we don't love is what sometimes gets left behind.

So, a friendly reminder to all of our four-legged residents—and, more importantly, the two-legged ones holding the leash: when your dog goes, please pick it up.

Besides the obvious reason that nobody wants an unexpected surprise on the bottom of a shoe, dog waste is more than just a neighborhood nuisance. It can also become a water-quality problem.

When pet waste is left along a road, on a lawn or near a drainage area, rainwater can carry bacteria and nutrients into our stormwater system and eventually into surrounding waters. Pet waste contains nitrogen and phosphorus, along with bacteria and parasites. Those nutrients can contribute to excessive algae growth and reduced oxygen levels in the water, which can harm fish and other aquatic life. Fecal bacteria can also affect waters used for swimming and shellfishing. In a Village surrounded by water, what gets left on the ground doesn't necessarily stay there.

And yes, North Haven's Village Code actually addresses this. While you won't find a "pooper-scooper" provision in Chapter 61, Dogs and Other Animals, §139-7 of the Village Code specifically identifies the improper management of pet waste as an activity that can contaminate stormwater. The Village's Stormwater Management Program also calls for pet waste to be promptly picked up, sealed and disposed of in the garbage.

The Village has even installed pet-waste bag dispensers in several locations to help. In other words, we've supplied the bags. Your dog supplies the rest. Please complete the transaction.



It's a very small thing each of us can do that makes a surprisingly big difference: cleaner roads and neighborhoods, happier neighbors, fewer unfortunate shoes—and cleaner bays, coves and waterways.

So please remember:

Bag it. Tie it. Trash it.

Your neighbors will thank you. Our waters will thank you.

And while your dog probably won't thank you, we're fairly certain he won't take it personally.

Board of Trustees Meeting Recaps

Board of Trustees Meeting Recap - Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026

The Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on September 15 at Village Hall and via Zoom.

Proposed Gross Floor Area and Lot Coverage Changes

The Board continued the public hearing on proposed changes to Chapters 163-5 and 163-13 of the Village Code.

The proposal would reduce the additional allowance for accessory structures from 15% to 10% and change how attached garages are counted toward a property’s permitted gross floor area.

Approximately 40 residents spoke during the hearing Concerns included:

• The effect on owners of smaller properties.
• Reduced flexibility for renovations and additions.
• The different treatment of attached and detached garages.
• Potential effects on property values.
• Whether the proposal would address the specific types of oversized homes that prompted the discussion.
• The need for additional community input and a broader analysis of how many properties would be affected.

Residents also submitted petitions.

Variance and Special Permit Procedures

The Board opened a separate public hearing on proposed amendments to §163-47 of the Village Code concerning variance and special-permit procedures.

The proposed amendment would extend the period for obtaining a building permit following an approval from one year to three years. The Board completed the environmental review but tabled final consideration of the proposed local law until October 20.

Low-Profile Boat Lifts

The Board continued its discussion of low-profile boat lifts, including appropriate dimensional standards and how to address existing lifts that may not comply with current Village requirements.

The matter was referred to an upcoming work session for additional discussion.

Water-Quality Outreach

The Board approved payment of up to $10,000 to the Group for the East End for the Village’s 2026 water-quality communication and outreach program.

The partnership supports the Village’s ongoing effort to educate residents about protecting groundwater and surrounding waterways, including reducing fertilizer use and encouraging environmentally responsible landscaping.

Board Actions

The Board:

• Approved the August 18 regular meeting minutes.
• Reviewed the August budget and revenue reports and the June, July and August bank reconciliations.
• Approved new capitalization thresholds of $2,500 for machinery and equipment and $5,000 for infrastructure and major capital projects.
• Authorized a $1,000 payment to George Butts for the use of his personal vehicle and mileage while conducting Village business during the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
• Approved payment of up to $10,000 to the Group for the East End for the 2026 water-quality outreach program.
• Accepted the Building Inspector, Code Enforcement, Harbormaster and land-use board reports.
• Postponed further discussion of purchasing a Village vehicle until October.

Public Participation

Additional matters raised by residents included:

• The feasibility of creating a Village boat ramp.
• Public education concerning invasive species and native plantings.
• The availability of supporting documents with meeting agendas.
• Additional community outreach before major zoning changes are considered.

Next Meetings

• Special Meeting: September 17, 2026
• Regular Board of Trustees Meeting: October 20, 2026

Board of Trustees Meeting Recap - Work Session - September 15, 2026

The Board of Trustees held a work session on September 17 at Village Hall and via Zoom with one person in attendance. The discussion included possible alternatives to the proposed gross floor area amendments, architectural review standards, low-profile boat lifts, water-quality programming, traffic safety and several other Village matters.

Gross Floor Area and Architectural Review

Following the extensive public comments received at the September 15 meeting, the Board discussed whether the proposed changes to the Village’s gross floor area regulations should continue in their current form.

The discussion acknowledged the significant opposition to reducing the accessory-structure allowance and changing how attached garages are counted. Board members considered whether the Village’s underlying concerns about oversized or visually imposing homes might be addressed more effectively through strengthened architectural review rather than a uniform reduction in permitted square footage.

Ideas discussed included:

• Establishing clearer standards for building mass, scale, composition and façade articulation.
• Requiring three-dimensional renderings showing a proposed house in relation to surrounding homes and neighboring properties.
• Requiring appropriate municipal planning and zoning training for Architectural Review Board members.
• Adding a qualified architect to the Architectural Review Board or retaining an architect as a nonvoting consultant.
• Giving the Architectural Review Board clearer authority to request design changes when a proposed house technically complies with zoning requirements but may still appear overly massive or inconsistent with its surroundings.

The Board agreed that any new standards should be objective enough to provide applicants with reasonable guidance and avoid arbitrary or inconsistent decisions.

The current gross floor area proposal will remain tabled while these alternatives are developed and reviewed. The Board also discussed consulting architectural historian Zach Stutenroth regarding possible revisions to the Architectural Review Board provisions of the Village Code.

Low-Profile Boat Lifts

The Board reviewed photographs, boat-traffic information and examples of existing boat lifts around North Haven.

There are approximately 54 docks among roughly 150 waterfront properties in the Village. The discussion focused on whether low-profile boat lifts could be permitted while limiting their visual impact and preventing the installation of excessively tall or numerous lifts.

Potential standards discussed included:

• Limiting lifts to low-profile designs.
• Establishing a maximum permitted height.
• Measuring height based on the lift and the boat’s fixed superstructure.
• Limiting the number of lifts permitted on an individual dock to 1.
• Requiring applicants to provide dimensions and documentation for the boat the lift is intended to accommodate.

The Board also discussed existing boat lifts that may have been installed without the required approvals. Village officials will work with Code Enforcement to identify potential violations, notify property owners and determine the appropriate enforcement process.

Water-Quality Outreach and Family Water Day

The Board discussed the Village’s ongoing water-quality education partnership with the Group for the East End.

Additional outreach will be distributed for the Family Water Day event scheduled for September 26 at the beach located at the end of Sunset Road. The event is intended to provide residents and families with information about local water quality, native plants and environmentally responsible landscaping practices.

Traffic Circle Safety

The Board discussed safety concerns at the traffic circle, including pedestrian visibility, driver behavior and possible improvements to the crosswalks.

The Village will continue pursuing a New York State Department of Transportation traffic study and will seek input from individuals familiar with DOT procedures and the history of the traffic circle. Potential improvements discussed included enhanced signs and flashing pedestrian-crossing signals.

The Board also reviewed the planned rumble strips on Short Beach Road. Their placement will be adjusted to reduce interference with the bicycle lanes.

Village Vehicle

The Board continued discussing whether the Village should purchase a vehicle for use by the Building Department and Code Enforcement or instead provide a vehicle stipend.

Before making a decision, the Clerk-Treasurer will prepare a cost comparison that considers the purchase price, insurance, maintenance and operating expenses of a Village-owned vehicle compared with the cost of a stipend and mileage reimbursement.

Schoolhouse Property

The Board discussed scheduling an auction for the former schoolhouse property, potentially before the end of September or during the first week of October.

Next Meetings

• Regular Board of Trustees Meeting: October 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM
• Board of Trustees Work Session: October 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM

Upcoming Village Meetings

Recordings, Minutes and Agendas can be found here 🔗

Editor - Deputy Mayor – Claas Abraham

Feature Editor - Trustee - Peter Boody

 Mayor – Chris Fiore

Trustees – Dianne Skilbred, Max Rohn

Clerk - Beth Kamper