Residents ask Village to rebuild local dock
By Carolyn James

Robert Pflaum, right, a resident of Sumpwams Avenue in Babylon Village looks over site at the end of his street with one of his neighbors where some residents want a dock and marina built. The adjoining property owner opposes the idea and has hired an attorney to block the project.

When Billy Tripp, now a New York City firefighter, was growing up on Sumpwams Avenue in Babylon Village, he used to fish off the pier at the end of the street. His older brothers had boats, and fishing, boating and the water were an integral part of his life.

Since then, the dock and pier at the end of Sumpwams Avenue deteriorated and has been removed. Tripp and many of his neighbors are asking the Village of Babylon to rebuild the facility.

"I think it was destroyed in an ice storm in the early 1980s", said Bob Pflaum, another resident of Sumpwams Avenue who supports the project. "There is a commercial boat yard on one side and it's a perfect place."

"It would be fine to have it back again," agreed another resident who asked her name not be used. "But I would like to see the boat slips saved for Sumpwams Avenue residents only."

The board said at a recent meeting that while it had considered complying with the residents' requests and had allocated funding to do it, the Village had received notice of opposition from an adjoining homeowner and had shelved the idea.

"We were told that the resident believed this would infringe on the quality of her life," said Mayor Ralph Scordino. "When we discussed it we decided that we would not rebuild it."

Since then, however, the community has come together and signed a petition, asking that the board reconsider.

That was not good news to the Breens whose home is at the end of Sumpwams Avenue and who would be most immediately affected by the marina and pier. According to the Breens attorney, William Eppig of West Islip, the plan would dramatically reduce his client's quality of life and reduce their property values.

"The dock would be in my clients' back yard and was initially proposed without my client's input or consultation," said Eppig. "We will fight this with whatever it takes."

"I grew up on that block and as a kid we spent hours at the end fishing; it was a great way to grow up," said Patrick Funk of Sumpwams Avenue. "I don't see how it (boat slips) can infringe on any one's quality of life," he added.

Eppig said that while he acknowledges that the dock was in use in the 1960s and 70s that it long ago fell into disrepair and was eventually removed.

"The fact that people remember it and used it is irrelevant," said Eppig. "If they are saying there is precedent for this, I don't believe that is the case."

In other Village news;

+Resident Jerry Nocera told the board that there has been a large number of solicitors in his area and wanted to know how to handle the problem.

Mayor Scordino told him that he can call his office between 8 a.m. and 5:30 or his home after that and he would take care of it. He also told Nocera that anyone soliciting for funds in the Vil- lage must have a permit and carry it with them. The Village issues very few permits each year and limits the days and times of the solicitations to ensure they do not annoy residents;

+Trustee Kevin Muldowney reported that the Golf Course is ready to open and that the finger pier at the Village Dock had been refurbished and is ready for the new season;

+it was announced that the annual Dirty Sock race has been scheduled for August 26;

+the board approved temporary signs for the Carriage House, 21 Fire Island Avenue between March 15 and May 10.

The next regular Village Board meeting will be held April 10, 8 p.m. Village Hall.

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