July 15, 2019

Dear Neighbors:

I received a call last week from Damon McMullen, the Mayor of Northport, informing me that the Northport Fire Department will shortly be expanding its paramedic coverage to 24 hours a day. This is a great idea and will ensure the fastest possible EMS response to medical emergencies at any hour. I would like to thank Chief John Jacobsen and the men and women of the NFD for the fantastic job they do providing fire and ambulance services for Asharoken.

Have a great day!
Mayor Greg Letica

July 12, 2019

Dear Neighbors:

On June 20th Village Attorney Bruce Migatz received a letter from a law firm representing an exterminating company, Aptive Environmental, that obtains much of its business by doing door-to-door solicitation. The letter requested that the Village suspend enforcement of its solicitation ordinance immediately because the Village law's complete ban on door-to-door solicitation violates the First and Fourteenth amendments of the US Constitution. The letter threatened legal action if the Village did not comply. To emphasize that this was not an idle threat, the letter documented recent legal actions and decisions taken against the Villages of Poquott, East Rockaway and Floral Park. These Villages had laws similar to ours that were deemed too restrictive. At the Board of Trustees meeting Village Attorney Migatz reported that North Hempstead, Bellerose, Malverne, Great Neck, Lattingtown, Lloyd Harbor, Lynbrook and Munsey Park also had their soliciting ordinances challenged by Aptive. There may be others as well. He also reported that those villages that ignored the letter from Aptive's counsel wound up in litigation and paying legal fees to Aptive Environmental.

Based on this information and advice of counsel, the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to suspend enforcement of the existing law and immediately commence work on amending the existing ordinance. We are working on the amendment to our existing law and a resolution to adopt the amended law and will schedule a public hearing soon.

Have a great weekend,
Mayor Greg Letica