NOVEMBER 15, 2005 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING HELD AT VILLAGE HALL AT 8:00 P.M. Present Mayor Barbara Donovan, Trustees, Carol Lane, Sandra Nicoletti, Christine Vitkun and guests Steven Englebright, Vivian Fisher,Capt. Ottiger D.E.C. , Lt. Smith SCPD, Peter Koutrakos, South Shore Water Fowlers President, Suffolk Alliance of Sportsman President.

TOPIC--- DUCK HUNTING AND DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS WITHIN VILLAGE LIMITS

Mayor Donovan opened the discussion with a recap of the Village position re; Hunting and the discharging of firearms within Village limits.

County Legislator Vivian Fisher did a review of the issue as a community concern and the possibility of a confrontation between hunters and residents of not only Poquott but adjacent locales.

Captain Ottiger of the D.E.C. reviewed the N.Y.S. hunting laws and the efforts of his department to assure that hunters complied with all of the regulations. An ongoing project of his department is the education of hunters to retrieve their spent shells or be ticketed. The Captain then entertained questions from the attendees:

• Resident—understands the Federal and State Laws are obeyed, however what about compliance to Local laws? Answer—The Navigable Waters Laws may dim Local Law.
• Resident—Is the D.E.C. out every day at sunrise to assure compliance with hunting regulations? Answer—The D.E.C. patrols every day. The SCPD representative Lt. Smith was asked if SCPD could increase their activity around the shore during hunting season. Yes.
• Resident—hunting is being promoted on L.I., can legislation change the law due to population shift? Answer—S. Englebright—State Assemblyman stated that Suffolk County several years ago passed legislation banning hunting only to lose in court when the legislation was challenged by hunters. Mount Sinai residents complained about hunters and a compromise was reached between the resident and hunters. The Town and the Village should enter into dialogue with the hunters to reach a similar agreement.
• Resident—How many shots is a hunter allowed? Answer—the shotgun requirement is three shells only per weapon.
• Resident—is sure that the Town of Huntington passed an ordinance re; hunting.
• Resident—the term “open water” is rather vague. Scotts Cove is extremely limited by both shorelines.
• Resident—the roadways along Scotts Cove are used by a number of walkers and presents a danger if hunters are allowed to shoot over “open water”
• Mayor Donovan stated that the Village of Poquott code prohibits the discharge of firearms within village boundaries.
• Lt. Smith-SCPD- as to trespassers , if the officers observe trespassing the law will be enforced.
• Resident—the hunters should be 500 feet from any moored boat.
• Resident—there was an incident where a hunter was up close to his property on the Setauket Harbor Shore of VanBrunt Manor Road. Answer resident should contact SCPD and/or public Safety.
• Resident—doesn’t want to confront any hunter regarding violation of local law. Answer—contact Public Safety.
• South Shore Water Fowlers Representative—all hunters are discouraged from trespassing on private property. If the resident were to inform the hunter of the private property issue the hunter will leave. Hunters are faced with ever shrinking arrears to hunt in and many are carrying on a tradition handed down from their fathers.

JOSEPH NEWFIELD, VILLAGE CLERK