Harbor Lowers 'Boom'

Sag Harbor Mayor Pierce Hance on Tuesday announced a tough crackdown on noise, rowdy behavior, and parking problems neighbors say have been caused by three popular bars and night clubs.

The plan includes a new, stronger noise ordinance, scheduled for a public hearing next month, resident-only parking permits, and a lobbying effort to change state law to give residents the right to hold referendums on what kind of establishments can serve liquor in the village.

The crackdown grew out of two recent Village Board meetings at which residents complained that the arrival this year of Boom Bistro, Chili Peppers, and the Harbor House - and the crowds that frequent them - had robbed them of peace and quiet.

Failure To Respond

"The sources of the problems have been unresponsive, perhaps even indifferent," Mr. Hance said. "Their failure to comply is what's causing us to take these actions."

The Mayor and the Village Board, who had been chastised by neighbors for their failure to take quick action during the summer, received a smattering of applause from some of those residents at Tuesday's meeting, although others raised questions about the specifics of the measures.

The get-tough policy will begin with a public hearing on Nov. 4 on a noise ordinance. Although Mayor Hance offered no specifics, he said the law would be a "complete revision" of the existing one, which Anthony Tohill, the village attorney, has said is practically unenforceable.

Will Be Towed

Mr. Hance said the new measure would allow police to use monitoring equipment and to more effectively respond to complaints.

The Mayor also said the village is proposing parking permits for residents of Water, Bridge, and Garden Streets, Long Island Avenue, and other side streets near the business district next year and banning cars without permits between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Residents would receive one permit for each car they own.

"Any vehicle without a permit will be towed," said Mr. Hance. Owners would be required to pay the cost of the towing and fines to retrieve their vehicles.

"Jumped The Fence"

Earlier this year, in an effort to control summertime parking, the village banned parking on Long Island Avenue, but patrons of the clubs had "jumped the fence, so to speak, and moved into the neighborhoods," said Mr. Hance.

Some in the audience questioned whether the permit system would work. One woman urged the village to extend the hours of the ban, saying people going to the clubs clog the streets as early as 6 p.m. Eva Stern of Garden Street questioned whether residents would be able to receive temporary permits allowing their own guests to visit and park beyond 11 p.m.

And Charles McCarron said he feared the new rules would inadvertently launch new businesses - encouraging residents to sell their permits to club-goers or rent spaces on their lawns.

Seek Control

"I don't think any of the people who took the time to come to our meetings will rent their yards," responded Mr. Hance.

To further control night clubs in the village, Mr. Hance said he had asked State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. to introduce legislation that would allow it to hold a referendumlimiting the types of liquor-serving businesses in the village. State law now limits that authority to towns and cities.

If the State Legislature were to approve the change, Sag Harbor could go so far as to vote itself dry, said Mr. Tohill.

Mr. Hance also said he would ask Police Chief Joseph Ialacci to coordinate "tactical" efforts with the South ampton Town fire marshal and state and town police to make sure the clubs comply with new laws as well as maximum occupancy and alcohol rules.

The steps could include creating check-points near the clubs to clamp down on drunken drivers, he said.