Westhampton Beach Board Frowns on Beach Pass Request

Westhampton Beach Village Trustees voiced disapproval of a proposal to circulate a limited number of beach passes to library card holders in the summer through the .

During the village's March 21 work session, the library's new director, , asked trustees to consider the plan that would allow Westhampton Free Library cardholders from neighboring towns to "check out" beach passes in order to gain admission to the village's Rogers Beach.

She was specifically looking to buy four, walk-on beach-passes to circulate like books and DVDs.

The idea, she said, is to provide more recreational opportunities to library patrons. Already, she said the library is working with the Parrish Art Museum and The Town of Southampton for similar "check-out" passes to their establishments and has contracts with other museums, including the Museum of Natural History and entertainment facilities, like Splish Splash of Riverhead.

Like many East End beaches, Rogers does not permit the general public access for a daily fee.

In her presentation, Zubiller said that area bed and breakfast establishments in the village are allowed to issue similar passes for guests and that she believes library patrons should be given the same courtesy.

Trustee Sue Farrell bristled at the comparison: "[The bed and breakfast guests] do not get parking stickers, they just get day passes and they can come down and pay $15 a day to use the beach."

Farrell also noted that with 217 parking spaces at Rogers Beach, access for residents is already tight.

In response to the negative feedback from village trustees, Zubiller said she would "let the idea go."

Trustee Hank Tucker abstained from the discussion. He is a member of the library board of directors.