Sag Harbor Village Board Discusses New Fees for Special Events Permits

A measure that would set new fees as high as $2,000 for some special events held in Sag Harbor was tabled by the Village Board on Tuesday, January 14, to allow board members and representatives of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce to continue their review of the fee scale.

The new fees are part of a revamped mass gathering law that, in part, seeks to recoup a portion of the costs the village incurs when events are held on public property in the village.

If adopted, the new law would require a fee of $50 for a party with 50 or more people on a residential property or $500 for any event held on a commercial property. The rate would jump to $1,000 for an event held on public property and up to $2,000 for a parade or walk/run that would require police to close streets.

The board, which opened a public hearing on the matter, made it clear it would not adopt the new law until the Chamber had an opportunity to weigh in.

Trustee Aidan Corish raised one concern about the fee structure, noting that it was not clear whether a single event, such as the Sag Harbor American Music Festival or HarborFest, which take place at more than one site, would have to pay a separate fee for each village property that was used.

“You should pay for the space you use,” he said.

But Mayor Tom Gardella said he wanted to give the measure further thought.

“I want to take a closer look at this,” he said. “My thought is what is the driving factor for us to have more fees, more regulations in the village?”

Trustee Ed Haye said since the COVID-19 pandemic, the village has been waiving fees for numerous events, and even with the new fees would not come close to covering its costs. Trustee Jeanne Kane said the new law would provide more flexibility in allowing some businesses to hold events that they currently would not be allowed to hold.

But Ellen Dioguardi, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, urged the board to rethink its fee schedule.

Increased fees “could very well mean the Chamber could rethink some events,” she said, pointing to the annual Ragamuffin Parade on the Sunday before Halloween that would incur a $2,000 fee.

She said the Chamber typically sponsors public events to both promote village businesses and put some money in its coffers. Many of the events it sponsors “make Sag Harbor the very unique, special and charming place that it is,” she said, adding that besides HarborFest and the ragamuffin parade, the Chamber sponsors two arts and crafts fairs, Halloween trick-or-treating, the Christmas tree lighting, Santa’s visit and HarborFrost.​​​​​​