Board votes to proceed with Jack's proposal for village bait-and-tackle concession

The village board voted to proceed with the proposal from Jack’s Bait and Tackle after hearing presentations from both proposers and discussing operational and financial terms.

Staff introduced the two proposers and invited them to describe their businesses and plans. John Decuffa, who identified himself during the meeting, described his family’s 81-year bait-and-tackle business and said he would operate a bait shop, a food truck and potentially a small boat-rental program, offering boat rentals and short tours to increase waterfront activity.

Decuffa spoke about hours, staffing and community programs: he said his existing business opens early and stays late to meet fishermen’s needs, and that his company runs youth fishing programs such as snapper derbies. “We’d be willing to keep somewhat of the same hours up here as well,” Decuffa said, and added that his business could supply gear and run free or low-cost fishing clinics for children.

Trustees questioned logistics and public-safety issues. Board members pressed whether proposed skiffs would be insured, how many boats could be operated and where they would be stored; Decuffa said insurance companies would need to inspect and approve a new location and explained skiffs are low-power craft that typically carry up to four people. Trustees also raised dock-capacity concerns, noting an existing charter operation occupies significant dock space.

Board members discussed financial terms for the food-truck element. One presenter told the board, “On the food truck, I guarantee 2%,” describing a revenue-share structure in which the village would receive 2% of projected gross revenue with an upper formula tied to actual performance that the presenter described could reach 4%. Trustees questioned whether the seasonal window and weather interruptions could allow reaching the proposal’s revenue estimates.

After the presentations and a subsequent executive-session discussion, the chair moved to proceed with Jack’s proposal and called a voice vote. The chair read the trustee names and recorded affirmative votes from Trustee DeRose, Kushnick, Silver, Lucas and Torres.

The board closed the budget hearing and adjourned to a later date for further budget work. The award to Jack’s will proceed to the next administrative steps for contract and operational details, including insurance verification and dock-space arrangements.