Trustees report Mecox Cut reopening, dredging progress and request for Meschutt Bay support letter

Trustees provided several operational and environmental updates during the meeting.

They reported Mecox Cut had reopened under an emergency permit with enhanced monitoring and a DEC stipulation that dogs be leashed near nesting plovers; Southampton Village Ocean Rescue and Marine Patrol were thanked for emergency lifeguarding and enforcement support. "We will reach out to our Marine Patrol who enforces this and see what actually they're enforcing," a trustee said, offering to follow up with the presenter by email.

Dredging updates noted that Fresh Pond and Cold Spring Pond dredging work had begun, and the Peconic Shore Canal decking and cap were completed so slips could be assigned and boats could use the facility. Trustees thanked contractors and the county for emergency dredging work and said some spring dredging would resume in the fall cycle.

The board cautioned the public that Cold Spring Inlet is not a bathing beach and is a high‑traffic navigation area; a ladder there has been tied off for safety and will be repaired. Trustees also read a request from the Meschutt Bay oyster project (names in the letter: Dwight Surgeon and Laura Forget) asking for a letter of permission to operate oyster cultivation; trustees recommended the group present to the board in July and indicated a formal resolution would be considered at that meeting.

Trustees closed public proceedings and moved back into executive session to handle confidential agenda items.