Nautical Mile Festival now in limbo

The off-again, on-again Nautical Mile Festival in Freeport is now officially in limbo.

Village officials said Friday they are not committing to any date for 2012 -- either in June or the fall. They plan instead to form a committee along with village department leaders, first responders, residents and members of the business community to examine potential dates.

"There is no commitment at all to any date right now," village attorney Howard Colton said Friday. "The committee will take a look at when it could happen."

Mayor Andrew Hardwick asked individuals speaking at a forum Thursday night in Freeport if they would be interested in joining the committee. But after the forum, Hardwick told Newsday the festival would go on in June, saying that changing the date would be on too short notice. For more than 25 years, the event has usually been held in early June and traditionally kicks off the summer.

Before that, in a letter sent to village residents last week, Hardwick said that due to public safety concerns, the festival "will not take place this June." In the letter, Hardwick invited residents to the forum.

More than 200 came, some saying they supported the warm-weather festival because of its financial boost. Others raised concerns about public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Several village officials urged ending the festival in June and moving it to September or October, but residents were split about that option. Some supported continuing the festival, others suggested canceling it altogether.

The festival draws as many as 200,000 people to the South Shore village's Nautical Mile, lined with restaurants, shops, seafood markets and docks. But spiraling costs and safety concerns led Freeport to reduce the festival from two days to one in 2010. The festival costs the village $150,000 to $180,000, mostly in overtime costs, Hardwick said.

Colton said Hardwick and the board hope the committee makes a recommendation "very quickly."