Piece Of Greenport Church Blows Off; Repairs 'Nonessential'

GREENPORT, NY — A portion of a Greenport church blew off in Monday's wind storm and it can't immediately be fixed because repairs are deemed "nonessential" under mandates during the new coronavirus pandemic.

David Murray, owner of Murray Design and Build in Greenport and former Village of Greenport trustee, said a portion of the facade flew off the Clinton Memorial AME Church on Third Street.

"Now the church has a few big holes," he said. "The village will not allow the repair to be made because they consider this nonessential. How could they consider this nonessential when damage will occur?"

The church will sustain damage because the hole cannot be closed without the roof being replaced, Murray said. "The inspector thinks that this is considered nonessential ... I am totally in compliance with the virus and have shut down all jobs, but this church cannot sustain any more damage. I could have this fixed and buttoned up in two days."

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard said a rebuild of the roof and porch cannot be done without a permit, something that can't be obtained under current restrictions put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that deemed all "nonessential" businesses be shuttered.

"They need to patch up the hole with some plywood and tar and wait for construction to begin again," Hubbard said.

Hubbard said Murray was told to apply for a state waiver, to see if the repairs would be allowed.

"It's a little facade," Hubbard said. "Some tar paper and plywood and a couple of screws would seal it up for right now. The church is very lucky this didn't fall down on someone because it was not attached properly in the first place."