News Nearby: Vomit Cleanup Under Debate in Patchogue Village

Lori Belmonte, owner of The Colony Shop, reported at the March 11 Patchogue Village Board of Trustees meeting during public comment that vomit was found in the doorway of her business one recent Saturday morning.

Belmonte said it was the third time it has happened.

While the cause of the vomit is unknown, local business owners in the Village have been reporting incidents related to intoxicated individuals over the past several months.

Belmonte asked the Village Board who can she call to clean the front of her store, and was told that it was not possible for the Village to help.

"The cleanliness of the sidewalk is the responsibility of landowner," Dep. Mayor Jack Krieger said at the meeting. This covers the area from the business's door to the road.

Village Attorney Brian Egan said that the responsibility is similar during snow conditions.

"A lot of times the landlord puts that responsibility back on the tenant," Egan said, which therefore would send the responsibility back to the business owner.

"It's very gross," Belmonte said regarding the condition and cited that both of her neighbors are having similar issues.

Trustee William Hilton said during the meeting that the idea of having the Village use taxpayer money to clean vomit would be ridiculous, but did agree with Belmonte that the business owners shouldn't have to deal with it either.

Who do you think should be responsible for the cleaning up of vomit on Patchogue Village businesses? Is the problem big enough that taxpayer money should be used? Or should the incidents be cleaned as part of a business owner's maintenance responsibilities? Vote in our poll below and voice your thoughts in the comments section.