Hempstead Town Board Breast Feeding Vote

Hempstead Town Board members on Tuesday voted unanimously to repeal an antiquated town code that restricted public breast-feeding.

The repeal came about two months after Levittown resident Colleen Morgan expressed concerns to town officials about breast-feeding restrictions at town pools.

“We should allow mothers to breast-feed their infants wherever they see fit when they’re using town facilities,” Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen said Tuesday.

The repeal “ensures a mother can feed her child while watching other children at the pool without any qualms,” Councilman Dennis Dunne said.

Councilman Bruce Blakeman said the law was written “at a time when unfortunately attitudes were different.”

New York State law allows nursing women to breast-feed in any location, public or private, if they are authorized to be there. Town code previously limited breast-feeding to “designated areas.”

Morgan, 33, on Tuesday praised the repeal. “It’s great they’re finally with the times and did the right thing,” she said.

Town officials were alerted to the discrepancy between state law and town code when Morgan contacted them about a list of pool rules she received. She read through them to see if floaties were allowed and came across a provision about breast-feeding. According to the list, breast-feeding and diaper changing “shall be permitted in designated areas.”

Breast-feeding proponent Colleen Morgan with Julianna, 4, and Brian Jr., 5, at home Tuesday in Levittown.