This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers. Welcome to the East Stamp City Council meeting for Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. The meeting tonight is being recorded and broadcast by E
Media on Charter Channel 193 and live streaming on their web page, east hampton media.org. Counselors and participants in this meeting are gathering hybrid on the order extended until June 30, 2027,
allowing us to do so. I remind both the members of the city council and the public participating remotely to remain muted until recognized by the city council president. Also for the members of the public, please remove your camera for the duration of the meeting unless
you are participating in the public speak or in the public hearing. Thank you. The meeting is now called to order. Maryanne >> Peg Coniff, >> I'm here. Connie Denim >> here. >> Salem Derby, >> present. >> Felicia Jazzik
>> here. JP Kazinski >> here. Tom Peak >> here. >> Brad Riley here. >> Tamara Smith here. >> JT Terrell >> here. At this time, we'd like to take a moment of silence to gather our thoughts.
[Music] And stand for the pledge of allegiance. [Music] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. I will do my best to acknowledge. [Music] We have minutes. Um, Maryanne from the last meeting, >> August 6th. August 6th.
>> Motion to approve the minutes of August 6th. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
We now turn to public speak. At this time, anyone has the opportunity to bring us any thoughts about virtually anything. uh and we're here to listen. Uh and we normally do not comment on anything that you bring to us. Uh so
don't be offended by that. We are taking notes. If you want to email us or call us later or leave us a little note with your number, all any one of us would be happy to respond to your concerns and talk with you personally. In fact, so
many times somebody comes up and says something and I wish I had their phone number or their email, I would contact them. So, please feel free to go to the podium. Anyone in the room for public speak, you have up till 3 minutes to do
so. We do have 6:15 for the public hearing. Please identify yourself, where you live. >> Darlene Orviet, Mutter Street. Um, just a little something I'd like to point out. I know there's always this
ridiculous argument over whether or not we are democracy or republic. Take note as to the pledge of allegiance. What do you pledge to? The republic. >> Thank you. >> Carolyn Cushing, Main Street Precinct 4. Um, I'm disturbed that interim mayor
Derby created a policy to allow for a new surveillance camera to be placed at the PAC cottage intersection despite public speaking against this camera 6 months ago when it was proposed is my understanding. Um, I'm grateful to the public and other city officials who I
believe have now stopped the camera from being installed. So, not a good idea. I worry that the policy remains in place waiting. Wherever possible, we must resist surveillance that can be weaponized against vulnerable communities and truthfully any and all
of us. For example, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE budget was just expanded to such a degree that it now ranks among the top militaries of the world. I have a visual here. It's equal to the
17th military. It has more money than the military of Turkey and Spain. To justify their continued existence, ICE will need to be fed data to find and violently abduct more and more people across the country and here in East Hampton. They will be looking for
pretexts of broken tail lights. They will track people. They will move on to others demonized by the current administration. ICE is already here. I am now going to put on my former East Hampton poet laurate hat and conclude with a short poem about this topic. I
saw all this in the city. The title monsters from the mon from the Latin monstrum means omen. The mast arrive early when the light is faint. Snap the wrists of men in work t-shirts push them
into cars unmarked heading toward the unknown. Haze grays stars and stripes hung over the pond. The small ash of burnt trees fills our throats with their ghosts.
Two blocks away, I sleep poorly. Am chased by monsters, not mythic, just men. Some women too, in their masks. Some hope in that. There's shame behind the hiding and fear at least a little.
Heron hunts the neon green pond. Can't read the sign that says it's a beautiful poison. But I'm a monster, too. And my neighbors, our eyes bloated from Saabs ground into the streets. We run our mouths limbmed with little needles
quacking over our phones securing ice onto the camouflage vests stretched over their chests. The edge of the moon so beautifully rounded in smoke. Even the night is on fire. Applause pits close windows as
spectators cheer. This monster or that see the game not the warning. They go to bed forget they are the greater number. And with monsters in the streets, more things are possible than usual. When they place a veil over the clock
tower, time becomes a black circle. We no longer see its hands. The words on more things are possible than usual are from the historian Timothy Schneider talking about the uncertainty of our times and that they can go either way. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Hi. Um, Eileen Royman. I live at 17 Adam Street and I want to give an update on what's going on with our situation with Hurricane Properties trying to raise our rents. Um, I have a little good news. Um, so we had a rally and a town hall in
July and we were very appreciative of the city council's support. Um, and after that they took down their website. Um, and it's still not back up. Um, in early August, we had a press conference at the post office to emphasize the fact that they're not a
local company and that we have to send them mail. We send them stacks and stacks of mail. Um, and around the same time, they uh offered to discuss a rent adjustment. So, we met with the CEO of the company and he offered a $75
increase over the rent that we were paying when they bought the building, which is a huge difference. For me, the increase would have been $250. Um, but we don't all pay the same amount of rent. So, we countered with a
percentage um that would be more equitable and we're now we're waiting to hear back from them. Um, so you know, the support has been incredible and the action, the collective action has been effective. Um, but there are other
tenants in other buildings that are still fighting. We are all in solidarity. We're all supporting each other. I know the folks at Pleasant View are dealing with a lot of stuff now, too. And there's a group uh at one of the Pine Valley properties um that's now organizing as well against their
landlords, and they are local. Um, so I just want again to reiterate how grateful we are for the council support. Um, and this is affecting everybody and um, you know, we're hoping for the best and I'll come back and I'll let you know how it goes.
>> Thanks. >> Thank you for the update. Super. My name is Carl Prawl 22 Gaston underline farm 15 Tori. I wanted to address the license plate reader as well. Um maybe with a slightly different
take from it. But for one, we don't need a license plate reader. We don't need more surveillance in East Hampton. We can already see around us the surveillance state expanding and if the data is there, somebody's going to get it. And what is the best case scenario? We catch somebody doing some property
crime versus what? plus the expense. We don't need a license plate reader. However, I want to thank our interim mayor for giving the revelation that we even had one installed over that intersection. But I think moving forward, as opposed to looking at who is responsible for it being there, we need
to look at why we have it, why we need that kind of technology in our town, why we need to be storing that kind of data of the movement of our population and citizens. The upside is very small and the downside is huge. We see it every day
with flock cameras. We see it every day with Bell cameras. We see the, you know, the National Criminal Information Center utilizing all of this data out there to go after legal residents but now deemed illegal
aliens in our communities. We need to be very careful about how we expand our surveillance state. Thank you. Anyone else in the room? Darlene, back again. >> Yes, I am. Uh, so I just want people to understand that those readers, like the
one at the bottom of the mountain and the one writing down, they do more than read a license plate. They can see the whole interior of your car. And I also want to remind you that those are actually pushed by our uh very um I'm going to say it, our corrupt government
in Massachusetts. our corrupt democratic government in Massachusetts. ICE is here because of the mess created by the dem the last administration and they're only covering because they're being attacked
by unhinged people. That's all I had to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, we'd like to hold put a hold on the public speak for a moment. Uh, I would
like to move to the oath of office. We have uh firefighter Nicole Thompson, Thornton rather, Thornton to be sworn in tonight by interim mayor Derby. I see the chief. I see the firefighters.
>> Yes. Uh would you mind commenting? >> Yeah, absolutely. Uh very briefly, number one, good evening and thank you, city council and uh interim mayor. Um this is an exciting time. Um it's an exciting time to uh bring forward one of our new uh employees for the East Hampton Fire Department, Nicole
Thornton. Nicole is not new to East Hampton Fire. Um well over a year ago, Nicole was going through her paramedic program at Greenfield Community College. And along with Greenfield Community College and two other institutional organizations, we have affiliation agreements to allow their students to
come and work with our talented paramedics to be mentored and precepted as they go through their paramedic certification and training. So we met Nicole through that process. Um she did a wonderful uh had a wonderful experience uh when we opened up the
application. she applied and certainly uh excelled going through that process. Um I want to thank the mayor and city council um the public safety committee members of city council for being part of that interview process as well and it's always wonderful to bring uh our
employees uh forward for all of you. So with that I'll turn it over to uh Mayor Nicole I was I'm working multiple jobs right now. I didn't have time to get dressed up. So this is this is what you get. I'm sorry. Uh, so please repeat
after me. Um, I, Nicole Thornton, do solemnly swear >> I, Nicole Thornton, do solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully and impartially >> I faithfully and impartially >> discharge and perform the duties incumbent upon me as a firefighter for the city of East Hampton. >> discharge and perform >> perform the duties
>> incumbent >> incumbent upon me >> as a firefighter >> as a firefighter >> for the duties >> for the city of East Hampton. according to the best of my knowledge and abilities. >> according to the best of my knowledge and abilities. >> Agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution of the United States of America. >> agreeably to the rules and regulations
of the Constitution of the United States of America. >> The laws of the Commonwealth >> the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts >> and the city of Eastampton >> and the city of Eastampton. >> Congratulations. [Applause]
And again, uh, thank you everyone for your continued support. This, uh, obviously fills one of our two vacancies. We have one more vacancy. The application period for that last vacancy closes tomorrow. And we'll be working with the HR uh, department, the mayor's
office, and the city public safety committee to put forward a interview panel and uh, bring that next candidate forward to all of you. So, thank you all. >> Thanks, Chief. >> Thank you, Chief. [Music]
got a sign to make it official. [Music] >> Congratulations, fire. >> Thank you. >> I'll entertain a motion to open up the public hearings. Uh the public speak will be on hold until after the public hearings. I have a motion and a second.
>> All those in favor? >> I opposed abstain. Motion passes. This public hearing is now open. We have before us several uh matters of finance
and we'll turn the >> microphone over to councelor Peak. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice President or President. What's the Mr. Mr. president. Is that the way? Okay, cool. >> Uh >> you're you're the you're the mayor.
>> Okay, Mr. Thank you, Mr. President. Um yes, so the first one uh we have uh four uh finance Oh, five finance uh matters before us uh this evening. Um the first
one is a request for supplemental appropriation uh for $699,985 uh for Main Street reconstruction design funding for capital stabilization. Uh so the idea here is that this would
fund uh the design uh for the uh reconstruction of Main Street from Northampton to Park Street, which is a big project that's been ongoing uh for a long time with the idea that the um they're they're looking to
get funding from Masdat to uh do the construction in 2028. Uh and so uh there's there's a number of steps to this and the hope is that a lot of the final work will be funded um by the
state but we've got to pay for the design you for the share of the design work to make it happen. Um so uh Director Nuttleman is here if anyone has any uh questions but uh the uh city council finance committee voted uh 3 to
zero to approve this appropriation. Seeing no questions. Cool. Um, anyone have any questions? Otherwise, I'll participate. >> Just wanted to offer. >> Yeah. Why don't Why don't you come up in case there are questions on any
>> You should feel free to speak should you care to. >> Sure. >> And otherwise, we'll just uh move on. Well, good evening everyone. Greg Middleman, director of public works for the city. Uh, just to elaborate on councelor Pete's comments. Um, so what this funding is going to do is eventually unlock about $9 million in transportation improvement program
funding to rehabilitate our main street um from Park Street to um about uh to Northampton Street. So really the entire Main Street corridor. Um that'll include water and sewer upgrades. Um and we have a design under review right now with Mass DOT that we should have back in
October. Uh we're at the 25% design stage at this point and um but we've put forward a um a design that I feel really preserves the character of East Hampton of Main Street and um makes some significant pedestrian safety improvements and um makes the it's just
going to make the entire area a lot safer for everyone. People driving through, people trying to cross the street, accessing local businesses. So, um looking forward to getting this project to construction in 2028 and this funding will really help keep it online uh in the TIP program for us to be uh stay in our slot for the funding in that
year. Uh we've recently funded the rehabilitation of Union Street through the same process. Um takes several years to get in to the TIP um process and then keep your spot through design. It's uh it's no small task. So, we're uh working hard to stay on track. So, appreciate
the council considering the funding appropriations. If there are no further questions, I would entertain a motion. Questions from the public. >> From the public hearing. >> Is there anyone in the audience here that has questions about this project or
about the expenditure in the audience in the uh online certainly would offer that opportunity to anyone online. I don't see any hands or
Let me just Nope. Okay. No comments. Go ahead. So, I'm going to make the following request to the form of a motion. Uh request is hereby made for approval of uh the following
appropriation. Amount requested. $699,985 to be transferred from Capital Stabilization. $699,985 to be transferred to Main Street Redesign, transfer in from Trust,
$699,985. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. This appropriation will fund the design and reconstruction of Main Street from Northampton Street to Park Street. Uh the project will include water and sewer
utility upgrades and redesign of the signalized intersection at Union Street and Main Street. The funding will carry the project through 100% design and keep it on track to receive over $9 million in funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Transportation Improvement Project uh program uh for construction in 2028. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, Maryanne,
we'll have a vote. We don't need Mary. Maryanne will go. >> Everybody's here. >> We're so used to so often having to do a roll call, but everybody's here tonight, so we don't need a roll call. All those in favor? I >> opposed. Abstain.
Motion passes. >> Great. The next three appropriations that we have are CPA related uh appropriations. Uh all of which um if we have any questions, I see Director Mason's here
that you might be be able to answer, but I think I can probably handle these. Um so uh the uh first one is a $264,500 appropriation from the community preservation act undesated fund uh to be
appropriated towards uh our spray park project. Um and so this was a really interesting proposal um that uh the the essentially the idea behind it would be
that it would uh allow us to recapture and then in a hygienic fashion reuse the water that comes out of the spray park. as as it stands right now, the water, it's sort of like if you just got a hose in your backyard, you know,
it it goes up in the air and then it's gone. The idea that we could recapture that water uh which could have substantial long-term savings in terms of water and in terms of climate resilience uh while also just sort of bolstering uh a piece of infrastructure
that's really important for, you know, it's a cooling center for the city. It's a way for people to cool off if they maybe don't have access to um air conditioning or uh whatnot on a hot day. So, uh the CPA committee uh and the city
council finance committee appro uh backed this appropriation uh unanimously. Um I believe that this one is uh one of a few approp this this appropriation would be sort of a
matching fund for um parks grant. >> Mhm. >> And so there's us making this is one step forward to it, but we're going to need some level of partnership on the federal level. Um, so we'll see how how that goes, but um
that is sort of what we're looking at. And um uh I think uh that's about what I have. John, is there anything you'd like to add? >> Sure. >> John Mason, parks and recreation director. Um this is a land water
conservation fund um grant. So it's a federal grant. The way it works with this grant, you do apply through the state, similar to the park grant. Once it gets approved by the state, it it goes to the federal portal. So, this is
a 50% um matching grant. Um so, you'll see that's why the request is 50/50. Um we should hear something in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Um if all goes well, we were approved through the state and put into the federal. So, that was a good sign
that the state approved our project, but it still is a federal um designation for the funding. And while I'm here, anybody have any questions? >> I do. >> One of the things about the spray park.
I I personally was hoping that it was going to say the red circle. I think every parent has smacked their forehead in that one, the tunnel. But aside from that, I I think this could be a really good learning project for our children. And I was just wondering if there's any
signage planned that would explain how this is different from what it was before. I would hate to see so much money going into improving it and have it be a completely silent. >> Yeah. Talk about the resiliency and the recirculization of the water and Yeah.
Absolutely. Yeah. I mean that's short money for a project this large. So that's a great idea. Okay. >> Thank you. Anyone else questions? Councelor Jazzer, >> thank you. Um, with the current, uh, federal climate, um, are there any
concerns about not getting that federal grant and is there a backup plan if we don't end up getting that? Um there's always concerns when you're dealing with grant funding, but uh dealing with our state person who deals
with the federal process, um that they said there's there's no need to panic on our end. So, um I just take it as I'm not I'm not panicking as far as if we do not get the then we'll have to go down and look at park grant again, this grant
again. We'll have to look at other funding sources. Um, you know, as you can see, a lot of our um projects, we like to back it up with either state or federal funding. So, we would continue to do such for sure. Anyone else from the council?
Seeing none, I open this up to the floor of the public. Are there any questions, thoughts, comments on this project in the audience? You may stand up and go to the podium if
you did. No. How about uh in online? Any questions, thoughts, comments? Going once, twice? I see none. >> Cut the paper.
>> All right. I'll make this request in the form of a motion. Uh request is hereby made for the approval of the following appropriation. amount requested $264,500 to be appropriated from uh CPA undesated fund $264,500
to be appropriated to spray park $264,500. The amount requested would be used for the following purpose. Uh the funding would be used to renovate and improve the Nonatuk spray park. >> Second. >> We have a motion in a second.
I wanted to say I appreciate councelor Smith's comments. Thank you for them. Uh I think anytime we can help to improve that's great. Anyone else for questions from the council? >> We have a second. >> Concerns. I'm sorry. >> Don't we have a second?
>> We have a second. >> Okay. >> So, I'm looking if there was any other comments before we vote. Seeing none. Uh, all those in favor? >> I opposed abstain. Motion carries. Next.
$250,000. >> Yes. So, this one is a fun one. Um, it's a $250,000 appropriation from the CPA Reserve Fund uh to be appropriated to the design and construction of an East
Hampton skate park/allwhees park. Um, this is a project that there's been uh series of community uh activists and organizers and and folks who have
been working on for many years. uh if you've been on the council for a few terms, you've seen this project come before us in various forms uh and various discussions with the the parks and rec commission and with the city
council and and a number of other uh things. So, it's been a long uh process, but I really commend uh the folks who have been involved for for for working so hard on this. Uh and it's to the point that we
have uh these funds are now being proposed. They would they would um they would go to match some some funds that would be raised by uh the friends of the skate park group. So, uh this isn't all the funds are available and there's
still thing some things that would need to be done, but this would put this in motion. So, um I don't uh once again the uh CPA commission uh as well as the uh city council finance committee uh voted
unanimously to back this appropriation. So, I'm I'm very excited uh for this to to move forward. Uh John, would you like to enter? Sure. >> John Mason, Parks and Recreation. Um this one is the park grant.
>> This was the park grant. >> This is the park grant. So this is the state grant uh program that we've been very successful for for the boardwalk, Mount Tom, um the pool. Um so this one is is for that purpose. Um the project
itself is 750. Um the park grant is 425 if if awarded. This is another one that we should hear from early fall um October. Um usually it's first week of October we hear from um but once again um we'll see how that
shakes out with the vinyl um number. Um, I know they're I want to defer because I know we have some folks from the skate park community that I want to give um my time to them so they can um express their uh their passion for this project.
[Music] >> Hi everyone. Uh my name is Jeff Burke. I've been a member of the uh East Hampton skate park committee since 2019 at this point. Um I live in West Hampton. Um, and I have a two and a half yearear-old son who goes to daycare here
in uh, East Hampton. Um, currently after I pick him up from daycare, we drive about 30 minutes to Awam Skatepark to go skate over there for a few hours. He likes riding his little bike around. Um, there's there's no place in East Hampton
right now that is free, open to the public, legal, and safe for kids to ride their skateboards at at this time. um Northampton skateparks right up the road. When they built that park, they didn't really have um beginners and um
children in mind. There's not a lot of um beginner terrain at that skate park. Um so I got involved in this project when I moved back to Western Mass. Um I'm going to use the term all-wheel sports because when we're talking about
these parks, we refer to them as skate parks, but they're really much more than that. their um BMX, uh roller skating, rollerblades, scooters, and also even wheelchair sports. So, you're you're really getting um six activities in in
one park. Um you know, most of the communities in the Pioneer Valley have multiple baseball fields, multiple basketball courts, and also at that same time, most of them don't have any skate parks. So, it's it's kind of a shame because one skate park really
accomplishes so much. Um, you know, skateboarding spans multiple generations. Obviously, I'm not a young man anymore, but for many people, it does start in adolescence. And there's a lot of lessons that can be learned at the skatepark. If any of you have ever
been to a skatepark, you'll see that most of the time you're watching people, they are not landing anything. They are falling down. Uh skateboarding is about 90% falling down and um that teaches kids a huge sense of perseverance. Um it
teaches them that failure is okay and that um you know they have a community there supporting them to get back up again and try to land that trick that creates essentially a lifelong addiction of trying to master this sport which is essentially um you're unable to master.
Tony Hawk is still out there trying to get something out of this thing that we do. He's in his 50s. Last year he broke his femur. He's back on his skateboard again. So, it really is just this important. It's not even a sport. It's like a a way of life for people and it
and it those lessons carry through even outside of the skate park. Um, East Hampton has not had a skatepark in over 20 years at this point in time. Uh we started this iteration of the committee about 6 years ago. Uh but there's been many other attempts before
that as well. Um you know, if you were someone who was in middle school at the time that we started this iteration of the committee, um you're probably going off to college right now and you still don't have a skatepark in your town. Um you know, we are kind of going through a renaissance period in the valley right now. Greenfield just got a great skate
park. Springfield just got a great skate park. Westfield is working on one. Um, you know, in East Hampton, we're not trying to build this like mega skate park that's going to take over thousands of square feet of concrete. We're just trying to build a community park that is
a good place for kids to gather safely and enjoy the sports they like to do. So, thank you. And I uh looking forward to hearing more from the council. >> Good evening. My name is Bob McDonald. Uh I'm representing my wife who's home
puppy sitting. Um 28 years ago, our son died in a car accident. We built a skate park here in town. It lasted quite a few years. Was used by many, many kids. Most of them are all adults here now. And at
some point it got taken down and given away without our knowledge. Um, it's still existent up in Chesterfield. Kids are still using it up there. It still has a little plaque in up there in memory of our son. And we were told that we were going to get a
replacement. Um, that never happened. We were shown plans. We were told that money was made appropriated for it. We kept waiting and waiting. We went back said, "What happened?" They said, "Well, plans changed." So, we've been trying to keep the ball
rolling for a number of years, and now we've got a brand new group of people that have done a phenomenal job of bringing it back to light again. And we're at the point where I'm so close. I can taste it. And I'm hoping and praying
that this will make it this time. So, this, you know, I don't know if I can wait much longer. you know, times are kick ticking away and you know, I'm running out of time and I'd like to really see it happen this time. So, I hope that it passes through and that I get to be part of it when it becomes a
reality. So, I thank you all for your time. >> You may move the microphone down. Good job. All right. >> Um, hi, my name is Telus. I live on Florence Road and I think it would be really great if we had a skate park because we have East Hampton skate park
but it's not like always open so I just think it would be a good idea. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, hi. I'm August Ryan and um I live like one minute like walking distance from his house and I go to East Skate
Park, but they the it's like it's hard for um BMXer BMXers, roller skaters, they can't get in. I mean, I don't do any of that, but I have friends who do that. And um a skate park would just be awesome. I mean, I really love it. I'd
be up there at 6:00 a.m. riding my bike over. So, thank you for your time. >> You too. [Music] >> Hi, my name is Amy. I'm a resident of East Hampton for over 20 years. I'm not a skateboarder. I'm a mom of a
skateboarding daughter and son. Uh my daughter's 11 and my son is 16. I've done a lot of driving around this area going to Northampton skate park um Westfield skate park where there was um
a skate camp gone to Awam Greenfield I really would like to just stay here in East Hampton. My daughter attends um an after school program at the indoor skate park. Um she's one of like the only girls that goes there. Love to see more
girls do the sport. But I'm here to say that I really support this. I've been coming to meetings since 2022 and like this gentleman said before, time is ticking. Kids are getting older and um I actually dragged my daughter
here. I'm embarrassing her. Um she's both my kids used to come um to meetings, but they're starting to lose a little bit of interest. So I'm here to say thank you and um hopefully this project keeps on going forward. Thank you.
Good evening everyone. I'm Jeff Bag uh from 49 Taft Dav just speaking as a resident. Just want to also thank the council. I know you guys don't get enough thank yous and appreciation for your work. Um just a couple quick details. I think I'm the last speaker unless anyone else is just uh compelled to come up. Um, we've been really
appreciative to be working with the parks director and the parks commission the last couple years to to kind of cap off this project. Um, and just in case it wasn't clear, you know, the the skate park is proposed at Millside Park. So, if you're looking down at the band shell is going to be up on the grassy null to
the right. Um, and a couple quick things I just wanted to mention. Um, the owner of the East Hampton skate park that has been mentioned is called the skate club. So, it's a small indoor space in East Works and it's a private, you know, endeavor um where where uh his name's
Noah and he's been really u teaching a lot of kids have come through that program and he couldn't be here tonight but he's 100% supportive of this project too. They're complimentary in nature. And then just a couple other things were that um this um 250,000 from CPA is is
really to leverage the park grant that was mentioned. And I did want to make a point to the council that um it's a reimbursement grant. So when and if we're lucky enough to receive the grant, there will be one more vote coming to the council where the council votes for the full cost of the project. Um so the
council will have a vote, you know, for 750,000 and then it'll be a series of reimbursements um to make the city whole again. and the group um has kind of committed to a pretty um aggressive uh donation uh plan
to raise $75,000 as part of the as part of the project. And so this vote is really important. The committee has been working at this for a long time. So, with the vote of city council, it'll really allow us to talk to businesses and folks who want to pledge um donation money and then as soon as the park grant
is um optimistically awarded, um the group's going to commit to raising the rest of the funds. And then the last part was just a timeline. Um it's just really important because it sounds like this is going to happen tomorrow, but unfortunately the park grant is is a 2-year grant cycle. So presumably it'll
get awarded in November and between November and July is final designs and then as of July of 2026 construction is allowed to start. And so we're expecting construction to start sort of next summer, next fall and run through the
winter. And so we're not really talking about a skatepark ribbon cutting until the spring of 2027. And so we've started this project in 2019. So it's a very long time. And uh right now I think one of the counselors asked about the the likelihood of getting the grant and as
of right now we're we're fingers crossed. We do not have a backup plan. Um you know right now we're we're banking on the CPA money leveraging the grant. Um so we really appreciate you listening to the group. Thank you. [Music]
>> Anyone else here present? Seeing none, open it up to the online community. If you could raise your hand, I see no takers. Everyone came to the meeting tonight. Thank you so much. Uh
let me just look one more time. Councelor Riley. >> Thank you, Mr. President. M um you know I've been following this um story in East Hampton for a long time now and um over the years I've seen you know
counternarratives about you know what skate parks are or what happens when they're built, the types of people that visit them. And you know I not just in East Hampton but just you know across our country there there are often times
narratives that are harmful um towards uh children and youth. And I just wanted to say that every time that those narratives sort of reared their heads um all of the folks who have worked on this project and and gotten it to this point
have always um done so with um dignity and grace and kindness. Um, and I'm just really proud of you all. Um, it's taken a really long time to get to this point and you never gave up. And, um, this is a a bright spot in local government to
see so many people from different parts of the community come together to work towards a collective good. Um, I'm so happy to be able to vote yes on this. And um while I'm not going to be a city councelor uh starting next term, I will
absolutely be the wind at your back to make sure that all future votes um go your way as well. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Riley. Anyone else? Councelor Der Counselor Derby, as you sit here with us tonight in your role as counselor, >> which is how I'm going to start, which
is, you know, being interim mayor is is great until you can't vote on something you really want to vote for. um because the interim mayor is not allowed to vote unless there's a tie. I don't think there's going to be a tie. Um but I do want to say that this project is so important and you know it's the
beginning of a fulfilling of a promise to the McDonald's. Um, I got to walk when I first when I first um was thinking about running for city council, Stuart Beckley, the planner at the time, took me for a walk around Milside Park, which had just been redone and they had just it was like they were in the
process of removing the skatepark. And he showed me, walked me around where the new skatepark was going to go and I was a huge supporter of that at the time and when I first got on the council. Um, and unfortunately things did change and it didn't come to the council. We didn't have a say. Um, and you know, the value
of having a skate park is is enormous. Um, as growing up a skater, you know, on my Lance Mountain and my Steve Cabalo, my Powels, I mean, it was amazing. Like, it was a huge thing for me to be a kid riding my skateboard and the just being outside and the camaraderie that I have
with my friends, learning how to acid drop, which is a trick. um you know so it's huge and you I think that this is going to be um a not just such a a a huge benefit to the community but it's
going to be a huge benefit to a generation of kids that are so um unfortunately stuck behind screens and this is the way to get them out and that is one of the most important parts of this is being able to provide outdoor spaces where people can recreate,
socialize and not be programmed by a little computer. So, I couldn't support this more and I wish I could vote for it. >> Thank you, Councelor Schmid. First, I have a comment about um the the
location of the skate park because I remember distinctly during the pandemic um one of my children were out skating um and they all went behind the mill buildings where everyone was skating and someone put on Facebook, you might want
to tell your kids to put on masks. And I just was able to text him and everyone heard it right away. And it just speaks to how much of a small community we have here that this was actually being monitored by the people that were living
nearby. And once that was they were told all the kids put the masks back on and so I'm glad that it's going in the same location. Um I don't know if it's appropriate to ask but I was just wondering what your son's name was and I don't >> David.
>> Okay. Thank you. um >> 28 >> year old shirt and I pulled it out of the closet. >> I figured you did, but I hadn't heard his name um in this context. And I just wanted to make sure that we were able to say David McDonald um in his memory. I think that's really important.
>> And I also want to commend the youth who came up to the microphone. I know that's a somewhat intimidating experience and I have a feeling that's the first of many times in your life that you'll be up for public speak. So, good job. But I also
wanted to bring forth um the thought that by having now I understand we have a lot of cities in the area that have skate parks but when we look at traditional kids sports cates have always been excluded from that and it
has always sent the message that only a certain type of performing kid is the valuable kid and so I love to see many more activities coming up in East Tampa. Hampton that celebrates um all youth. And then I have one last comment on the
same note and I don't think we're at the rules part about the skate park yet, but my one concern is having some um elementary school hours so really small kids don't get plowed over by teenagers trying to do some tricks cuz I Yeah.
Yeah. Some massive drops. Um, but I just also, um, I respect the work that you've done so diligently for so long on this project. And as a parent of a skater, I can certainly respect the amount of time it's taken you to be able
to drop your kids off at Betty locations. And I would really like to see that locally as something that we can support. >> That's what I have to say. >> Thank you, Council Dam. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. President. Um,
hats off to you all. Uh, you know, this has been a a long time coming, right? Um, and I just want to second the idea that I think we often rely in this city on organized sports for our young people. Um, and I think that we have a
really uh, diverse um, youth population that needs uh, activity beyond um, organized sport. Um, and so this is a really informal way for young people to build community, build relationships, um, build
um, connections, develop empathy, uh, learn how to mentor. I mean, there's so many amazing skills that they're going to learn besides doing an acid drop apparently. But um I think that that um your dedication to our young people I
think is is really one I want to acknowledge right now and also the commitment to your son's memory. >> Any other comments from the counselor's thoughts, concerns? We're almost there.
You've waited a long time and I must say that the youth present is very helpful at moving this along. Your voices tonight are heard. I think you'll find that this community wants to move forward and is looking forward to
supporting you. So kudos to you who came here tonight to speak and those who worked so darn hard and everyone who participated. It's been a long haul or we'll be getting there. I
suspect as I will vote I I will entertain a motion. >> Okay, man. I have so many things that I want to say but somebody every at least one of you got me on each of them so there's no need repeating them. Let's get this going. Um, so I'm going to make
this in the form of a motion. Uh, request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested. $250,000 to be appropriated from CPA reserve fund. $250,000 to be appropriated to skate park.
$250,000. The amount requested would be used for the following purpose. The funding would be used to design and construct the East Hampton skate park/allwheels park. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any
further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed abstain. >> And we have a unable to vote. >> The motion passes. >> Yes, it's here.
We tried hard to get a tie. >> Wouldn't want that. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. [Music] >> Give you a moment to uh gather up your things.
Counselor Peak 14,500 national and state historic designations. >> Yes. So, um, essentially this one, uh, we have two, uh, pieces of, uh, city property. Uh,
one being Brookside Cemetery and the other one being the comfort station at Daily Field that for different reasons, uh, we have reason to believe are historically significant. Um the parks department would like to pursue historic
designations uh for those, but there's a certain amount of bureaucracy, if you can believe it, that comes with doing so. And so these funds would allow us uh to to move forward with that. Uh for those
who might be wondering, the reason why we would pursue a historic designation like this is because it could potentially open up uh grant funding which could be used to make updates or improvements uh to these uh structures.
And in particularly in the case of the Daily Field Comfort Station, there's a lot of work that's been identified uh that needs to be done there. Uh so this could potentially open up a new funding stream to help with that work. Um as well as just recognizing that some of
the the things that we have here in East Hampton are uh historically important and uh relevant. Uh John, I don't know if there's anything you want to expand upon there. Uh
but that's uh once again CPA finance unanimous. You get the idea. Tommy did a great job tonight uh summarizing all our projects. Um this one is uh broken up into two parts. The
Brookside Cemetery will be going on the national we're looking at national registry for that. Um, and like Tom said, that will open up funding opportunities, whether it's uh restoration of stones, um, the building itself. Um, when you get when you get a
project and you get historical people, um, Gideon excited, um, you know, that says a lot about what we have at Brookside Cemetery. Um, the Ernest Bodic who designed it is, uh, you know, renowned for architecture. Um, and and
they were super excited. that this was one of his earliest works before he went down to the Boston area. Um so they're they're um really, you know, we think we got a good chance for a national registry because of how much historical um um significance it has for the Daily
Field Comfort Station. Um we've gone around on this a few times. Um we looked at Daily Field as a whole. We had our 100th anniversary there this past year. Um but because the the amount of work that's gone into it, ball fields, um
basketball courts, other things, um daily field as a whole was not eligible for it. So got kicked back to us, but the comfort station is. So we're going back to get that on the state registry and at some point we'll move forward if if it moves into the state into the
national registry as well. Um, so that's where we are and those will um also help to seek funding for if we are approved for those. And while I'm here, if anybody has any questions, >> anyone? >> Not exactly a question, but just an
interesting piece that I learned from this. The comfort station was like I guess the the reason why it's historic is because it was built as part of like the New Deal like public works project. So it has kind of a style and architecture that is is uh reminiscent
of that sort of new deal construction which I did not know about. So that's exciting. >> And yeah, I also was not aware that Brookside Cemetery was the early work of a master cemetery builder who built a lot of historically significant cemeteries throughout the country. So
right here in East Hampton, what do you know? >> Thank you. Any [Music] anyone from the public care to comment on this proposal?
Kathisinski Overlook Drive. Um, I wanted to express how grateful I am that we're adding these two projects to the historic register. I would also like to just caution us that we actually
maintain these buildings. We have one other building that's on the historic register and the East Hampton um city administration has been derelictked in their responsibility to maintain that building. It's the Oliver Street project. It is on the National Historic
Register and is dilapitated and we have been neglectful in our responsibility to maintain that historic building. So I hope this doesn't happen with others. Thank you. >> Anyone else for public comment here in
the room? Seeing none, open up to online if you just raise your hand, please. No takers. Going once, twice. >> Seeing none, >> any further comments from counselors.
>> I have a quick comment. >> Oh, please go ahead. >> Thank you. Do you know if the historical committee was made aware of the Oliver Street project? Because sadly what we're finding is that a lot of the committees have no idea what's going on in the city
because there's no communication. We've heard this over and over from the conservation committee. So I'll be attending the next historical commission meeting and I'll find out if they're aware of the dilapitation of the Oliver building.
>> Okay. I allowed that comment. We try to restrict to the current subject. >> So, >> were we not talking about >> uh this particular historic project? So, and and the reference to having funds, yes, but comments about specific other
things. >> Well, thank you for that. >> I would just say that >> I would restrict it to to the to the to the permit to the current subject. >> Understood. Um, councelor treat. >> All right. I'll make this request in the
form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested. $14,500 to be appropriated from fund balance reserve for historic resources. That's part of CPA. Uh $14,500
to be appropriated to park historic designations. $14,500. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. The funding would be used to pursue national and state historic designations for Brookside Cemetery and the Daily Field Comfort
Station. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further thoughts or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor? I >> I. >> All those opposed abstain. Motion carries.
Thank you. Okay, got one more. >> You were good. >> I'm not any happier about it than you are. >> An interdep departmental transfer. >> An interdep departmental transfer. This one's fairly simple. Um there's uh
the uh the veterans department uh has a uh has been uh reorganizing and they have a principal clerk uh salary that just in terms of the hours that are being worked is not actually fully
funded by the budget. Um what they are proposing is they they have a certain amount of funds on hand for uh various cash benefits that might get paid out to to veterans that are entitled to them.
Uh their feeling is that they have um more money in that fund than they'll probably need for this year. So, what they are proposing is that we transfer some funds from the cash benefit fund to uh pay for the uh additional $8,600
of uh hours for the principal clerk for the part-time principal clerk salary. And then in the case that uh the veterans that the cash benefits uh do end up getting too low, they can come back to us for uh an additional
appropriation to to re-up that that fund if it does become a problem. But they don't think it's going to become a problem. Um so uh that's that one. Again, uh this one is uh just the finance committee but voted 3 to zero to
approve this appropriation. >> Any thoughts from the counselors before we open to the public? Seeing none, anyone in the audience care to have public comment on this matter?
No. Seeing none online, just raise your hand. And I don't see any going once, twice. Back to the counselors. I will entertain the motion. Okay. I'll make this mot this request in the form
of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $8,64120 to be transferred from veterans cash benefits to be transferred to part-time principal clerk salary. The amount
requested will be used for the following purpose. Uh the transfer will be used to fund the unfunded hours associated with the veteran services principal clerk position. >> Second. >> We have a motion in a second. No further discussion. Seeing none. All those in
favor? >> I >> opposed. Uh, abstain. Motion passes. Thank you, councelor Pet. >> I'll take a little break. >> We'll let you have a break. We have a proposed charter amendment uh for
mayoral uh salary and term of office definition and comp and establishment. So when the compensation will will take place. So that matter is un before us because we went from a two-year mayoral
term to a 4-year mayoral term while maintaining the language of the two-year mayoral term for establishing when we can take up the matter of compensation. Uh that being said, it doesn't fit for
the fouryear for the four-year term. So this matter went before the uh rules and government relations committee and was recommended 3 to zero. It was looked at by the attorney for the city as a
proposed charter change. Uh it uh has the definition going to uh naming a quadrrenial regular city election. Oh, and by the way, on the form it says MT1. That is
not a secret code. It is a error. So, please cross out MT1. That does not belong in this. Uh, and it has the uh term of office, the compensation. Uh,
essentially it also addresses the issue of increasing or decreasing the salary of mayor. Whereas in the past we only addressed the subject of increasing the salary of mayor. Uh it was felt by the committee that it would be inappropriate
to decrease the salary and was subject to very much political influence and not something that we felt appropriate. Once the mayor comes aboard takes the office they know what their compensation should be. So that's came
out in the recommendation and that the uh vote for compensation take place in the third year of the 4-year term. That's the other critical piece here that it takes place in the third year as opposed
into the first year of the term or into some other subsequent term should there be a mayor who leaves and another election required and that would start a new cycle for compensation that we did not want that to be part it takes place
during the quadrrenial. So those were essentially the functions uh that were addressed from the committee. Uh, I'd be happy to read it. I'd be happy to entertain any questions from the counselors if should there be any.
Seeing none from the public in the audience here present. No takers. Uh, >> Mr. President, I have a question. >> Oh, thank you. >> You moved really quick. Um, under section 31 where it says term of
B, term of office, um, it's not clear to me why we needed to change the wording. Um, the wording seemed pretty plain. The term of the office of the mayor shall be four years and shall begin on the first Monday of the January following the city election
at which the mayor was chosen. >> Why is that ambiguous? the it's it's ambiguous in that there could be a city election midstream, midcycle, mid mid of the four years, should there be a resignation or a death or an otherwise a
vacancy of the mayor. Let's say someone comes in and in the second year, >> right, >> there's a resignation and then there's a new vote. So then that >> might well that that becomes another question
that we we have to deal with. The intent here is that it would not that's our intent and our intent is that we would not be establishing a salary difference for that new person. For example, let's say let's say there was
without this language, if a 4-year term were to take place at that point, that salary would have to be changed in the year before that, not in the third year of the cycle. >> Sorry if that doesn't seem clear. Uh
let's try again. Um So, but I guess what I'm saying is how does the word quadrrenial regular >> it it identifies eliminate anything >> when when you well let me read the whole definition and that would be help section 1.7 definitions quadrrenial
regular city election is a term that would be submitted into the charter it would say the words quadrrenial regular city election shall mean the regular city election held every four years in November just prior to the mayor's regular regular term of office at which
the mayor is elect at which the mayor is elected which would distinguish it from a special election of any sort. It would be the quadrrenial regular city election. >> I just it has to have a name. I think
just the very definition of the city election over which the mayor has chosen and she'll continue until it's feels like every four years. Maybe Tom, can you help me? >> I'm I'm trying to catch up here. Uh I is
is the idea I think what they're trying to say here is that there could be an election in which a mayor is chosen because it's a special election or something like that and that we're trying to differentiate that from
they're saying this is the specific every four years we have this election and that's the election that we're benchmarking this whole thing to >> that you can change salaries. Yeah, it's based on that one. >> Right. And it for various weird outlier
circumstances, it may or might be chosen in an election other than that one, but this is the specific one that we want to build our timing around. Is that correct? >> That is you nailed it. >> Good job. >> Thank you. >> Let's keep repeating it and then
eventually it'll all uh council, did you have anything on that? Uh you were very helpful in the committee meetings on the subject in discussing it. Uh, councelor Smith. >> Okay. So,
now I'm I'm I'm with I'm with you on this, I think. >> Oh, no. >> Because let's suppose right right now because it's the the city election at which the mayor was chosen. I understand
this is assuming that it would be a city election, but let's like right now if I'm just going to use our situation right now where I have councelor Derby in the mayor's seat to this, it almost sounds like once you're in it, you'll
have four more years. Once you're in it, you'll have four more years >> because it says the term of the office of the mayor shall be four years and shall begin on the first Monday of the January. And I guess it would just be simpler to say if if an interim mayor
has to be elected for any other reason, at the end of this quad quadrrenial time is how long they would serve until Wait. Council. >> Yes. So, I'll jump in here. So, we did
debate language quite a bit in our rules and government meeting. Um, I think that what councelor Smith is is sort of referencing, there's multiple ways in contract language to get at the same idea. So, I think that's a different pathway. The current pathway as laid out
here basically as I think um councelor Kiff and and others have already sort of referenced is we're putting in a definition to define as councelor Peak mentioned what we're trying to benchmark the timeline for. So with that new
definition starting us off in section 1.7 um starting us off with that definition in 1.7 then that sort of precludes the need to be overly explicit to name all
the different permutations in which like right now we would find ourselves in need of a a different kind of election. So that definition then goes into section 3.1B and so that's why that language deletes bianial and replaces that with
quadrrenial regular city election. So I know it's a bit of a mouthful but that's basically the idea there is to keep it very consistent so that the current situation that we find ourselves in now is not defined as a quadrrenial regular city election. So it doesn't need to be
dealt with in this in this kind of incarnation here if that makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Because I think I originally brought this up because I felt it was confusing because
>> in the middle of a election, right? So the way that it was where city council was elected every two years and the mayor was also elected every two years, right? So, with this change, right, and I'm trying I'm going to start talking really slow this so I don't
confuse myself. The way that it was originally written was that after a mayor had been elected, that next two years at the the city council election, we would then midterm be able to then
change the salary of the mayor >> after they've been in office. But you have >> two Yes. for two years. So that then would give us the opportunity of changing that salary midterm. And so this prevents that from council saying, "Oh, actually we really like this guy,
so we're going to bump them up or this woman or whoever is the mayor, right? >> So on the quadrrenial election, >> a mayor is elected." >> Mhm. >> That first third year.
>> So Okay. >> So, so when is that election? >> Let me let me go >> I I want Let me counselor Denim for a second. Let me just So after they're elected and then you're saying that in
the third year of that four-year span, >> so another city council iteration, so not the one elected with the mayor, the one elected two years later, would have the opportunity to increase or decrease the mayor's salary.
>> Correct. >> Okay, I got it. And the distinction is is that that if it's that four-year term, right, the first half of that, the city council would look at elected officials
salaries in the first year of that two-year. But in the next election, which would be the third and fourth year of them, then they would in the third year then be looking at the mayor Sally as well as all the other elected officials.
>> Thank you, Council D. Appreciate it. >> Coming clearer, >> clearer, >> clearer. All right, the peak. Um, I'll just say this stuff is complicated and I wish when the 2019 charter review committee was working through this that
we had thought it through, but it is what it is. I I do think that this is in keeping with the general spirit of what we had always been talking about prior to the four-year mayor, which is the principle that we should not be changing
the salaries for elected officials during their term of office. that you should you can have a like like we did for a few years. You can have predefined annual increases. That's fine. But that when you get elected,
this is the this is your compensation for this term of office. and you might advocate for a different compensation for the next term of office, but there's no guarantee that that you will be the
person holding that position at that point. Um because otherwise I think the the obvious liability here is that you have a mayor who's maybe not I mean maybe not a great person or something
who who comes in and you say hey I want to do this thing and they go oh well maybe I'll do that but I want a salary increase uh for your for your for next term you know like that that that sort of wheeling and dealing happens. It still theoretically could happen, but
there's at least the there's at least this theoretical thing of saying you don't know that that that you're ever going to be the one to reap the benefits of that cuz you could lose your bid for reelection. Um, and so, uh, the language is, it takes a minute to get my head
around, but I think that in terms of what is actually being proposed here, it's in keeping with what I've always thought is how we should handle this. So, I feel okay about it.
>> Thank you. [Music] Just to put another quick layer on it, I did not mention that currently under the current system only in the first 12 months of a council term can the mayor's can any salaries be changed for the
following term. for example, for counselors or school committee members and for the mayor under the current system that we want to put aside and deal with the four-year for the mayoral term and
in the third year of the regular term. That's when we would establish the salary for the mayor 12 months in advance at least of the mayor's taking office with an election in between the
time the salary gets changed and the oath of office being taken. This provides that for us. >> Any other questions? Any Did we open this up to the public?
>> Why don't we do so at this time? Any other comments from the public in the audience? No. How about online? Just raise your hand. >> Someone raise their hand. They'll show up at the top.
>> They'll show up. No, I don't see any. Back to us. Looking back back and forth trying to take my time. Council, >> I'm trying to take my time to be sure we catch any any uh
>> more opportunity after the motion to >> uh I will then make a motion to uh approve the following changes. to the East Hampton Charter.
Section 1.7 definitions. Quadrrenial regular city election. The words quadrrenial regular city election shall mean the regular city election held every four years in November just prior to the mayor's regular term of office
and at which the mayor is elected under executive branch sections 3.1b term of office. The term of office of the mayor shall be four years and shall begin on the first Monday of the January following the quadrrenial regular city
election at which the mayor was chosen and shall continue until a successor has been qualified. C. Compensation. The city council shall by ordinance establish an annual salary for the mayor. No ordinance increasing
or decreasing the salary of the mayor shall be effective unless it shall have been adopted in the first 12 months of the term for which the counselors are elected in the third year of the 4-year regular mayoral term. The ordinance must
provide that such salary becomes effective in January of the year following the quadrrenial regular city election. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. I see I see a second. Thank you. Uh any
further discussion on the matter? Councelor Pete, >> I just have one observation here. So during the 2020 uh discussion about mayoral salaries. Uh you counselor had had proposed something that sort of
broke a stalemate that we were at on this topic. um that we were that instead of making one large increase to the mayor's salary, we would instead make uh a series of of small of smaller
increases uh so that it gradually increased over time. Um I are you at all worried that the final sentence of this def of this section where it says the ordinance must provide that such salary becomes effective in
January of the year following that u might preclude us from being able to take that sort of action in the future. And if so, I think I could propose a amendment that could fix it pretty
easily. It becomes effective. >> I'm not particularly concerned about that because I think you could have that the salary be a scaled or sliding scale salary coming in and that the be in the
beginning in the first year this is the for example this is the salary or the salary starts like this. However, I would be happy to entertain language that wouldn't preclude such a situation. >> I'm just worried that it could be misinterpreted to say that it has the
the salary cannot take effect that no change to the salary can take effect after that additional point. So I think what I would theoretically propose uh is that we just strike the word in and
replace it with no sooner than. So maybe I'm I'm sort of I'm kind of freewheeling here, but like is the ordinance must provide that such salary becomes effective no sooner than January
of the year following the quadrrenial regular city election. Um in in just saying that it does give us the opportunity to I I I I that to to it leaves the door
open. I I understand that like I think that that's the spirit of what you're saying. I'm just worried that the like letter of the law as it's written it might some people might argue that that actually closes that door. >> I see your point. I I I could see where some people might interpret it that way.
Would it be possible to say that the such salary schedule becomes effective? Would that say the same thing that in the schedule could mean that's the salary and that's what it is or it could
mean something other than uh one number. I'm just wonder if that would answer your >> I do I I will I will recognize her in a moment. I just wanted to put that on the table. >> Sure. The other path forward would just be to I guess to add a sentence
explicitly saying that the um that the sa the salary could be a schedule that changes over the that explicitly authorize that the salary could be uh like a schedule that changes
over the course of the um of the term. Mhm. >> So that would be another thing, but it would just take me a second to think about how best to write that. >> In the meantime, councelor Den, >> I mean, wouldn't the ordinance include a schedule with a timeline of when that
was to increase? Because if that was the case, then we would just keep it the same, that it wouldn't start until it was effective in January. And the ordinance itself as written, if it included a schedule, it would include a schedule. Adam, >> that's a good point. And I think that
that would carry that the ordinance would define the salary. Um, councelor Jadik. >> Yes. I was just going to say the same thing. So I'd like to just back up what councelor Peak and councelor Denim are saying. So as written, I think it
encapsulates what we are intending to get across with this change. The ordinance in and of itself is basically a container for things like a schedule in the future. If we wanted to be extra explicit, I would um be happy to back up what councelor Peak suggested because I
think the language change of replacing in January to no sooner than January is a really clean way to do this. And I'm only speaking as someone who extensively handles contracts for my business in my day job. So I have been reading contract
language for close to 20 years. And so I'm not a lawyer. However, um that would be my my recommendation if I were to be voting on this is to replace the language if we feel that we'd like to be extra explicit beyond relying on the
fact that the ordinance will handle everything that we're hoping to cover here. >> Councelor Riley, >> um yeah, I I agree with that. Um, I also feel like the the the wording here that
isn't being changed is that we're talking about the adoption of the salary. So the actual whatever the salary is needs to be adopted within that year before the
quadrrenial. Um, so I it doesn't it doesn't explicitly say that we can only give an increase one time, just that we have to
that the the decision to do that happens in the third year of a 4-year term. So I I all that to say I think what you're suggesting councelor Kwisinski and and what um councelor Jadzik is
affirming is that it it is there but of course if you want to change a couple of words to make it explicitly clear I think that's okay too because you know we can have this discussion and and by the end of it we will come to a a
decision of what we think and that's Great for us, but this is going to apply to city councilors to have to read and interpret 20 or 30 years from now. Maybe some of us will still be here, but
I don't I don't think that that's true. Um, some of us are much much younger than others. I don't know. Um but but the point being we need to be clear so that way future leaders can read it and understand what
it says and know what the intent was. So while we understand what we mean when we're saying this, let's just make explicitly clear >> so that way future councils don't have to have this kind of, you know, discussion about what a word
means or what a word doesn't mean. Um, so I I would be in support of changing the language to be explicitly clear. Um, even though I do think it is clear. Yeah.
could become clearer. >> It could become clear is what I what I hear you saying. And is was there specific wording that you thought would be appropriate either? >> Uh, no. I I I'm I'm fine with um what councelor Peak and what councelor Jadzik
are are putting forward. Um >> no sooner than >> Yeah, I think that's fair. >> Council Peak, thank you. I would make a motion to amend the uh previous motion uh to replace in the last sentence of
section 31C, replace the word in with no sooner than such that it reads, the ordinance must provide that such salary becomes effective no sooner than January of the year following the quadrrenial regular
city election. Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion on the amendment? >> Can I ask a question? Because I I can raise my hand, but I'm I'm I'm in the
audience and I'm so confused and maybe you can help clarify. >> Should you could you could you hold that for a moment, please? We we haven't gone to have >> we >> Excuse me. I have a question. >> No, no, we can't. >> We we I'm sorry. We can't entertain
questions at this time. [Music] >> I'm confused. >> Well, please, I understand. We will do our best to clarify, but we This is the public speak section has closed. I'm sorry to say
>> this is I'm sitting here listening to you and I have a question. I'm sorry. >> I would ask you to hold. >> No, no, no, no. I >> I'm sorry. >> You are talking about
someone who is going to be hired soon and now you are talking about getting them away in the next couple months. Am I correct? Is that what we're talking about? Cuz I'm confused. No. >> Uh, no. That is not what we're talking about. And >> can you clarify what you're talking
about then? we are talking about I will answer this because I am thinking that it's been it is a confusing subject and I would like to be sure that there's clarity I would ask you not to say anything more
please >> thank you the discussion is about the future charter change which if I may is a matter that we if approved by this council will be sent to the state
legislature. >> That won't help >> because the state legislature has to approve of any charter change >> a cluster >> and then that matter would either be changed and sent back to us or accepted
and sent back to us at which time the charter would change. Once the charter did go into effect, it would become effective whatever part of the cycle of the election of the mayor. If it is not the third year of the and I
hope I I I hope it's not the third year of the regular four-year term since we're about to have a 4-year election, a quadrrenial election. Uh that this is nothing about the current mayor's salary or making any changes. Just so everyone
including the counselors understood that. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> And I think it's important to say the earliest time this would take effect would be not this election but the next election following >> this would take place. Yeah. This would take place in >> four years
>> four years from Jan >> three years. >> No three year three. Well we it would be in in three years from January of this year. >> Correct. >> Right. that would be wind. >> All right, she's going to >> assuming that >> absolutely not.
>> Okay, thank you. I am so confused. >> Thank you. >> Okay, >> I believe we have a motion. >> We do have a motion and a second. And the motion and I will
go back to the flow for a moment was to change the language from in to no sooner than we were discussing that amongst the counselors. I'm looking for any further thoughts on the subject comments.
It makes sense to me. >> Makes sense. Okay. Then on the amendment to the main motion with the substitution of no sooner than for the word in all those in favor
>> I >> I >> was that I'm sorry I didn't hear I any a nose I just heard differently. Okay. I wanted to be sure I didn't catch any no I caught all the nose. Uh there were no
nos. Uh then no abstensions. The amendment passes. Now for the main motion, any further discussion on that? Seeing none,
I would uh ask for all those in favor of the main motion. I >> I >> opposed abstensions. Motion carries. This matter will be recorded and sent to
the state legislature for their review of the matter of having a charter amendment for the city of East Hampton. Mr. President, I move that the public hearing be closed. Second. Second. >> Motion and a second. All those in favor?
I >> motion opposed uh abstensions. Motion carries. This public hearing is now closed. And back to the agenda. We were in the main co public comment
section for those who were in the public online. We had talked we had open public comment for all those in the room. I open up public comment to those online.
We had talked if >> you said you remember the open public speaking general >> and it is open. You can you can come back but I wanted to get to the online line folks since everyone here had one round of opportunity. >> Fair enough.
>> Anyone in the in the public care for comments on public speak? Seeing none, back to the room. >> Okay, >> we have second call and second call is allowed tonight.
I would ask that you uh not discuss the resolution at all. Please don't take this wrong, but I'm quite embarrassed for you. This was entered yesterday. This is your opinion. Again, like I told
Riley, who already embarrassed himself horribly, you're welcome to come to the podium with your opinion, you forget who your constituents are. You make assumptions about your constituents, who they are,
how they feel, what they what they know. That resolution is an embarrassment because you have no idea what you're talking about. None. None. There is constitutional study,
constitutional law that you are totally totally ignoring, showing your ignorance, lack of education, and I'm embarrassed for you. That resolution should not even brought
up be brought up. and as a victim of 12 years of a corrupt judiciary and police who don't like to investigate child abuse. It's like it's like you know what they say. It's it's like the first part of
that first page, you nailed it. You nailed it. The second part, you go off the rails. You lose your mind. You go into TDS land. You need more education before you present something like that. Do not bring it up today. You offered it to the
public as of yesterday. That's disgusting. That's unfair. We deserve more time. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Good evening. Uh Kathy Winsky Overlook Drive. I would also ask that the
resolution not be reviewed tonight. Um agendas are supposed to be set 48 hours in advance. That certainly wasn't if it was posted yesterday. I do not believe it actually meets the open meeting law requirements. And again, the majority of
the resolution is personal opinion. The beginning was a great opportunity to bring this community together to celebrate our constitution. The rest of it is just divisive and bitter. I think we should remove it completely or review
it at the next city council meeting when additional um input can be provided. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Yes. >> I may would you mind identifying
yourself please? Yes. >> Eastampton. >> I am not clear what this >> Can you please make it so we can all hear her? >> We're working on it. >> We're working on that. Hey, hold it one second. >> We're trying to We're trying to get get your microphone a little louder and
available to the public to you. >> No problem. >> The public in the room. Let me try. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay, let's try that. >> Try Go ahead. >> Go ahead. You're a little louder.
>> Okay. Are we good now? Can you hear me? >> I have to phone is on Max. You need to do whatever you need to do because I as a SU member, I have no idea what this resolution is. I read the agenda. I have
no idea what you're talking about. How can you discuss this if we as the public don't know what you're discussing? >> Can you answer that, please? Can you hear that? >> As part of public speak, we're not allowed to comment directly on matters
that you raise. >> Excuse me. You can't you can't what? I can't I >> as part of public speak, we're not allowed to interact to answer specific questions. We can hear and listen. >> Why? >> Because that's the rule. >> Because those those th those those are
the rules >> and we do our our very best to follow them >> because government is interaction back and forth. >> I do not understand what you are discussing. You have people getting up
there addressing it. We as the public need to what? We need to know what you're talking about. >> What are you addressing this to the public so I as a resident of this town can understand what you are talking about?
>> Address that. Don't don't you don't have to interact with me because I don't understand why you can't interact with me as a resident of this town. I pay your salaries. I pay taxes. Tell me how.
Tell me what you're talking about. Address that, please, because I'm locked down and we are going in the wrong direction. bring out that I promise what you are
discussing to me as a resident of this town. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. I want an answer. [Music] >> An answer, please.
>> That's at this point going to ask you. >> Thank you. We'll be continuing on with the rest of the meeting. I resound and I have not >> include what you're talking about. >> Patty Kaboli, >> I don't think they've ever
>> I've had to mute the speaker. [Music] >> Time's going >> which is and your time is up anyway. So that's great. We have someone who's expressed their opinions and we appreciate that because this is what we're here for and we're here to listen
to it. >> Yeah. So >> I would just explain that >> open meeting law prohibits us from interacting with anything our during during public speak our obligation >> say that you should express your opinion >> this has got to stop you >> sorry
>> we've got to have a point of clarification point of order please >> point of order um there are very clear rules about how city council meetings are being run it is not the responsibility of the council to educate the public in the meetings
that they're happening. If we are not allowed to respond, we're not allowed to respond. >> That it doesn't it doesn't matter what you think. >> The rules are what they are. Believe me, there are times where we wish that we
could engage with the public, but we cannot because that's what the federal government and the state government and our constitution says that we are required to do. I understand that people do not appreciate that there are certain restrictions and rules within the federal government or that we can just
simply discard them when we don't like them, but that's not how we do things here. East Hampton is a city of rules and we follow them. So, I would ask Mr. President to get control of the meeting so that way we can move forward with the agenda items. >> Thank you.
>> Federal government, how do you educate I have two other people who have asked to speak and I will open it up to them since they have not had a chance to speak yet. >> Certainly. >> Uh Cayam Jamro Mcuade,
>> would you unmute your microphone? >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. Can everybody else hear? >> Thank you, counselors. Um I'm just speaking in uh tonight in support of um this request to adopt chapter 320 of the
act of 1987. Um I think that this is a proactive step in making sure that our school committee has the opportunity to present a budget to city council. I think that it's pretty common sense for um especially in light of the struggles that we've had in the past with making
sure our schools have adequate funding. I think that this provides a tool for the school committee and city council to discuss the budget in a way that makes people feel like their hands aren't tied. Um it just seems like very common sense to me. Um I'm sure that this will
come up in discussion over multiple meetings and I will be speaking in support of it throughout those. But I just wanted to um kick this off and say that I support this adoption. >> Thank you. Uh Tracy Butler Kurf,
would you unmute? And >> um I just want to say very quickly that Patty, I understand the uh frustration that you're feeling about not having uh questions answered, but that is the way that city council meetings are set up
across the um country. Um there's nothing unusual. Um although it's frustrating. I do have questions about the um resolution that um is before us in the green on the agenda. Um I'm just curious about well the first part
curious about why uh the word straight isn't there. >> I did anybody here I didn't hear the word that was being questioned shouldn't be talking about >> strayed. straight. I'm going to keep commenting
for >> Is that the word you use? >> I'm going to reach out to the police right now. >> That is the word I use. Isn't that the that word that is on the agenda? That's all. >> I don't know who wrote who authored the
lang on the agenda. >> Very good. Thank you, Cayam. Your hand is still up. if you could lower your hands if you've had your opportunity to speak.
Thank you. >> Twice we've heard from >> justformational I just want to give some information one last time. Please go ahead. >> I just wanted to provide some information. I think some of the um difficulty is coming with the difference
between the mobile agenda and the online agenda. any attachments are not available if you're looking at it on the mobile and so lots of people aren't getting the information. >> That's incorrect. >> If you're looking at the mobile agenda, there's no attachments. You have to
actually open the agenda and look at it. But if you're just looking at >> website is set up, we can't have the full agenda. >> I just wanted to point out that's probably where some of the the frustration is coming from. Just a point of information. That's it. Thank you.
Are we done with public speak? >> Good. We will now close public speak. >> I remind people that they shouldn't be speaking. >> And at this point, no one else should be should be speaking for the rest of the meeting,
but you're welcome to stay and watch. Thank you. Um the next items for immediate attention. Well, we had a resolution that uh was presented
regarding uh a matter that's coming up. The Constitution of the United States Constitution Day is September 17th. And with the urgency of September 17 approaching, this is our last meeting uh before
well in two weeks it will be September 17th and the resolution could not be re uh presented and be available to the public should the council decide to approve or disapprove of it or change
it. Uh but that's why it was presented. Uh, I certainly understand that everyone has opinions and that's why we're here. So, I would open it up to the matter. This was presented by me for immediate
consideration. It is a resolution where the city of East Hampton is in support of democracy and a call for the return to the constitutional principles that are the foundation of our republic. We normally do not discuss on immediate
uh for items called for immediate resolution if there is a single objection to it being discussed and that is available to any counselor. Normally the process is that matters go to committee before being discussed here.
So I would ask anyone who would so desire that this be brought to committee that they simply say only one person it takes to say yes let's let's talk about it in committee rather than review it tonight and I'd be happy to
entertain that since that is every counselor's right. I think just out of process it should be brought to committee just as anything else would be brought to committee. That would be my opinion. >> Res items of resolution are normally not
well may may or may not be brought to committee. But if you'd like to see that this goes to committee, >> I just think considering the timing I think it would be best suited for that. That's my opinion. >> That concludes this evening and we'll send this matter to committee.
If uh it would go to what's our pleasure rules usually rules >> rules and government relations. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> The motion on the floor is to send the
resolution in support of democracy to the rules and government relations committee. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. The eyes have it. This motion, this matter is going to the rules and
government relations committee. >> Can I just say >> I I will have to ask you not to not to say anything. >> Going to finish. >> No, no, we will I I I will not allow for another interruption. It is out of order. Uh I will have to ask you to
leave the meeting if you will not. [Music] How do we uh you can get the three dots? >> The three dots. >> Isn't there three times? >> All right. I should
>> Good. Thank you. Communications from elected boards, elected officials and boards and commissions. Councelor Riley. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um I have two
>> Don't shut it down. Do not shut your >> I'm reclaiming my time. >> I will reclaim the time and I will ask you to leave my constitutional right. I wish as a res >> I'm sorry this isn't a matter of further interruption or discussion.
>> Councelor Rally, you have the floor. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um so I have two announcements um for you all tonight. So the first is that I have seen um a troubling trend uh on social media that I wanted to correct the
record for. Um that is in relation to um thoughts that the community has or has been sharing about plate readers. Um so the first thing that I wanted to clarify is that there is a misconception that Mayor Derby has put forward this as a
policy proposal. He has not. This is a policy proposal that was put forward by former uh mayor Lashappelle and at our last meeting, Mayor Derby informed us that this was something that was occurring.
So, he did his due diligence by notifying the public that this was something that was under consideration and for that I thank him. Secondly, he listened to public comments. He listened to questions from the council
and he has been on the record and saying that we're not actually moving forward with the plate reader. So that I I want to be crystal clear that when people are under the assumption that Mayor Derby did this, he did not. That responsibility
lies on former mayor Lashappelle. Um, so the next thing that I wanted to talk about is that today the attorney general certified a rent stabilization ballot initiative to cap rent increases
statewide for the 2026 election. This proposed law, if voted by the public, would limit annual rent increases for residential units in Massachusetts to the annual increase in the consumer price index for a 12 month
period or 5%, whichever is lower. The law would not apply to units in owner occupied buildings with four or fewer units, units that are subject to regulation by a public authority, units rented to transient guests for periods
of less than 14 days, units operated for educational, religious, or nonprofit purposes, and units that received their residential certificate of occupancy within the last 10 years. A violation of this law, if the voters
approve it in 2026, would be a violation of state consumer protection law. Now, over the last four years as a city councelor, in the years prior, as a member of the Affordable and Fair Housing Partnership, I've heard from hundreds of concerned citizens
about why the city of East Hampton isn't doing anything to address the housing crisis. And believe me, it has pained me to tell you over these years that there's nothing that I or any of us within the city of East Hampton can do to help you
because in 1994, it became illegal for local governments like East Hampton to intervene in the control of rent. This ballot initiative is how you fix the problem. It still will not allow local governments to intervene in rent
markets, but it will essentially create a 5% cap on rent increases year after year for all apartments in Massachusetts except for the units that I described just a moment ago. So, what can you do to ensure that this initiative gets on the ballot and
passes? For starters, we need to collect 75,000 signatures across Massachusetts and start talking to our friends, family, and neighbors about taking back economic control and voting for this initiative in 2026. If you want to learn more, you can come
directly to me or you can go to the website hfama. us/jointhe fight to become a volunteer. Do not pass up this opportunity. You
need to activate, organize, and advocate for this initiative. There are going to be organized real estate groups and landlord associations who helped create the 1994 law to make it illegal to control rent. They are going to use the same tactics that
they've used before. Developers are going to be discouraged from building new housing. landlords are not going to be able to repair properties because they'll have less money that they can acrue via rent or that the penalties for violating the law under the consumer protection law
are too heavy. We've heard similar false narratives and scare tactics in the past from special interest groups about taxing millionaires saying that they were going companies would leave Massachusetts if we passed it. We passed it. They didn't leave.
We heard the same thing about legalizing cannabis, that it was going to increase uh addiction, that it was going to increase unsafe road conditions. Um those things didn't happen either. They also said the same thing about
whether or not every single person in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should be able to get married. People do not have sex in the streets. There's no outofcontrol uh spikes in sexual assault crimes beyond what is normally expected
of the of the entire population. It's all scare tactics and false narratives. If developers want money, and believe me, they do, they'll still build in Massachusetts. And if landlords are afraid of the
penalties under the consumer protection law, all they need to do is play by the rules. That's it. It's pretty easy. So, this is your time. Join me and others in this rare opportunity to fix the crisis of housing affordability in East Hampton
by volunteering, signing the initiative, and voting in 2026. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kyle. Sorry, Council P. Uh, thank you, Mr. President. Uh, first of all, I agree with everything that Council Riley just said. Uh, second of
all, uh, I want to talk for a while about something that I'm going to try and make it quick. Uh, something that you all know I I care a great deal about, uh, which is rank choice voting. Um, so, uh,
we now have four people on the mayoral ballot. It would be very inappropriate for me to endorse anybody from this bench. But what I would say is that I encourage everybody to use the rank choice voting that we enabled in our ballot question in 2019 in order to use
your full voice. I encourage people to rank your first choice, but then also that's all you have to do. You could just put your first choice, but I encourage you to put your second choice and third choice and even your fourth choice if you feel like it. um on that
ballot so that your whole voice could be heard. In many communities when you have a lot of people on the ballot and um support for candidates gets splintered, you get an opport a situation where it's possible that a person could win for a
job as important as mayor, particularly in a city where the mayor has, in my opinion, a ridiculous amount of power. Um, you could have somebody get that position who the majority of people in the community actually are not happy about
because support for the broad majority was split among a bunch of different people or something like that and and that's something that we can avoid here because we implemented this because we saw it coming because it has happened in the past and we have built the system in place. So I would really encourage
everybody rank your whole ballot. if you're a candidate, encourage people to use your whole ballot. I just and that's my thing. So, that's my first thing. The second thing is more of a bummer. Um, and it is about our push towards using rank choice voting
for the two elections that we don't currently use them for. That's the ATL large city councelor and the school committee elections. Um, in 2023, we had a policy question. wasn't binding, but it's it, you know, it's a it was it was
a policy question where we asked people, would you like to use rank choice voting for these two elections? The majority of the city voted yes. Um, actually a stronger majority than what we had got when we did it the first time around. Um,
so last year we wrote a legislative petition just like the one that we passed uh tonight to send to the legislature. uh in at that point um in the first draft of that the legislature with these things if
it's a thing affecting voting they like to see the public have a say in the matter and in in the first draft of it what we had argued is well the public did have a say in the matter there was a policy question it was on the same ballot that we were all elected on and the majority of people voted yes
um but we got word down from the legislature through our state rep at the time um that that was not going to fly and that if we wanted it to pass, we were going to need to build in a second election, you know, to have our
petition say that if the legislature passes this, then it'll go back to the voters. So, we amended it. We trusted the legislature and we did that. And it's been a year and they haven't held a public hearing
on it. And that means that we won't get to put it on the ballot. And that means that there will be at least another two years before we get a chance to put it on a ballot. We're not alone in this, right?
There's 8 10 something around there. Communities that since us have petitioned to use rank choice voting for local elections. They let us do it. They have not let a single other community do it since. It is a log jam.
of coming up on a dozen communities who are asking for this ability and they have not been given it because this new legislature has taken a very different approach to legislative
petitions. They used to be very differential with them. They aren't anymore. Um, so I'm mad about this, uh, because we were told by our partners in the
state that doing this a certain way was going to make them let this petition go through and not get held up in this log jam. And that was not true. I don't know if the people who said it were misled,
if they misunderstood, if they were themselves saying things they knew to not be true. But we're once again stuck in this situation where we have this opaque, unresponsive, undemocratic legislature
that doesn't allow that's not allowing cities to do what they think is best for themselves. So when there's nothing to be done about it for this election going forward, I'm going to resubmit that legislative petition for the next session and I'm going to take out that language. I'm
going to say that um the people already voted on this and that way when that log jam eventually breaks, whether that's in a year or 20 years, we won't have to have another extraneous election that we were only ever considering doing
in the first place because we were misled. And I hope that um you'll join me in that. Um, but I think that in general we're going to have to be really thoughtful going forward about how when we want to try and do things through
partnership with the legislature, we approach it because we're we're being told information that turns out to not be true. Um, and that's really disappointing. That's all. Thanks, >> Counselor D.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, Art in the Garden is September 6 from 2:00 to 5:00. Um, so I encourage you to look online for that information. Um, the bees committee does invasive has a monthly
invasive removal um event. Um, and the next one is going to be uh September 13th at 10:00 a.m. behind the East Hampton feed. Um, and I wasn't going to bring this up, but since councelor Riley did, uh, I would like to
see the date at which the um, the, uh, camera policy was written. Um, that is a formal request right now. Um, 6 months ago or so when we voted for the appropriation for that package, uh,
members of this council expressed, um, concern about that. We articulated that we did not wipe that camera up. Um, and the uh uh mayor was responsive to that. Uh, and that camera has actually been
sitting in a closet to my knowledge for the last since that time um when the mayor stood up here uh two weeks ago or whenever it was uh and said that he had that policy produced. So, um I don't appreciate uh blame being passed off. If
you made a choice and you made a decision, then you should take responsibility for that. Um, so I want to see the communication at which point that policy was made and who it went to. Thank you,
>> Councelor Jazz. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I'd like to just share two quick items of note specifically for residents in my precinct, precinct 2. Um, I know that there's been a lot of conversation in multiple different places online and otherwise around the smell that is
persistent um, specifically in the New City area near the wastewater treatment plant. The cause of that smell which is ongoing is because the there is air raator replacement work that is happening and it is ongoing. Um, I have communicated with director Nuttleman as
of yesterday as far as a timeline update and he said they think another one to two weeks. um we may have to update that as the work continues, but they are working on an a a way to alleviate the odor. So, just wanted to let people know
that and um if it persists, again, we're the city is working on it, but please feel free to keep me in the loop and others um in the city government if there are issues beyond just the general smell. The other thing I want to mention really briefly is that there is going to
be smoke testing tomorrow in the area of Glen Cove Place. This is a way for the city to understand if there are any drainage issues. And I think a lot of folks here are very familiar with the Emerald Place work that's also ongoing. And so this is part of the work to
replace um ultimately replace the sewer systems in that neighborhood. So just wanted to mention that because um this does happen not just on Glen Clove but in other places around the city. So don't be alarmed if you do see smoke coming out. Um it's a way for the city to understand where there are issues so
that they can work on that in the future. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Um, correspondence, anything? No. President and vice president
communications. Uh, I do want to announce the rent study ad hoc committee members have been formed. This is a compilation of appointments made by our previous president and by myself uh for
the putting this committee together. I apologize for the delay but during the transition that really was uh a bit of a delay. So that being said uh the committee will have two tasks. The first is to study and analyze the
eastampton housing market. Second is to examine our city and programs in ways in light of ways to support and protect East Hampton renters. It may also include a review of programs available in other communities which may assist renters and owners to provide affordable
and improved housing options. where the committee's report or reports identify any items which may be added or deleted or otherwise considered by the council. The ordinance or rules committee and government relations committee may introduce these items as new business.
I'd like to thank all those who have uh contributed in the past toward East Hampton and look forward to the committee. The members of the committee are city councilors uh Connie Denim and Felicia Jadzik.
Uh Carolyn Cushing, landlord. Jim Canyon, renter. Jana Tedana Tetro. David Bole, a landlord. Donna M. Capulo, landlord.
>> That was >> Capello. >> Chapello. Thank you for the correction. Uh Kevin Prier, developer landlord, and Cayam Jamrock McUade. Uh those members uh will be receiving
notice uh shortly of the appointment and are free to begin the committee. So, thank you so much for your work. We look forward to it and we look forward to your report. Mayoral Communications, Mr. Mayor.
Good evening, counselors. Um, so it's unfortunate that I have to do this, but I I have to set the record straight um about issues that have uh surfaced tonight and online. Uh so just to be
super clear and I think I need to be use really simple language here because I think I want everybody to really understand what has happened with this issue around the license plate reader camera. Uh so again uh this was ordered paid for um
before my tenure um in probably I think our incident happened here in May. So it was probably sometime right after that. I did not place that order. I did not approve that order. I did not know what was in that order. Um and that that
installation was completed but way before I agreed to become interim mayor. Um now it is correct that the license plate reader has never been installed. It has never been installed. So, um,
people that are saying that I ordered the installation of a license plate reader, that is that's not true. Um, and there's a few other things that are not true. Um, which is that I approved a license plate reader, that I had any involvement with a license plate reader.
Um, basically, and I can tell you the timeline, I can tell you when the policy happened. It's very simple. Um, so when I first became interim mayor, um, there was, uh, from the RIT saying, "We have a contract that is incomplete and we need
to figure out what to do with this." And so it was brought to me that the license plate reader was the one piece that hadn't been installed. And I said, "Well, that's probably good because we need to like talk to the city council and let people know about this if that was something that was going to happen."
Um, the IT director wrote a policy for all the cameras in the building and what would happen with the data. And when that policy got written, it was given to me. I immediately brought it to the city council because I saw that it could potentially have some issues and I
wanted to make sure as soon as I knew that that you were aware. And if you remember from my last mayoral report, I took questions and I said I would get answers. And the last person who asked me a question was councelor Kiff. And I
remember when I left this podium, I said, "I will do my best to get that information." And when I went back into the office, I talked to our IT director and said, "Let's pause this because I think there's going to be some questions." Stopped it.
And since then, I've asked the IT director to explore because taxpayers paid money for this expensive camera, explore what options we have to sell it or to trade it in. And I was informed today that we do have potentially the
option to trade it in for a camera on this end of the building that is currently not being like we don't have any coverage there, which would cover the mailbox area. And so that's the direction I'm going. I just want to be super clear because I don't know if it's a, you know, operator thing where maybe
I just wasn't clear with my communication uh at my last mayoral communication or if this is some sort of, you know, intentional um misrepresentation, which I hope it's not. Um, but this is something that I
recognized as being potentially problematic and brought it directly to the council. Um, and so I I think if there's wrongdoing here, I I I can't find it yet. Um, so I just I just want to be really clear that my intention
from the beginning was to be as transparent with the council as possible, which is why I brought the policy to the council and and gave the introduction I did. And when you showed concern, it was a hard stop. And at this point, that camera is going to go away.
and and not because not because um you know people are telling mistruths about my actions but because it's the right thing to do and I recognize that right so I just want to be clear and um you know but that's that's I guess the
nature of politics these days um but I do have some actual updates um and and I think they're important and so I don't want to just get up here and be defensive and I and I I really don't want to be defensive I I really felt like I was doing what was the responsible thing to do. So I I hope I
don't have to do that again. Um now again the sewer issue I did ask Greg Nuttleman to be on this. So if you wanted to ask him any questions about it and just to be clear this was something that was not I wasn't briefed on this. This was something that had been in in
the works before I came on. But I just want to make sure that it when I talked to Greg about this, he said that potentially the smell is going to last for a few more days potentially, maybe less. Um, but there is another air raator that has to be upgraded and so
this could potentially happen again. So I think, you know, the city is going to be as responsive as possible to let people know about that. So they, you know, I mean, there's not really a lot you can do to prepare for it. This really does highlight how important our infrastructure is. Um, and this is a
infrastructure upgrade project that just happens to have a side effect that is unpleasant and um, which is too bad. But if you if you do have any questions, I did ask Greg to be on the call so he could answer questions for you. Um, and
and I don't know if anybody does. Okay. And Greg, are you there? >> Yeah, I'm here. Hope you can hear me >> kind of. So, and and Councelor Krinski, I >> Councelor Krinski, I imagine that
probably you can identify the council members that you would like to identify to ask questions. >> Yeah, >> looks like >> I was just looking for a way to find where the voice is coming from so that we could get it a little louder in the room, but that that's a technical area. Is it by your shoot?
>> We're going to work on that technical issue. Meanwhile, we would do our best to communicate and let you know what's being said. Council Jadrick. >> Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Director Nettleman, for being responsive to me separately outside of this this meeting and and for being here tonight
on this as well. Um, my only question or I guess it's more of a statement. Um, knowing especially given what inter Mayor just mentioned around the fact that there is going to be another air raator that needs to be replaced and so this will be another issue coming up in the future. I guess my request would be
if we can leverage city communication um platforms to be a little bit more um communicative with with residents because I think that's been one of the major sources of frustration that's been expressed to me personally as um as the counselor for this area is that people
didn't know what was happening, where the smell was coming from, how long it was going to last, why it was going on, or whether this would be just a ever sort of fact of living in this area. now. So, I know that we have neighborhood email lists and I'd like to encourage us to use those. I know that
also, um, I believe today the city was able to put out a statement on the Facebook page. Um, and so if there's other ways that we can just be more communicative in the future, I'd like to encourage us to to um, take advantage of that. But again, Director Nelman, because I know you're here, if there's any other updates, definitely would love
to hear them and please feel free to share. >> No. Well, I've been So, we have to we still have to replace the two mechanical aiators on the uh on the east side. However, we're we're able to do a little better with the level control in that aration basin than we can on the west
side. So, we've done the two west sideed in fact we have been able to control the water level in that led to some more disruption in the process than it really should have. So, um it's a biological process that our wastewater treatment plant facilitates and we hope to not uh encounter this again on the other side.
And um it seems like this problem really took off over the weekend. It wasn't even brought to my attention until yesterday morning. So, um we uh I wasn't able to get a communication out in a in a timely manner.
>> Okay. Any other council? >> You have another one? >> Um I just have a comment. Uh, I guess I need clarification. I'm just wondering why this was done between August and September when it's so hot and people have to open their
windows versus October when there'd be a little more respbit from the air because most people wouldn't have their windows open. >> Well, the cooler weather would certainly help with the odor as well. Um, the challenge is we get up against grant grant funding deadlines and uh
construction contract performance periods. So, um, sometimes the windows of opportunity to get work done are not ideal. >> Okay, I appreciate that. Thanks. >> And the, um, you know, the successful contractors, other other other jobs that they have on their schedule, so it's
it's not super cut and dry. >> Mhm. >> Council, go ahead. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, I just want to acknowledge first of all, uh, uh, director, another one, thank you. I know I sent you an email yesterday morning um asking for an update. So, I
appreciate the fact that this is happening. Um um I also just want to acknowledge that I know that this smell is highly concentrated in precinct 2 uh in New
City and and that's awful, but it's also dissipating out into other areas of town. Uh, I walk through the park um and there's heavy odor there as well. And so I just want to acknowledge that um I know that our
water treatment plant employees are in that environment every day that they're at work. Um, and that I think is very um brave of them. Um, I I've I've done a
tour of that and I really am grateful for the sacrifices that they're making to their personal health regarding that. But our employees at the park are not in that type of environment every day and and that smell is quite um pungent um to
to put it mildly. So, I just want to make sure that the city is doing something to acknowledge and make sure that our employees have what they need in order to be safe and healthy. >> Okay. Anyone else?
Thanks. Thanks, Greg. Um, there is one other thing that you might want to ask Greg about and I wanted to make sure everybody was aware of it. Um, a few weeks ago they did a routine test of the generator at public safety building. Um, as you know, um, our public safety
complex, uh, really needs to have a backup source of power all the time. Um, because our emergency communications depend on it. Um, and when they did the routine test, uh, the generator was not working. Um, and so we had to
immediately, um, have, uh, rental trailer generators come in, um, while this was investigated. and um you know the beginning of the fixing process started uh and so that is expensive and
the cost to repair the generator is expensive. So I just wanted to just make sure that you all were aware that this had happened. I wanted to make sure that you understood that there probably will be some sort of an appropriation coming to the council and it's going to be probably and Greg correct me if I'm
wrong but probably around $107,000 and somewhere in that neighborhood. Um maybe more. Uh so if you have any questions about that I mean Greg is the one taking the point on that piece of the project. So um I'm sure he would be happy to
answer any questions. >> Are there any questions? Okay. I appreciate you're sharing that as something that we can expect to see soon. We always didn't get in the past
kind of a heads up. So I I appreciate it. So >> no problem. And I I also want to just um so one of the things moving on and thank you Greg, you probably don't have to stay anymore. Um, but one of the things at at my last update, um, Council Kazinski, you mentioned as I left the
podium, um, was about the employees who had their hours cut. >> Uh, so I was on a, um, call on Tuesday with our employment lawyer and our home, our human resources um, director and, um, representatives from the union. And
I asked for a side letter um, that we were creating. I asked for a piece of it to read that we if we felt it was financially reasonable could reinstate some or all of the hours of employees who had their hours cut. Uh and that
letter was ratified yesterday. Um and at which point I sent emails to all department heads asking them to um send me an email uh letting me know whether they were interested in restoring some or all of their employees hours that
were cut. Um, and when they when they did that, um, I would sit down with them and we would work together to find a way to find the funding for that. Um, and so I have received emails from almost all the department heads asking for the
reinstatement of ours. So that process is underway, in process, and I'm hoping to have it resolved soon. So, um, I know that that was something that the council was concerned about. It was something that I cared about. Um,
so I wanted to bring that back cuz that was something you specifically asked for. Um, and other than that I don't have much else. Um, so I would conclude my time and uh, thank you. You have any
requests for next time? >> Okay. >> I thank you for bringing the report uh on the hours of the employees and your update. you're keeping us filled in on that subject and the community filled in so that we all can be cognizant of that process.
>> That's important communication that we very much respect and appreciate. >> I I I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Committee reports finance. >> Uh thank you, Mr. President. We met last
uh week uh to discuss the appropriations that we voted on public hearing. Uh we also discussed um a large uh and complicated district improvement financing
uh project uh which at the time we got I'd like to say maybe n clear on like maybe 90% 85 90% of the details of um but there are a few outstanding
things. So, we uh adjourned from that meeting and uh I guess what we're going to try and do is we're going to meet a week from today uh at 5:30 p.m. in conference room 1. Um just our regular
meeting time uh to sort of finalize that. Um and then uh with the with an eye towards uh having a public hearing on the diff at our uh what's two weeks the 17th or
September 17th meeting. So, at this time, I'd like to make a motion to set a public hearing on the uh the the diff sum the it's a long uh it says uh summary of requested actions for
uh one fair street project via existing district improvement finance diff including borrowing/bonding for $3 million for 11 Ferry Street. Uh that's the item in question. I would
like to set a uh public hearing for that uh for the 17th at 6:15 in these chambers. Second. We have a motion and a second to set a public hearing for the borrowing bonding
project. uh $3 million for 11 Ferry Street, I'm sorry, 411 Ferry Street and part of a district improvement funding plan. >> Mhm. >> It's a doozy. So, I would really really
recommend that folks try and do their best to review it a little bit beforehand and get at least the basics down because it it took us a while to wrap our heads around it. Um, >> but that I'm making that motion. >> Well, if if we can clear our calendars
to be there for this meeting that you just scheduled. >> If you'd like to make the meeting or watch the recording, >> sure, why not? >> We have a motion on the floor and a second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed.
Uh, >> abstain. The motion passes. So the the one remaining thing before >> for a public hearing on in these chambers at 6:50, >> correct? >> On September 17th, correct? >> Uh the one remaining thing on the agenda
that I have that we haven't the rescending of borrowing authorizations for city space in Honeywell. Um that was just we had a lot of things and so that was one that we didn't get to last time, but ideally we'll try and get to that next week. If not, we'll
>> it'll be soon. Um, we do have two new appropriations that I would like to uh introduce uh as a first reading and to set a public hearing for both of them uh for
the 17th and 6:15 in these chambers. So I make sorry point of word. Is this new business? >> Is this new business? Normally we take them on new business. >> Are we doing that? Okay. Last time we were doing new business during committee reports. Uh I believe we switch back.
>> I just want to make sure. >> Yeah, I'd rather not jump around if >> Okay, great. Perfect. Let's do that. >> So, this includes finance. >> Uh in that case, thus concludes public safety. >> We have not met since our last council meeting. However, we do have a meeting
scheduled for next Tuesday, September 9th at 5:30 in conference room 1 downstairs. Um, I would like to ask for a 90-day extension on two items. The roadway infrastructure and pedestrian safety items as well as traffic and pedestrian safety on West Street.
>> Second. >> So, we have a motion to second for an extension for 90 days on the two after items. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
>> Thus concludes. This concludes appointments. Council Smith. >> Thank you, Councelor Kazinski. Um, we did not meet since our last meeting um, as a full council. So, I have no old
business, but I do have new business. I have four mayoral appointments that I would like to make a motion to move forward to the appointment subcommittee. So I will read all four at once and then have one
motion for all of them or would you prefer a motion for each individual? >> I think we could uh without objection address all of them together. Doesn't this um fall into the same category? >> Okay then. >> Yeah.
>> Then okay. >> Yeah. >> Then I guess I have no report and I'll put the new business on the board. when that comes up. >> Thank you. Ordinance. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, so at our
last meeting, uh, we discussed the short-term rental. Uh, we had some input from our, uh, board of health. Um, and they, uh, requested that some additional things, uh, be, uh,
added, um, particularly regarding um, septic systems. So at our next meeting we are hoping that we will have a final draft of that. We will invite everyone who is all the departments who are have been involved in that to that. Um, and
that meeting will take place on September 16th at 5:00 p.m. And with that, I'd also like to um well, additionally, um, the planning board has set a public
hearing um for October 7th at 6 p.m. to discuss the um uh the short-term rental definitions. They go in with the zoning ordinance. So that will be happening then. So at the
October 15th uh meeting, I would like to set a public I'd like to make a motion to set a public meeting to address both of those items, the short-term rental general ordinance as well as the uh short-term zoning that's uh added to the
definition and the table. Um, in October we are meeting on the 2nd and fourth Wednesdays of the month due to the Jewish holiday. So it's October 8th and 22nd. >> October. Uh, so we could do October 8th then.
>> Second. >> So you're suggesting we have a motion in a second. Just want to be clear. You're suggesting one day after the October 7th meeting >> that you automatically go to
the zoning. Does it does that require any postings? >> Uh the >> and I'm wondering if the time frame would allow that. >> Oh, so it has to be approved before. So, all right. So, then October, >> what's the next? >> October 22nd.
>> All right. So, then to set that for >> I'll withdraw my second >> withdraw the second withdraw the motion. I'll withdraw my motion and make a motion for October 22nd to have a public hearing uh regarding both the
zoning >> um uh changes ordinance changes as well as a public hearing for the general ordinance regarding short-term rentals. >> Second.
>> We have a motion and a second. Do you have one? >> I just have a question. >> Sure. >> Um, did the Derby did the zoning uh amendment uh go through the planning board joint public hearing process? Like >> that's what I'm saying. That's what you're saying. That's what we were
talking about. And we talked about October 7th being the date and my my my point was I think that may not allow for the 8th for a public hearing, but you'd want to go back. >> So you're talking about setting a public hearing for the zoning ordinance here. I'm asking we don't do that generally
until we have a joint public hearing with the planning board >> which >> which would accomplish by >> already I just want to make sure >> which would happen and time to publish this hearing after the meeting for the with the planning >> is there
>> yeah October yeah that was October sorry >> which we just but good point to make sure that we get our dates right here so I appreciate that So, we have a motion and a second for the public hearing. We had a question. Is there any other questions
or comments about setting the public hearing for zoning and ordinance for the 22nd? >> I just want to make one more comment. So the the point of uh the moratorum on the
um host not having um approve formal approval by the city or permit that ends in October. So that's some of the what that's related to this in October.
>> Thank you. >> Anything else? So the motion is for a setting of the public hearing for October 22nd. Uh the two public hearings. All those in favor? >> I
>> opposed abstain. Motion carries. We will have a public hearing at October 22nd at 6:15 p.m. in these chambers. Um and then regarding the proposal prohibiting the application of bioolids
on a municipal property, um the committee has sent that to the attorney to get feedback on that. Um so we're waiting we're waiting for the for that. And regarding the um
zoning changes proposed by the affordable and fair housing partnership um they are still in process with trying to set a meeting with the um aquifer protection committee. So once that happens uh and I'm aware of kind of
they've come to any conclusions regarding that then we'll bring that back to uh the committee to discuss that. Um, at this time I need to um [Music]
make extensions to I thought we already did this one. The ordinance review committee's final report. So 90 days. So I can make a motion to extend the dates for the ordinance review committee's final report. The review of rural and
fair housing partnership zoning ordinance recommendations. the uh city council action requests for short-term rental zoning ordinance amendments uh to extend all of those by 90 days. >> Second motion. Is there a second?
Second. Second. Thank you. We motion is uh to extend by 90 days the four set items. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. >> And that's everything that the committee has to offer council this evening. With your permission, I'll go back to the
appointments for one second. I think there was a an extension for the ongoing agenda item requesting board committee's ext expiration on 98. >> I figured that was a future thing, so I was waiting, but we can do it now.
>> 98. Our next meeting is the 17th, so >> I think it would be appropriate to make such a motion. >> Okay, I'll make a motion now. Like I said, I I was going to make the motion, but I thought I was out of line to speak about future things until it was that time. >> So,
>> no, this is fine. >> All right. >> 90 days. >> Do I have the floor? Yeah. >> I would like to make um a motion to extend it. Um I just think we need 60 days, not 90 days. >> 60. >> Mhm. >> Second. >> Motion and a second to extend the
ongoing agenda items for boards and committees, vacancies or recruitment. It's set to expire 98 uh for 60 days. All those in favor? >> All those opposed abstensions. Motion carries. Property. Councelor Pet.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. We were going to meet uh a couple weeks ago, but then uh >> I got sick, so we didn't. Um so, we're going to meet again. Uh we're going to meet for real this time. Uh we haven't landed on a new day though, but
hopefully sometime in the next couple weeks we'll meet to discuss the items that are currently on our agenda plus uh new item that looks a whole lot like one of our existing items. So yeah, this >> would you care to ask for extensions for
those two items? >> Oh, um let's see. >> How long do you need? Uh yes, I would like to go ahead and ask for a 90-day extension on uh both of the items on the property agenda.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> A motion and a second to extend 90 days for those two items. Fund property. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion carries. >> Concludes
>> uh rules and government relations. uh the committee has not met. We will be meeting uh hopefully this coming week. We'll find a time and be able to do that to discuss uh the um
matters before us. Uh let's see. The home rule charter amendment passed. We don't have any extensions. And this report concludes for rules and property. We also have the new matter that was referred most recently into regarding the resolution which we intend
to take up at that time. Old business pending. New business. Council action request to adopt chapter 320 of the acts of 9 1987 which would allow for the city council by a 2/3 vote and following a twothirds vote of the
school committee to increase the total amount appropriated in support of the school district. This is allowed by state law. I would ask that uh that matter be u referred to committee. Should we go to I
make a motion to send it to finance. >> Motion to send to finance. Any we have a second. So all those in any further discussion all those in favor I motion uh opposed
abstensions. Matter is referred to finance mayoral appointments for >> councelor Smith. >> You have the floor. I have four mayoral appointments that I would like to uh
request to be moved to the full council. I'll make this request in the form of a motion for all four. So I would move to recommend Roxanne Mariana Prawl for the board of assessors with a term
expiration of 123126 to be forwarded to the subcommittee as well as Gillson Hogan Board of Public Works 123127 Matt Kaiser Commission on Disability 123127
and Charles Duffy for the Veterans County on 12317 uh 27. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to send the four mayoral appointments to the appointments committee. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Obstain. Motion carries.
>> Supplemental approach appropriations 20, 5830. >> Okay. I'll do both of these in one as one motion uh to uh present them on first reading to recommend them to uh or to to
to move them to the finance committee for review and to set a public hearing for the 17th and 6:15 in these chambers uh for both of them. So, one big thing. Um, request is hereby made for approval
of the following appropriation. Amount requested $20,000 to be transferred from reserves $20,000 to be transferred to legal $20,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. Legal costs build for FY26
legal budget was not funded this fiscal year. Um, second one request hereby made for the f uh for the request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested $5,830
to be transferred from reserve fund $5,830 to be transferred to auditor salary $5,830. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. to request an appropriation to support a temporary
increase in uh the auditor's uh working hours by 5 hours per week until December 31st, 2025. This additional time would be dedicated to addressing the current backlog. >> Second. We have a motion in a second to
send the two items to the uh finance committee. Any further discussion? All those in favor I >> opposed abstain. Motion carries. >> We do have a memo regarding the real property dispositions in relation to the
town lodging house that I had asked be sent to every city councelor so that they could become more familiar with the surplus property process and uh what it entails because we are moving forward
with regard to the town lodging house. There is discussions and there could very well be interested parties who would become responsible for maintaining and caring for the facility and uh I think that would be important to
recognize the historic preservation nature of the property and uh also respect the agricultural preservation restrictions. Uh so that was sent to us
all and to the members of the property committee. That was its point on being on the agenda forformational purposes. That concludes our meeting. If there's no further discussion motion to second
>> that was quick. I >> without further discussion uh all those in favor I >> opposed. Motion carries. We are now a journey.