This government meeting is brought to you by Eastworks and our local cable subscribers meeting for Wednesday, March 4th, 2026. The meeting tonight is being recorded and broadcast by E Media on Charter Channel 193 and live streaming on their
web page, eastamptonia.org. org. Councilors and participants in this meeting are gathered hybrid on the order extended until June 30th, 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 time or the public hearing. Thank you. This meeting is now called to order. Maryanne
>> JP Kisinski, Connie Denim >> here, >> Tamara Smith >> here, >> Felicia Jadzik >> here, >> Tom Peak >> here, >> Jonathan Schmidt >> here, >> Amanda Newton >> here, >> Kaam Jamro Mcuade >> here, >> Nathan Marque >> here. Um we're going to take a moment of
silent, but uh I just encourage folks to um you know, we are now currently at war and uh just ask that folks remember um all of those uh civilians and service members who may be in harm's way that we
just hope for their safety. our highest. >> If you would like to participate in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, now is your opportunity to do so. I aliance 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. >> Great. Thank you. We have I'll take a motion to approve the minutes for February 4th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Seconded.
>> I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes. Um all those in favor? >> I opposed. abstensions. >> Uh one abstension. Uh motion passes.
>> Uh now we are we have public comment. Uh this is an opportunity for anyone in the public to address the council regarding any topic not listed under the public hearing. Um you will have three minutes to speak. Um at the uh when you have 30
seconds left, you'll hear an alert. Um, and then when your 3 minutes is up, you will hear a second alert. Um, so at that time, if you could please wrap up your uh your comments. Um, so if there's anybody in the room who would like to have this opportunity to speak to city
to the council, uh, please do so now. >> Seeing nobody, if there is anybody online who would like to speak, I see uh Sam. Sam, if you could please state your name and address for the record, that would be appreciated. And you have three minutes.
>> Good evening, counselors. Just wanted to politely inform you that uh Google Zoom is muted. >> Oh, you can't hear us. Oops. Google Zoom is muted. He said >> Google Zoom is Can you hear us now?
Can you hear us snap? >> Got it. Thank you so much. >> All right. Thank you. >> You have an echo, though. >> I know cuz it's not this one. It's my computer. >> Um, give us one sec, folks. We're going to try some tech issues, troubleshooting.
>> So, this one is This microphone isn't working for some reason. >> Okay. >> It says it's not plugged in. I don't know if there's another Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. So, we should make a note of that. >> Okay. So, I think we're just going to
have an echo. >> Sorry, everybody. >> Can you hear us? >> Yep. Okay. >> Okay. Perfect. All right. So, is there anyone else online who would like to speak to the council?
just raise your hand. >> We have Miranda Brown. Where is she? Oh, okay. Miranda. Um, so go. You have three minutes, so go ahead. Please state your name and um your
address, please. For the record. >> Yes. Name and address. >> My name is Miranda Brown. Uh, my address is 12 Johnson, apartment 3. >> Okay, go ahead. Go ahead, Brandon. >> Um, I actually just had a question. I've
never been to a city council meeting before, so I apologize. I protocol. Um, saw an issue way down the agenda that I had a question about. Is there open that comes up?
>> No, this is your only time to speak. So, if you have something that you want to say that isn't in the public hearing, so any other item on the agenda or anything else that you're concerned about, you have, you can speak on that now. >> Okay. Um, I'm curious about the eight additional liquor licenses that are
being the mayor will request for the eight additional licenses at the end. Um, I'm wondering what type of licenses those are. >> Uh, okay. So, >> so that's a new item and so that's going
to be moved to committee. So, um, because this is an item on the agenda, um, and it's being sent to committee, we we technically aren't allowed to speak about it. Um, but I will answer your
question. So, they are liquor licenses and they will be going to um, the rules committee. >> Okay. What would be best way going forward to have a conversation with someone about this?
>> So, you should attend the next uh rules committee which will be uh next week. >> Okay. >> Yep. There you go. >> Okay. Thanks a bunch. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Anyone else online?
>> All right. Anyone else in the room for public speak? I know someone came late. So, nope. Okay. So, uh it's not 6:15 yet, so we will uh continue on. Um
Council Jamro Muade, do you have a report from the rent study committee? Is that a long Is it will be long? >> It should probably take us just about to the >> Okay, perfect. >> Yeah. Um thank you, Madam President. So,
um, like it says on the agenda, the rent study committee wanted to give an update to the full council of, uh, where we are in our work. Um, just to remind the council, the committee purpose has two pieces. Uh, number one is to explore the creation of a state legislative petition requesting that East Hampton be allowed to implement rent stabilization policy.
And then the second piece of that is to study, analyze, and review any other actions that the city can take to more uh, effectively support and protect renters. The committee is made up of three city councilors, uh, uh, landlords and property developers in the community, and tenants, including a member of the East Hampton Tenants
Union. We've met multiple times since our first meeting in October of last year. Uh, those meetings have involved exploring uh, the data on the housing market in East Hampton, exploring the 2022 and 2023 home rule petition process um, in Boston as a potential model for East Hampton. Um, we've had guest expert
experts from the Boston Mayor's Office of Housing, including the chief of housing for Boston, Sheila Dylan, and Pedro Rousa, the director of the housing innovation lab. Um, the committee members have been researching case studies from around the country with effective uh, rent stabilization policies. And we have started presenting that research to the committee. And, uh,
in April, we'll be having a guest, Dr. Ed gets from the University of Minnesota um who is the lead author of a critical rent stabilization study in um Minneapolis uh that the Boston uh advisory committee relied heavily on in their process. Uh so overall we've
discussed a timeline. Our goal is to draft a policy over the course of this year and get that approved by council and submitted before the deadline for the 2027 legislative session. Um, this will involve listening sessions where we will invite members of the community to share their stories, concerns, and specific input on the
policy that we're drafting. Uh, this will also be a good opportunity uh for those people in the broader community to learn more about the key parameters of rent stabilization policy and how it would affect East Hampton. Um, we're planning on those listening sessions to be starting around the end of March,
early April. Uh, but we will make that uh very well advertised in the community. So, uh, we really are trying to get broad buy in and, um, input from from the community. Um, and our next meeting is on Tuesday, March 10th. So, that's next Tuesday at 6 p.m. in conference room B. Thank you.
>> Great. Thanks. We h still have some time. Uh, Director of Public Health Ryan Griffin is not here this evening. Mayor's communication. >> Good evening. Thank you. Um, and I will say if the caller is still on, I can
tell you that it's a common victular license, which is common for a um, a restaurant um, which would be an all alcohol um, license. So, I can say that. So, hopefully that's helpful. Um, a couple a couple things. Um, I just want to let people know we do have um, a
ceremony next Tuesday at 4. Um, we have um, the Tibetan delegation uh, coming to East Hampton. They're marching from the Peace Pod. Uh, and we're going to do a flag raising here at 4 pm. Uh, and so I would invite all of the counselors if you're interested to come and join us.
Um, there's also 4 pm seems to be the time. Um, next this coming Saturday, uh, we will be at City Space, um, with Senator Marky, um, and we will have a little ceremony to celebrate the the, um, award of an earmark that East
Hampton was able to, uh, secure for $3.5 million for city space, which is very exciting. Um, the other thing I wanted to just make people aware of, um, so I'm working with the chamber, um, to try to let people
have more access to the mayor. Um, so tomorrow morning from 8:00 to 9:00 at, um, the Boilston rooms, we will be doing coffee with the mayor. Um, so if anybody wants to come join, have some coffee, um, hear about some of the stuff that's happening in the city and ask questions,
that's a great time. Um, also I wanted to um, you know, counselor Jamron Guade, I don't want to steal your thunder, but um, Wayfinders is, and I don't like I think this is probably appropriate to say, and you
could elaborate if you want. Um, uh, there is going to be, uh, and this is Wednesday, March 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Um, a Hampshire County Housing Challenges learn more and take action event. Uh this is going to be at the
UMass Ammerst Old Chapel. Um so uh this is going to be um a way for people to learn about housing in Hampshire County. Um and it's also going to be an opportunity for people to participate in um creating a regional housing plan. Um
so and I believe that the study that maybe some of our counselors even participated in is going to be presented. Uh and so I think that could be a great opportunity. I just wanted to mention that. Um, and as we're on the the subject of housing, I I might have mentioned that I was meeting with
wayfinders um uh not wayfinders, arch communities uh last week. It was really productive meeting um uh talking about our schools um and the kind of speeding up the timeline of the reuse of our elementary schools. Um and we did make some some good progress. We were able to
kind of strategize. Uh, you know, one of the things that's really holding it up is the historic housing credits um from the secretary's office. These are kind of notoriously slow. Um, and so one of the things that I've committed to doing is trying to work towards seeing if we
can do whatever we can to speed that process up. Um, and finally, this is one of the more, you know, exciting things that I get to announce. Normally, this would happen sooner, but we haven't seen that normal in a few years. Um hopefully
next year we'll be looking at this announcement somewhere in the neighborhood of October or November. Um which is the certification of free cash. Um and so that's that's exciting. Um normally for those counselors that um you know are more veteran, you would
remember that normally with the the announcement of free cash, we're also have appropriations um to stabilization um account um general stabilization uh capital stabilization and and tax rate stabilization. um those will be forthcoming. The reason why we haven't
done those yet is there's still a little bit of uncertainty uncertainty around the costs of healthcare and how much we're going to need to put aside to help us offset um you know those kind of everinccreasing costs that are um that
we're dealing with right now. Um, so I will just say that um, this was certified last week and uh, it's $3 million at 37,029. Um, which is a pretty it's and this represents new growth in East Hampton in
the last fiscal year. Um, and so this generally what we're going to do, like I said, put this into stabilization accounts, but also you'll see some appropriations coming forward. Um, you know, from um the healthcare that we're struggling with right now,
um, police, fire, schools, um, there will be some appropriations that will be forthcoming to the council. >> Thank you. >> Did you want to ask a question? I I do have a couple questions, but I know that we're right at time. >> Yep. So, it is about 6:15.
Um, so, Mayor Derby, we are going to continue Mayor's communication after public hearing because I think a couple people have questions and so I just want to make sure. So, we are at 6:15. Um, as soon as we conclude the public hearing,
um, we will take a short recess to try to figure out the microphone situation. So I I apologize to everyone online that that we're having this difficulty. We are trying to figure it out. Um but we're we just we need more time. So I
will take a motion to open the public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. >> So I have a motion and a second um to open the public hearing. All those in favor? Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> Great. Uh opposed extensions. Uh great.
Motion passes. I will turn it over to Chair Peak. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh yes, so what we have tonight is a uh interdep departmental transfer of $20,000. It'll be coming from the mayor clerical
salary uh line item and it'll be transferred to or we're proposing transferring it to uh the city attorney professional services uh line item. Uh for those who weren't here uh in the last council term, uh there was some
discussion uh during the budget about some fiscal and management moves that many councilors had an issue with. And one of the things that we as a council uh ended up doing in during that budget
is reducing the legal budget uh down to zero. uh sort of as a means of having some leverage in that ongoing conversation. Um one of the consequences of this is that we now don't have any money in the legal budget. So uh the uh
idea is to put this $20,000 in uh with the hope that that would cover most of the rest of the fiscal year. It is possible uh that we would need another one, but that's very common uh for us to have sort of a end of the year
appropriation around legal because it's a very difficult line item to uh project. >> Any questions? >> Question. >> All right, I'll take a motion. >> All right, I'm going to try to do this
with the feedback. Mhm. >> Okay. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested. $20,000 to be transferred from mayor clerical surge salary uh
$20,000 to be transferred to city attorney professional services $20,000. The amount requested will be used for the following purpose. Legal costs build for fiscal year 26. Uh since the last
appropriation, we have incurred $22,518 in legal fees and have yet to receive bills for February through June. >> Second. >> So, I have a motion and a second to uh transfer $20,000 from mayor clerical
salary to uh city attorney professional fees, $20,000. Uh any further questions or any further discussion? Uh, all those in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Point of clarification. >> Point of clarification. >> Yeah. Does the public have
>> Oh, you are correct. Sorry, I forgot. It happens every once in a while. Uh, is anyone from the public uh have any comment that they would like to make regarding this item? Anyone online? >> Okay, great. So, I have a motion and a
second. Um, any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I I uh any opposed? >> Extensions. Uh, motion passes. >> Right. Great. So, um, I'm going to take a motion to take a fivem minute recess
so we can try to figure out the audio. >> Should we close the move to move to close the public hearing? >> Yes. Second. >> Yes. So I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor?
>> Opposed? Abstensions. All right. Motion passes. Sorry. >> Motion for a 5m minute rec. >> I have a motion, a second to uh take a fivem minute uh recess. Any further discussion?
>> None. See? All those in favor? I opposed abstensions. Great. Motion passes. Thank you. Sorry, >> Council Johnson. just like very briefly. um which is you know so there is there was a feas not not a feasibility but a study done by an ad hoc committee from the for former
mayor um that you know looked at the conditions of the current senior center and determined that a new senior center was appropriate and um you know basically spurred the formation of a senior center building committee. um that senior center building committee um has been working for the last year to
you know there I think it was six or seven sites with the planner to look at different sites um you know not just city- owned sites but you know all sites around the city um some of the cityowned sites were more appropriate than others. The ones that were not city-owned the owners are not interested in selling and
taking the property by eminent domain is a difficult expensive long process. Um so you know one of the things that was presented um council former council wrist who is the chair um you know felt that the um location on Park Street was one of the more appropriate locations.
He has requested me to um appropriate $100,000 for a feasibility study. I have not um made that appropriation. I'm not ready to make that appropriation. There's um multiple factors that are in play before I make that appropriation. Um, so people that are thinking that
this is some sort of a done deal that I I I saw some really interesting comments about trying to sneak this through trying to this this process is a long process. This was a process that would have to go to the voters um for a debt exclusion. This is not something we can fund out of our budget. there there is
no um lack of transparency or nefarious uh motives to try to uh create some sort of uh senior center out of thin air that you know miraculously gets funded by um you know city funds. We just don't have it. Um so I just wanted to be really clear about that. Nothing is set in
stone. Um it was just the recommendation of the chair to look at a particular site and I'm like I said I'm not ready to make that appropriation yet. So, I just wanted to kind of clear the air um about that so people understood what was going on. Um and as far as, you know, I'm happy to answer a question. I just
want to be really careful. I don't like generally, you know, since it's not on the agenda to have a Q&A, I don't want to get into muddy waters around um open meeting law. And I know that I have answered questions before and I kicked myself afterwards saying, "Oh, you dummy." Um that was probably not smart.
So, I think maybe if we have questions, like I'm happy to hear the questions and then probably the best thing for me to do would just be to get back to you. Um, you know, or I think that's probably the cleanest way to do it. Um, cuz I don't want us to get into a back and forth
because I think my speak time is similar to public speak time and there probably since it's not on the agenda, a back and forth, it would potentially be a violation of open meeting law and I don't want to do that. >> Yeah. So, I just wanted to So, I'm happy to hear your question and and and I'll I I'll even go downstairs and and email
you the answer if I can right away. >> Yeah. So, thank you. Um my question isn't related to the senior center, but um I would I will be interested to see um how that plays out. But regardless, um a couple individuals in the community reached out to me about concerns related to the new camera that was installed on
the building on the western side facing up PAC Avenue. Um, I just wanted to ask you if you could give us an update on that given just the current climate. I know like I'm really concerned about any additional surveillance. Um, I know that there's heightened concern in the broader community. Um, not just with
like the license plate reader, which I know was before my time, but um, any type of mass data collection, I think like we're all concerned in the age of AI where capturing broad data of people in any way can it's an invasion of privacy at this point in my opinion. Um,
so I know that some of it could relate to some of that discussion that was had prior to my time on council, but I just wanted to give you the opportunity to clarify. Um, and I think that since this is something that I've addressed the council about before, um, I can revisit that. I think it's probably appropriate
for me just to say that I can um, elaborate on the answer that I gave the council before without getting into murky water with at the >> Sure. Yeah. I think this is a a good question because I've had this question
uh with the um at the intersection you had informed that it was the previous mayor. Um I collected your emails. There was no communication from the previous mayor asking for this to be installed. Um and
again it was at the intersection and I think what um councelor Jamrock McUade is now saying is that there is a camera now attached to the building which that was not there before. So I think there's some confusion about the understanding was that that wasn't
going up that they were the cameras were gotten rid of and now there's now a new camera attached to the building. >> So I'll I'll like I said I'll back up to the the previous comment I gave when this was a discussion. Um, and I'll um elaborate on that. I think it's actually
just repeating what I had said in earlier mayor speak time, which was um there is no LPR, license plate reader. Um, and that we were trading that camera in to get a camera to attach to this corner of the building because we have a new piece of public art that is going to
be um installed near the mailboxes. Um, and if you remember back, if you go back to my comments from before, I clearly stated that there would be a camera on that end of the building that is not a license plate reader that is just there to get a blind spot from building security. Um, that is going to be
covering where the new piece of public art is going to go. So, um, and those cameras are in a closed loop system that are controlled out of our IT department. They are not available online. They are not subject to any sort of, um, outside surveillance. So hopefully that answers
your question. >> Yeah. I just have one followup if you could um follow up with me after and if there's any sort of policy that you have about the retention and deletion of that data, I would love to just see it. Um >> Sure. And and I and and I'll include our IT director. >> Awesome.
>> Who's in charge of those cameras? >> Thank you. >> Y absolutely. >> Great. Um presidents Oh boy. President and vice president communication. Um, I just have a couple
of um items. Again, I apologize for the sound. Um, uh, Vice President Jadzik and I met with the mayor um as well as with our, uh, council clerk to discuss the, uh, budget
for council. So, that was submitted, uh, to, uh, the mayor. there was a discussion and in our next packet we will have um the budget that will be distributed to um all of you. I did not ask for an increase of anything for our
budget um and specifically I think that we are in a potentially challenging financial time. So uh to be a good role model uh for city council to be a good role model. I did not ask for any
additional uh funds for our uh budget but that will be in the next um the next packet for you all to look at. Um additionally for the month of April uh we are meeting on the second and fourth Wednesday of that month. So we'll be
meeting on April 8th and 22nd. Just want to make sure that you all and the city has anyone in the community has a heads up. Um that those uh dates are changed. Um so you all are in the know of that.
Uh vice president, do you have any items? >> I have nothing to offer at this time. >> Great. Thank you. Um councelor Jambog McUade, do you have uh something to share? >> Yep. Uh thank you, Madam President. Uh this is just my usual reminder about the
East Tenants Union. Um they meet every Thursday at uh 5 to 6:30 p.m. in these chambers. Um they're sharing resources on tenants rights and building solidarity. Uh they now actually have a website eastampton.org. Um it is very well populated with resources um contact information and
updates on the work that they're doing. So I would encourage everyone to check that out. Uh thank you. >> And councelor Smith, you had some announcements. >> I did. I just wanted to congratulate the EHS. I'm going to read it right here because it's it's a long title of what
they won. So, East Hampton High School won the small co-ed west division at the MSAA 2026 winter cheerleading regional competition over the weekend. That means that they move on to state competition
on March 8th at Worcester State. And I just wanted to acknowledge that and say congratulations. And the other thing is that at Mountain View tomorrow at 6 is the fifth grade talent show and all are welcome to attend. >> Awesome. Great.
>> Thank you. Um there's no other communications. So we will start with our standing committee reports. Uh chair peak finance. >> Thank you madam president. Uh finance met last week to discuss the appropriation that we just voted on. Uh
we will be meeting uh next week at our regular uh time 5:30 p.m. uh to discuss the new business uh that is uh on this agenda.
>> We're going to read that out. >> What's the >> It'll be read out. We won't have to send it to committee. >> Oh, all right. Well, in that case, maybe I think we might just go over uh the financial report from the auditor, but we it might be a quick meeting. Um, so yeah, I think
that'll be it. And uh that's concludes. >> Awesome. Uh and just for those folks who uh maybe watched the last finance meeting, we were also having tech trouble and so it is only in audio. Um, so if anyone is uh wondering about that, if you've tried to watch the uh video of
that meeting, uh there is no uh visual um cameras were not working. So it's only an audio. So just so you know, um public safety chair Newton. >> Um yes, so our meeting yesterday was postponed due to the snow. So, we will
be meeting on March 10th at 6 o'clock and we will be meeting with Director Medman for his quarterly review of um the Department of Public Works. >> Great. And also there is an item.
>> Yes. >> Do you want to say it or >> Sure, you can. >> Okay. So, the um roadway infrastructure and pedestrian safety items um is an item here that's started in September of 2023 and we believe it's supposed to be
an ongoing item on the agenda with no uh expiration date or whatever we call those dates. Um because it is supposed to be there so that we can discuss things that come up at each, you know, each time we meet, we can discuss things that come up with constituents.
>> Yep. Yep. and our clerk of the council did some more research into that and found that the previous um uh chair of the public safety meeting uh mistakenly added an expiration date and
asked for that to be extended uh when that actually never should have happened. So um >> can I move to >> Sure. >> move the expiration date and have that as an ongoing item? Yep. Seconded.
>> All those in. >> So, just make the motion. >> Oh, yeah. I said I'll move to um get rid of that expiration date and have it an ongoing item. >> All right. So, I have a motion. So, I have a motion and a second to remove the
expiration date on roadway infrastructure and pedestrian safety items. Um any further discussion? >> Seeing none. Um all those in favor? I >> I >> Great. All oppose. Abstensions. Great. Motion passes.
>> Great. >> Uh so that concludes. >> Great. So we will move that uh appointments. Chair Smith. >> Uh appointments subcommittee has not met since our last meeting, but we will be meeting on Tuesday, March 10th at 5:00 pm to discuss uh five mayoral
appointments that are on the docket. >> That concludes. >> Great. Thank you, Chair Smith. uh ordinance. Chair Jam Rag McUade. >> Thank you, um President Denim. So, the committee last met on February 19th. Uh we finalized the initial language of the
general ordinance regarding short-term rentals. Um the committee voted unanimously to send the draft for review to the city solicitor. Um the solicitor did get back to um me and the planning director with initial comments. So, I'm going to be working with the planning director to address those and hopefully have the draft approved by the solicitor
and ready for our next committee meeting. um which is on March 12th at 6:30. So, that's going to be a tight turnaround, but we're going to try to make it happen. >> Um reminder that the public hearing uh on the zoning and general ordinance amendments related to short-term rentals
is scheduled for Wednesday, uh March 18th at 6:15 p.m. in these chambers. Um and that is again contingent on us getting this passed through ordinance committee. And then another thing that I need to mention is the public hearing
that was supposed to be scheduled this past Tuesday uh on the housing partnership zoning recommendations sections 1 through 4 uh was continued due to weather. So the committee met briefly last night to vote to continue that until April 21st at 6:00 p.m. in these chambers.
>> So I believe that we'll need a motion from this uh council to also um extend that. So if you'd like to make that motion. >> All right. I would move to continue the public hearing on the housing partnership zoning recommendation sections 1 through 4 uh to be continued
at April 21st uh 2026 at 6 p.m. in these chambers. >> Second. >> Great. So, I have a motion and a second to uh continue the joint public hearing uh with the planning department to address the affordable and fair housing
partnership zoning ordinance recommendations 1 through 4 to April 21st. Uh any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Great. Motion passes. All right. Um, and then I have a
couple extensions to request for the other agenda items. So, I will move to request an extension on the request to review residency requirements for memberships on committees for 90 days. >> Second. >> Before we do that, uh, would you like to
make a motion for each of these? >> Yes. >> All at once. >> Uh, I have I need to give them separately actually. >> Okay. If you'd like to do All right. So, I have a motion and a second uh to
extend the uh review uh residency requirements for membership on committees uh by 90 days. Uh any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions? Great. Motion
passes. >> All right. And then related to the um housing partnership zoning recommendations, again I just wanted to uh flag for everyone that the housing partnership and the aquifer protection committee uh have a joint meeting tomorrow to discuss the groundwater
study, a potential groundwater study for the city. Um so that's tomorrow, March 5th. And um that'll help us better understand what changes we can move forward um on the second half of that report before gathering some of that information um on the groundwater. Um,
so I will move to request an extension of review of affordable and fair housing partnership zoning recommendations uh for 90 days. >> Second. >> So I have a motion in the second to um extend the affordable and fair housing partnership zoning ordinance
recommendations by 90 days. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> Opposed? Extensions. Great. Motion passes. All right. >> Um,
>> can I interrupt going point of order? >> I forgot to ask for an extension or something. >> So, we'll come back to that. Sorry, I missed that. >> Oh, I you didn't do the conclusion yet. I'm so sorry. >> Yeah. Uh, so you have two more that need to be extended. >> Yeah. Um, so the city council action
request for short-term rentals zoning ordinance amendments. I don't think we're going to need 90 days for that. So, I'm only going to request 30 days. But, uh, I will move to request an extension on city council action request for short-term rental zoning ordinance, amendments, definitions, and tables for 30 days. >> Second.
>> Great. So, I have a motion and a second to extend the request for short-term rental zoning ordinance, amendments, definitions, and tables by 30 days. Uh, any further discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions? Seeing none,
motion passes. Okay. And last but not least, uh I would like to move to request an extension on city council action requests to review sandwich board signs in city and zoning ordinances for 90 days. >> Second. >> Great. So I have a motion and a second to review a request to review sandwich
board signs in city and zoning ordinances uh for 90 days. Um any further discussion? >> Seeing none. All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstension. Motion passes. And
um just to restate, our next meeting is next week on March 12th at 6:30 in conference room B where we are hopefully going to be finalizing the general ordinance amendments to send to full counsel. And then we'll probably also start discussion on revisiting the um
review of the ordinance ordinance review committee's final report. Sorry, just concludes. >> Great. Awesome. Thank you, Councelor Jamar McQuade or Chair. Um, Chair Newton, would you like to make an extension on the traffic and pedestrian safety on West Street? >> Yes. I think we only need a 60-day if
that's possible because I think we had planned to take care of that yesterday at our meeting. So, we should be taking care of it next week. >> So, would you like to make a motion? >> Yes. Oh, can I have a motion to extend for 60 days? >> Second. >> Yep. So, I have a motion and a second to extend the traffic and pedestrian safety
on West Street by 60 days. Um any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? >> I opposed. Abstensions. Great. Motion passes. Uh property is uh councelor Peak. Okay.
>> Thank you, Comm. >> Uh before I forget, I would like to request a s in the form of a motion a 90-day extension on uh the city ordinance request regarding flags on public property. Second.
>> Great. So, I have a motion and a second to extend uh the uh request regarding flags on public property for including over the pond for 60 days. 90 days. Sorry. For 90 days. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, uh all in favor? >> Opposed? Extensions. Uh great. Motion passes. And beyond that, property is just working hard on the issue of the town uh lodging house and its referral
for disposition. Uh we are working on uh crafting an RFP uh to go out which is really interesting process. Um councelor Jro McQuade, my phone is off and I wasn't When is our next meeting? I have it in my phone, but I
>> It is the 16th at 6 p.m. >> The 16th at 6 PM we'll be meeting to continue that process. Um so yes, uh that's going to be our next step and uh hopefully pretty soon we'll have something that we can bring to the full
council and this concludes. >> All right, great. Uh thank you councelor Peak. Uh rules and government relations, Vice President Jazz. Jazzik. Yes, thank you, President Dunham. Um, rules has not met since our last meeting, but our next
meeting will be held on Wednesday the 11th at 6:45 p.m. in conference room 1. And I would like to request an extension of 60 days for the code of conduct for appointed members of boards, committees, and commissions. >> Second.
>> Second. So, I have a motion and a second to extend the uh code of conduct for appointed members of boards, committees, and commissions uh by 60 days. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I
>> opposed extensions. Great. Motion passes. >> And this concludes >> Great. Awesome. Thank you. Um old business. So, we received some additional language regarding the mayor request to add eight additional liquor
licenses through uh legislation. Um, and just to provide clarification on this, the original language uh was to request uh new licenses. Uh but after discussion with Representative Gomez, um the last
time during COVID or prior to COVID, the city was uh had received some liquor licenses. Um and so this is a request uh and those expired. And so um this is a a request that uh Representative Gomez be
able to ask for those that were expired as opposed to asking for new um liquor licenses. So that's why we wanted to make sure that the um uh committee rules committee had the uh actual appropriate language to address this. So I will take
a motion uh to move the or to move the mayoral request to add eight additional liquor licenses through legislation. Move that to the rules and government relations committee. >> So moved. Second. So I have a motion and a second uh to send the item uh
regarding mayor request to add eight additional liquor licenses through legislation to rules and government relations. Uh any further discussion? >> Just >> oh question just wanted for the sake of transparency say um I'm very supportive of this effort but uh due to a potential
conflict of interest I'm going to be abstaining from anything that this touches. >> Okay, great. Thank you for that uh councelor Peak. I appreciate that. Uh so all those in favor >> I >> I opposed abstensions
>> one. Uh great motion passes. Um and I am going to turn over the item for new business to uh Vice President Jadzik. But just to provide clarification, um this is really just anformational piece,
but uh the retirement board uh asked that we read this into the minutes so that they have it available for their uh meeting on March 24th. Um so that's something that they will need in order
for their next vote. >> All right. So I will go ahead and read this letter into the minutes. This is a letter dated February 2nd, 2026 addressed to Mayor Derby. U dear Mr. Derby, every year the East Hampton Retirement Board has a public meeting to consider granting a cost of living
adjustment COLA to retirees pursuant to GL chapter 32 section 103 C or 103 I and to determine the amount increased cola up to 3%. For the past several years, the board has approved the 3% cola
increase. Under the statute, PE A or PARK reports to the general court the computation of the increase in the United States consumer price index in the previous year by the commissioner of social security. Any such increase is based on the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers,
CPIW. This index is used annually to adjust benefits paid to social security retirees and beneficiaries. This year, the Social Security Administration has announced the latest cost of living adjustment COLA is 2.8%. Therefore, this year's COLA, which any
such system may grant pursuant to chapter 32, section 103C and effective July 1st, 2026, will thus be 2.8%. This year, the board is required to send notification to legislative bodies to increase up to 3%. Our board voted on
January 27th, 2026, electing to increase this percentage up to three 3.0%. 0% at our March 24th, 2026 meeting by notifying with this notice to the legislative body, mayor, president, city council, and chair of the finance committee. The board also voted to set
the cola meeting for March 24th, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact the retirement office sincerely from the wood administrator. >> Um, thank you for that. Um, so that's
um we don't have to take a vote or anything. So that's really just read into our minutes. Um, so we appreciate you doing that. And they will have that um for their um next meeting. Um, that includes everything that is on our
agenda. Again, I want to apologize to the public and to the counselors. Um the feedback on this is is really quite distracting and I imagine that it is a challenge uh listening to this. Um so I do apologize. We will have it in here
tomorrow so that any further meetings in this um in these chambers will uh hopefully be be better. So with that I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> So move second. >> I have a motion and a second. Uh all
those in favor? I uh any opposed abstensions? Great. Motion passes. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you for your patience everybody. That was that was so incredibly distracting. I couldn't keep track and I kept it kept coming out the feedback and
I kept stumbling. So don't worry about