WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=R0azg4Df9kg NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: R0azg4Df9kg): - 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order; Announcements and Reminders - 00:01:54: Rent Stabilization Committee, Listening Sessions Information - 00:02:43: Upcoming Budget Public Hearing Dates Reminder - 00:04:29: Property Meeting and Ordinance Committee Announcements - 00:05:32: Appointments Manual Discussion; Public Safety Meeting Announcement - 00:06:39: Library Book Sale Announcement and Heritage Month Recognition - 00:08:27: Eastampton High School Spring Concert and Election Information - 00:11:06: Fire Department Informational Sessions Regarding 2027 Budget - 00:12:59: City Council Budget Hearings Approach and Public Feedback - 00:15:25: Public Hearing Opening and Background on the Agenda Item - 00:18:24: Part-Time Position in Collector's Office Rationale and Funding - 00:21:12: Councilors Express Concerns Over the Hiring Process - 00:23:12: Justification for the Position; Discussion with DPW Director - 00:24:36: Tax Collector Explains the Reorganization and Workload - 00:27:03: Councilor Questions Rationale; Concern for Financial State - 00:30:13: Previous Consultant Costs; Processing Payments Efficiently - 00:32:42: Resident Pocket Books and Understanding the Cost - 00:33:31: Position Costs Included in the Proposed Budgets; Chargeback - 00:34:20: Councilors Express Displeasure with Hiring Process; Timeline - 00:35:39: Finance Communications Breakdown; Call for Internal Controls - 00:37:18: Personnel Issue Discussion in Executive Session Recommended - 00:37:52: Supplemental Appropriation from Free Cash; Transfer Clarification - 00:39:13: Transfer from Enterprise to General Fund Process - 00:41:10: Questioning Treasurer; Treasury Behind Reconciliations - 00:42:32: Position Grade; Union vs Non-Union Questioned - 00:43:02: Tax Collectors Office Challenging Work, Acknowledgement - 00:44:43: Entire Process Disrespectful to Council; Turning Back To Chair - 00:45:15: Motion; Free Cash Transfer for Clerk's Position - 00:46:24: Closing Public Hearing, Motion to Adjourn and Meeting Adjourned Part: 1 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:32.880 than our local cable subscribers. Welcome to the East Hampton City Council meeting for Monday, May 11th, 2026. 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. 2 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:48.640 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 3 00:00:48.640 --> 00:01:04.879 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 Guinski >> here. Connie Denham >> here. >> Tamara Smith >> here. 4 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:18.960 >> Felicia Jadik >> here. >> Tom Peak >> here. >> Jonathan Schmidt >> here. >> Amanda Newton. >> Cam Jamro Mcuade >> here. >> Nathan Marque >> here. Um, we have the public hearing doesn't 5 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:37.200 begin until 6:15. So, we have public speak for anyone who would like to address the council on anything not related to the public hearing. going. 6 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:54.159 >> Seeing none, do any counselors have any comments or things that they would like to announcements that they would like to share with the public? >> Uh, councelor Chamber Mcuade. >> Thank you, Madam President. Yeah, I'll just uh I'll flag again that the rent 7 00:01:54.159 --> 00:02:10.239 study committee is hosting a listening session to inform the rent stabilization home rule petition process. Um, so we're actually we're holding two listening sessions to start. Um, one is this upcoming Thursday the 14th uh at 6 PM in in these chambers and that's uh being held in collaboration with the East 8 00:02:10.239 --> 00:02:27.200 Hendon Tenants Union. So, it's focusing on um tenants concerns and and priorities. And then the following week on the 21st, we have another listening session um for landlords and developers and that will be in conference room B at 6 p.m. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Um, 9 00:02:27.200 --> 00:02:43.200 Councelor Peak, would you like to remind the public of when our public hearings are for the budget? >> I would. Um, but I keep that information on my phone. So, >> you're going to pull your phone out. That's okay. I have it in my head. Uh, 10 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:59.440 yeah. So um for this uh week um we are going to have meetings on the 13th and the 14th. Um 11 00:02:59.440 --> 00:03:16.640 and then >> time >> uh all of uh >> 13's at 5:30 at 6:30. Great. And then yeah, the other ones at 6. the rest the rest of them are six after that. Yep. So then uh the week 12 00:03:16.640 --> 00:03:33.680 after that um we are going to have uh well the week after that we don't have any right because that's the city council meeting right >> correct >> and then so then there's the one after that we have the 20th and the 21st and 13 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:50.080 then the final votes on the 25th. >> So thank you 27th and 28th. So, the full city council meeting is May 20th, Wednesday, and then finance is May 27th, 28th. >> Okay. Yeah. >> With the final vote on 14 00:03:50.080 --> 00:04:07.360 >> on June 1st, >> unless something has changed. >> Nope, you're right. Thank you. Um so yeah, >> so I just want to encourage anyone who is interested in what's happening with the budget uh to please participate in 15 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:29.440 those um those meetings. Um any other upcoming city council meetings that the public needs to know about? uh uh council, >> we have a property meeting on Monday the 18th. >> Monday the 18th 16 00:04:29.440 --> 00:04:44.800 >> at uh 5:30 p.m. and we expect to at least have on the agenda the issue of the Emerald Street request that went through planning department. Mhm. 17 00:04:44.800 --> 00:05:02.000 >> And we may have information on dates for the We may have information on dates for uh the town lodging, but I'm not sure all that'll be pulled together. >> All right. >> For the >> All right. Good to know. Uh councelor J. 18 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:17.759 Mark McUade. >> Uh yes. So, ordinance committee is meeting tomorrow night. Uh we have a we're going to talk about a lot of the old business on our agenda. Um so ordinance review committee report sandwich board signs uh residency requirements and um the cannabis equity 19 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:32.000 ordinance. >> Excellent. >> Great. Uh, councelor Smith >> appointments meets on Monday at 6 o'clock and we will be discussing the appointments manual 20 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:49.600 >> and um talking about the uh TNGI committee appointment for Jonathan Schmidt. >> Okay, great. And that was Monday the 18th. >> Yep. >> Great. because finances >> does 21 00:05:49.600 --> 00:06:06.160 counselor marquee. >> Yeah. You were you gonna say public safety? >> I was going to say does anyone have a >> chair Newton is not here but I am aware that our next public safety meeting will be June 2nd at 6:00 pm in the first floor conference room and we will be 22 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:23.520 discussing um the emoto ordinance at that meeting along with some other stuff. >> Excellent. Very good. Thank you so much. All right, the public hearing begins at uh 6:15 as I mentioned. Uh does anyone 23 00:06:23.520 --> 00:06:39.120 who came into this meeting late is uh we can open up public speak again. Would anyone like to address anything uh to the uh council that is not related to the public hearing? If so, please raise your hand or step up to the 24 00:06:39.120 --> 00:07:05.919 microphone. Seeing none. Mayor Derby, do you have any announcements for the good of the order for the public that we should know about? >> Okay. >> The library is having a book sale 9 to 25 00:07:05.919 --> 00:07:21.039 one. >> Do you want to speak into the microphone? >> Oh, sure. Do you want to talk about Oh. Okay. Um, there is a book sale at the library from 9 to 1 in the library annex on Saturday. 26 00:07:21.039 --> 00:07:37.919 >> Excellent. >> Uh, Vice President Jadzik. >> Thank you, President Denim. Um, I'll just mention that May is uh has actually a lot of different heritage months. And so I'd like to just recognize since 27 00:07:37.919 --> 00:07:54.800 we're here and we have the time that May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month or AAPI month. It's also Jewish American Heritage Month. It's also mental health awareness month and military appreciation month. And I think all of those things are really important 28 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:11.360 to note for us, not only here at council, but just in terms of where we are at this point in our world. And so, um, encourage anyone who's listening or here in the room to, uh, appreciate and recognize those in whatever way feels best for you. And if you're interested in learning more about any of those 29 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:27.280 months, um, definitely reach out to folks, including myself. >> Thank you for that. Uh, council jam. Yep. >> Uh, just another announcement that I thought I'd add. Um, so this upcoming Wednesday, um, May 13th at 7 PM, the 30 00:08:27.280 --> 00:08:41.680 Eastampton High School is hosting the spring concert. Um, I guess it'll feature high school students in the concert band, the chorus, and the ELF band. Um, that'll be great if if we can make it. >> What was the time again on the 13th? 31 00:08:41.680 --> 00:09:13.920 >> 7 p.m. Um, our clerk has an announcement regarding the election. So, that would be helpful. >> Um, so the uh June 9th uh 2026 special 32 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:31.519 election, if you go on eastamptonm.gov gov on the elections page. It has further information about when the polls will be open, uh 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All voting is at East Hampton High School. Uh the last day to register to vote for this election is Saturday, May 30th in person from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 33 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:47.440 p.m. It will most likely be at the public safety complex. Uh and you can also register to vote online at the Secretary of State's website through um 11:59 um a.m. Is that right? right before midnight um that day. Uh so and there is 34 00:09:47.440 --> 00:10:04.800 early voting by mail, no in-person early voting. There is absentee voting by mail and in person. Absentee voting, you have to have a reason that you will be out of town on election day or you have a religious belief that you cannot go to the polls or a disability that prevents you from going to the polls. Um and we 35 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:21.680 do have the ballots in. I mailed out the first batch today. Um, the last day to vote absentee in person is noon the day before the election, Monday, June 8th. Um, and the specimen ballot is on the website. The last day to apply for an early vote by mail ballot or absentee 36 00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:36.320 ballot is 5:00 on Tuesday, June 2nd to allow time for mailing. Um, anyone has any questions, contact the clerk's office, 5291400 extension460 or email city clerk@ eastamptonm.gov. 37 00:10:36.320 --> 00:11:04.200 Thanks. Great. Thank you. Great. Looking for the dates for the fire department's presentations, but I don't see it in my email. Any other announcements that people might have? 38 00:11:06.560 --> 00:12:10.560 All right, I'm going to try to find those It's not coming up. >> Um, I have them here if you're still looking. >> Oh, yeah. Please. Uh, councelor Schmidt. Uh so uh just to note as well that the 39 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:25.600 fire department will haveformational sessions regarding its 2027 uh budgets. Uh there are three scheduled over the course of the month. Um the first is May uh Tuesday May 19th. So that's next 40 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:43.600 Tuesday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Uh the second is the following week, Tuesday, May 26th from 10 to 11 a.m. Uh and then the third is on Thursday, Feb uh May 28th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Um all of 41 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:59.360 those will be at the public safety complex in their upstairs community room. Uh, and as Chief Norris noted at our last meeting, um, made an attempt to kind of spread them out throughout, uh, the day in in each of those options. So, 42 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:32.959 uh, be sure to find the one that works for your schedule. >> Great. Thank you. Um, >> councelor Peak. >> Yeah. I just with the upcoming uh the budget hearings coming up, I I just wanted to share a little bit about some thoughts I have had about how we might 43 00:13:32.959 --> 00:13:49.279 want to run these be or how I intend to run these as chair because I think the public might be interested and the department heads might be interested. Um I think in the past we have often uh gone for a very streamlined approach with those which made a certain amount 44 00:13:49.279 --> 00:14:06.320 of sense when there was budgets that were in sort of a different context. But I I just with this being where it is, I'm I'm going to attempt to like So in those meetings, there's not actually a requirement that there be a section for public speak, but what I'm 45 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:22.240 thinking right now, and I'd welcome any sort of feedback from this, probably not at the meeting, if anyone wants to reach out with me to me, is is to basically allow a period for questions or feedback, you know, at the end of each section so that each department head can get questions that they might have from 46 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:37.199 the public, people who might have suggestions because I just think if the city's going to make a huge ask of uh the taxpayers then it's helpful for people to have an opportunity to weigh in to say what if you did this instead of this things like that. On the flip side of that I don't expect that 47 00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:53.360 necessarily department's heads are going to have all the information um at their fingertips for every question that gets asked. But hopefully if there are questions that we have um or you know or that people in the public have that we we can hopefully get some information 48 00:14:53.360 --> 00:15:07.920 some followup on some information and then share that uh with the public. And then the other thing is that I've just asked I've already commuted said this publicly or you know at these meetings with the mayor but also with the department heads to just sort of encourage everybody to come into this 49 00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:25.040 with as much of an open mind and a collaborative perspective as possible just because the context is so different. You know the city the executive side are we after 6:15? Okay cool I did my job. All right. Um so yeah that I think we uh yep that's it. >> Great. Thank you so much councelor Pete. 50 00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:39.440 Um, so it is 6:15. I will take a motion to open the public hearing. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to open the public hearing. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. Uh, motion passes. Um, 51 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:57.120 so just to bring us up to speed before I turn it over to Chair Peak, um, this was an item on our agenda, uh, recently and city council actually had, uh, 52 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:14.880 removed this item without uh, prejudice. Uh and in part the reason that we did it in summary was given the current budget situation um we were not uh interested in 53 00:16:14.880 --> 00:16:30.399 um uh having this position at this particular time given the situation. However, what we learned was uh later was that uh there had already been an an 54 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:46.320 offer made and and the individual was hired and they were um expected to start the next day. Um so I think some of us have a lot of questions around that uh process. Um but just for kind of public 55 00:16:46.320 --> 00:17:01.199 knowledge, this was something that we had removed without uh prejudice to a later date so that we could find out what our current budget situation was. And so I'm now going to turn it over to Chair 56 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:18.400 Peak uh to kind of address this item and then we will hear from uh members of uh the city. >> Sure. Thank you, Madam President. Um, on this particular item, I'm not sure what 57 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:35.039 additional things I have to say that have not already been said. I I guess that I would just say that um there is the the situation about how it like there was an individual who 58 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:53.280 was who was hired um without the funds having been appropriated by the council. And that is obviously a troubling situation and one that I think we we need to look into. But I I do just think that there's like to some extent I I I feel like 59 00:17:53.280 --> 00:18:08.240 the proper place to have that conversation might not 100% be within an appropriation hearing. And so I think you know there's ways that we could talk about how we want to have those conversations with the relevant people going forward. But I I to the extent 60 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:24.240 that I am you know doing this my hope is that we can discuss this appropriation and the extent to which we how we want to go forward with this. So >> um would somebody like from this I mean I guess at this point I would be interested in hearing from the city 61 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:40.320 about where things currently stand but it's up to you. >> Yeah. So I'm not sure who So Mayor Derby would you like to address this item? >> Yes sure. So, um, again, this is for a, um, part-time position in the 62 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:57.919 collector's office. Oh, there we go. Uh, and, um, the rationale for this is, um, actually there's a historical context. Uh, there was reorganization in that office a few years ago. It was um separated between water sewer collection 63 00:18:57.919 --> 00:19:15.840 and um you know tax and um excise tax collection uh parking ticket processing uh and there was more people doing that work. Uh the reorganization happened and um the office was downsized. 64 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:33.520 And what we found is we found that um with the water sewer processing, all of the tax processing, the um interface with the public, um we are uh getting 65 00:19:33.520 --> 00:19:49.840 into a little bit of a backlog. And that backlog is important because that backlog impacts our treasurer being able to do reconciliations and it impacts the auditor being able to do reconciliations. And if you remember, one of the reasons why free cash got certified so late was because those 66 00:19:49.840 --> 00:20:05.679 reconciliations had fallen behind to a pretty significant place. Um, so really what we're trying to do is we're trying to write the ship to make sure that we don't get into the same situation we were in before where those reconciliations fall behind and we find ourselves again certifying free cash 67 00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:22.160 late um when really the solution is relatively simple. Um, having a part-time person in the office to help process um, water sewer and um, you know, freeing up if someone's not in the office, freeing up somebody to be able to interface with the public. Um, you 68 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:38.240 know, I think that that is really a critical component of having a collections office that's working effectively and smoothly. Um, and we've been, you know, looking at this position for, I think, really since I became inter mayor was trying to figure this out. Um, so it's taken a little while, 69 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:54.799 but uh, you know, and I think rightly so, people should be concerned about, um, the cost to the taxpayers. Uh, and I think that's why we came up with a way to fund this position using enterprise chargeback. Um, because the position will be, you know, pretty much 70 00:20:54.799 --> 00:21:11.080 exclusively focused on water sewer. And that was, um, you know, something we've been working with, um, the Greg Nuttleman, the DPW director. Uh, and, you know, I think maybe I can let Lori speak to anything that I missed, but 71 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:31.240 >> um, any questions? Uh, councelor Marquee. >> Um, I don't I don't have a question per se. Um, I plan on voting for this appropriation, but I do want to um, 72 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:48.640 counselors Peak mentioned earlier and President Denim Denham mentioned last meeting that um, it's the process in which this position was filled that I find alarming. I want the mayor to succeed. I want city council to succeed 73 00:21:48.640 --> 00:22:06.000 and I don't want President Denim to have to find these mistakes on our own. I want I want us to all have like open lines of communication. So, I'm okay with the position. I'm just I'm not okay that it it was hired before city council 74 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:21.360 appropriated the funds. But I want you to succeed, Mr. Mayor, President Denim, and the rest of city council. And that's that's my feelings. >> Sure. Mayor Derby. >> Um, >> yeah, and I agree 100%. And, um, you 75 00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:38.000 know, at this point, this is a personnel issue. Um, and so, you know, I think that if I was going to get into the details, we should probably look at an executive session. Um, because, and just to be clear, the the mayor doesn't interview or make final offers to clerk 76 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:55.120 positions. Um, so that is a function of a different department. Um, while I sign off on PAFs, um, the intention of the when I signed this was it was a conditional, um, offer that would be extended once the funding was in place. 77 00:22:55.120 --> 00:23:12.640 So, I just want to make that really clear. >> Chair Beak, >> um, yes. So, I, um, had a constituent question about this that I didn't 100% know the answer to, so I'm going to ask you now. Um I had a constituent ask um 78 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:31.280 sort of whether so like the the like I remember when this happened and we sort of said okay we're going to consolidate you know there's these this function that's over in DPW and we've got these functions over in the treasur's office and we're going to consolidate these to to save some money and I just sometimes feel 79 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:47.600 like there's a little bit of a pattern there that maybe we could learn something about as we're going into another se cuts that sometimes these consolid validations work and sometimes they kind of cause some chaos. Um, and it's sometimes hard to guess exactly how that's all going to go, but somebody said, why not just take these functions 80 00:23:47.600 --> 00:24:03.360 and send them back to DPW and are there folks in DPW who could just pick up this work right now? And so that was a question that a constituent asked and I wanted to like fair enough, I don't know the answer to that. It it is a good question 81 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:20.159 and it is a question that was asked and it was something that was broached with the DPW director and he felt that that was not um something his current staffing levels could um absorb. Um and and he is fully on board with the hiring 82 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:36.799 of this position as well. Um and you know and and maybe Laura do you want to speak a little bit to the history of this because it might be the context might be helpful. >> Yeah. Great. So Lori, please state your name and role for the city. 83 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:51.120 >> Hi, my name is Lori Reynolds. I'm the tax collector for the city. Um, so before the offices were combined, the tax office collecting taxes only was two 84 00:24:51.120 --> 00:25:07.440 and a half employees. Whereas the DPW with the water and sewer was a total of three full-time employees. We are down to two full-time employees now collecting taxes and water and sewer. And when I talk about water and sewer, 85 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:25.440 I'm talking from beginning to end. From the meter readings to there was meter change outs to fielding all the questions from the residents about their bills, high usage, um so forth. uh tax uh not tax rates, 86 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:41.279 water sewer rates uh which are voted on by the board of public works, but we get the questions on it. Um there are we do tie-ins and backflows and and water onoff bills and fire main 87 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:58.240 bills. We collect all those. We build those except for the backflow. the backflow is done by a third-party company um which used to be in-house also. Um so and it's also been brought up by the 88 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:14.640 outside uh auditors for the city that one person really shouldn't be doing beginning to end. like we do the readings, we go through the readings, we do the billing, we we send out the bills and then we collect the payments and 89 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:30.559 then we do abatements um that are due to uh readings that are not correct. Um the other abatements would have to go to the board of public works for approval. >> So 90 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:47.279 >> great. Thank you. Uh Chair Peak, >> thanks so much, Lori. Uh could you just expand on that a little bit about why the auditor would have some concerns? I think I know the answer but just for the benefit of >> just because one person's involved and there's no checks and balances. So there 91 00:26:47.279 --> 00:27:03.840 is it puts the city at risk >> because there there's no separation of duties. >> It's all one person, >> right? So if that one person makes a mistake, they're less likely to catch their own mistake than if a second person is checking at some point later down the process. >> That's correct. Okay. Thank you. 92 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:29.679 >> There would be less to be Councelor Kazinski, you had your hand up. >> Yeah. I'd like to ask questions from the mayor. >> Uh, Mayor Derby. I really wish there was some other way we could deal with this because it isn't 93 00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:47.520 uh the way to do business to approve something when someone's already been hired. That's absolutely wrong. Uh I wish we could say, you know, I think it makes sense to to wait until after we kind of settle things regarding 94 00:27:47.520 --> 00:28:05.039 the financial crisis we're in. Uh and that would be the way I would proceed. I also would request that's number one, and I I'll get into that in a minute. But we had before us a supplemental appropriation which comes 95 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:19.760 before the council along with I don't know how many pages there were in that document but we've had anywhere from you know 94 to 371 something pages of of reading material and here it is okay you're looking for 96 00:28:19.760 --> 00:28:37.039 $5,000 of free cash for a part-time collector is what it reads to the council. So, as far as the counselors are concerned, that's what we're doing. We're having a part-time collector essentially that's going to cost us around $5,000. Now, there may be a few 97 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:52.880 nuances, etc. And I tried to get a salary named by you and the human resources person at that meeting so that we could identify what we were really talking about 98 00:28:52.880 --> 00:29:08.720 because this this didn't sound like a $5,000 free cash request. And it sounded more to my ears with experience to say this really is going to cost the city some 99 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:24.720 significant dollars. Which gets me back to the first the first part which was if this is going to cost significant dollars, what is the cost of not doing this and waiting? We have a choice. We 100 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:39.440 can approve it tonight or we don't have to approve it. And I suppose that would cause all sorts of ramifications for the city with the person. But aside from that, I'm looking at how does this impact the workload that and what has to 101 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:56.559 get done. And I'm thinking, okay, you say that it'll set us back. Well, I imagine at some point you'd be looking to hire somebody, either a staff person or a consultant. And what kind of money would we be talking about if we 102 00:29:56.559 --> 00:30:13.200 made that choice not to approve what we've been asked and originally led to believe was a $5,000 free cash transfer? What what kinds how much how much would a consultant be? 103 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:31.279 So when we um were kind of untangling after we didn't have a treasurer for quite a while, we did have a consultant um and that I think that we were able to maximize our efficiency when we were working with the consultant, but it was close to $100,000 to help us get back on 104 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:47.039 track for that piece, which was reconciliations. And um so not like falling behind and having to hire a consultant to is expensive >> can be very expensive. >> So and so and that's why this is you know this move is really a proactive 105 00:30:47.039 --> 00:31:03.679 move um in order to keep things flowing smoothly. I mean, I I think one of the important things that we haven't said yet is as we look at a financial crisis, one of the most important things is to be able to effectively um and smoothly 106 00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:21.039 be able to process payments. And I was at um the senior center today uh doing a coffee hour with some um of our senior center patrons and one of them said, "Oh, you know, I dropped off my check and and it takes a very long time for it to get cashed." And I think that that's 107 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:37.039 that's one of the things that's exactly right. You know, if we if we don't have the, you know, if our collectors are overwhelmed and we and they don't have the help that they need, then it's going to take longer to cash those checks. It's going to take longer for those checks to hit the books and then it's 108 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:54.640 going to take longer for the the treasur and the auditor to reconcile those payments, you know. So this this is about you know really it's an investment in efficiency um that's going to allow us to mitigate some ex you know external costs like an auditor or a um you know a 109 00:31:54.640 --> 00:32:09.600 consultant to look at our books later to try to catch us back up. Um and and I and I also want to just put out there again you know this this 5,000 and the cost of the the full cost of the employee is going to be covered through 110 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:26.399 enter enterprise. Um, so we're going to use enterprise chargeback to refund the city for the cost associated with this position. So this this really, if you look at it objectively, it doesn't have any impact on the override or the the general budget other than the fact that 111 00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:42.640 we're using this 5,000 to um kind of give us a placeholder until we get that charge back from BPW. >> So I guess my councelor Kazinski, you have another question. My my comment would be this isn't the process I would follow. I 112 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:58.159 think the result and facing a potential consultant and thousands and tens and who knows how many tens of thousands of dollars is not where we want to go. I also would like 113 00:32:58.159 --> 00:33:15.200 to caution everybody as much as this does not affect the override and does not affect because it's charged back through water the same water rates that we have to look at and face all as living as 114 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:31.840 residents of living in East Hampton that that money comes from people's pockets here in East Hampton also. So just to put that on the table. Thank you for the explanation. Absolutely. >> I will be voting yes. >> Councelor Chair Peak. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, yeah. So, 115 00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:48.559 just to make sure that I I understand this and that everyone understands, the idea here is that this 5,000 is to cover this position for the remainder of the fiscal year. And then >> this this position its full cost would be included in is included in the 116 00:33:48.559 --> 00:34:02.880 proposed budgets that you submitted. And then that would just be up to us to decide how we want to handle that. But yeah. >> Yep. That's correct. Yeah. and and the and the intention is for it to be fully funded through chargeback which um you know uh the auditor and I are working 117 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:20.560 with the PP BPW to you know bring up to speed to because they haven't been reviewed in 11 years. >> Yes. Thanks. I'm I'm interested to see how that goes. >> Councelor Pete, do you have another question or a follow-up? >> Uh yeah. Well, I I think it councilins said it. Agreed. 118 00:34:20.560 --> 00:34:37.040 >> Uh Vice President Jadzik, >> thank you. Um, I I think I'd like to start by just echoing what a few of my colleagues have said already tonight. And this is really, I think, primarily for the benefit of the public, but I do want to express my displeasure with the breakdown and the process. It's not 119 00:34:37.040 --> 00:34:50.320 acceptable, and I know that's going to be handled separately, but I think it's something that just warrants us repeating yet again. I think it's really unfortunate that director Russo is not here tonight because I would love to have asked her some specific questions about this, but I do have one question 120 00:34:50.320 --> 00:35:06.640 for I guess um the mayor and chair peak either or um I did see a communication where the timeline was that I believe and correct me if I'm wrong uh but the auditor recommended that director Russo 121 00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:22.400 reach out to the mayor and or chair Peak to confirm before making the verbal offer That was at I believe almost noon on the date that this offer was made. And then at I believe around 1:30 p.m. Director Russo responded back saying the 122 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:39.040 person has accepted the offer. I would like to know did director Russo reach out to the mayor or chair Peak in that interim period. >> Councelor Peak or Cheer Peak. I want to double check my email before I say definitively about anything because it's 123 00:35:39.040 --> 00:35:55.359 been a crazy couple months and it's possible that something slid. I have no recollection of ever saying, "Yeah, go ahead and do that." Nor would I feel like I would do that because I understood at that time that this item had not been approved at the full city 124 00:35:55.359 --> 00:36:11.680 council hearing. I I I will say just for whatever it's worth that I I did have some conversations early on in this process when you know with with Lori about the idea of seeking an appropriation. This was before any of this fiscal uh stuff had come to light 125 00:36:11.680 --> 00:36:28.320 and there was some conversation back and forth about do you think this is something we could go for an appropriation for? And I said sure given the circumstances that seems like a reasonable thing to pursue. Obviously, I can't promise that anything will pass, but I I feel like it makes sense. Um, 126 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:45.760 and then I think that there was just uh some places where communication broke down. We were going to have a this was like we were going to be talking about this in finance. There was a situation where uh the mayor and members of the mayor's team had to step out for an event. And so we didn't at the point 127 00:36:45.760 --> 00:37:01.520 that that came up in finance, we didn't have there wasn't somebody that we we weren't sure at the time about whether or not this was an item that was still going to be going forward given the circumstances. And so I think there's a couple places where there were some 128 00:37:01.520 --> 00:37:18.480 innocent miscommunications and some places where I think this has exposed perhaps a need for better internal controls on some of this stuff. But no, I have no recollection of ever approving anything like this, nor do I think that's something that I would uh do. 129 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:32.480 >> Thank you. >> And if if you um >> I'm sorry to be elusive, but u I need to be a little careful here. Um because what we're talking about now is a personnel issue and if I'm going to make a comment on that, I feel like it should 130 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:52.240 be in executive session. Okay. Any other questions? Uh, I have a couple questions. >> Oh, councelor Schmidt. Um, >> thank you, Madam President. I just want to clarify something. I think, as we sometimes say, I think I already know the answer, but for the sake of the 131 00:37:52.240 --> 00:38:07.599 public, um, so this obviously this uh supplemental appropriation that we have before us is to come out of free cash. I believe it was communicated in maybe our last finance meeting that uh we could expect that there will be another um 132 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:23.040 kind of transfer coming down the pipeline to council to approve that uh the transfer from enterprise to free cash to supplement the 5,000 here and could you just confirm that for us? Yeah. So, so when the um when the 133 00:38:23.040 --> 00:38:39.359 enterprise chargeback happens um and I would I think I saw the auditor on here and I think maybe the auditor could give a better description of the actual process, but we recoup the money from enterprise because we're partitioned and that money will then go back into the 134 00:38:39.359 --> 00:38:55.359 general fund to re replenish the 5,000 and also to make sure that the money that we spend on this position going forward is covered by enterprise funds. Um, and I can't remember if that goes to the general fund first or if it gets d if it's like an interdep departmental 135 00:38:55.359 --> 00:39:13.200 transfer from enterprise to the collector's office for that um stipen. So I don't I don't know if's on there. >> Auditor Patel, are you on the line? >> Yes, I am. >> Would you like to comment on this? >> Yes. Uh so the way it works is uh when 136 00:39:13.200 --> 00:39:29.280 the budget gets passed by the city council it is in included in the motion that it will be funded through the enterprise fund and this particular one what needs to happen is because there's a huge uh increase in the health insurance this 137 00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:47.200 year we have to go for another um end of the year up with the enterprise which we normally don't do it and this year with health insurance and this position will be incorporating the transfers. So what happens is the bit the budget expense 138 00:39:47.200 --> 00:40:04.320 side is line by line. However, the revenue is a one big pot. So it goes as a transfer from enterprise into general fund and it it comes as a transfer at towards the revenue projection for um when we do the actual compilation at the 139 00:40:04.320 --> 00:40:21.920 end of the fiscal year. >> Great. Thank you. Uh follow-up question. >> Yeah. So, thank you. Um just to clarify one more time though, uh can we expect that that will come before us when that transfer happens or is that something 140 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:37.040 that's going to happen on your side and we won't necessarily see that? >> Auditor or know the answer for sure yet. Um this is going to be first time we'll be doing this kind of transfer. I need 141 00:40:37.040 --> 00:40:54.320 to run it by external auditors what the process is going to be. But I can absolutely bring that um even if it's like an information that we city council won't see it versus uh city council will see it or city council will see it when the revenues gets finalized for June 142 00:40:54.320 --> 00:41:10.800 30th. >> I I can confirm that with external auditors and get back to the council. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Uh question. And so I just want to understand how you've you've mentioned we're behind. So how far behind are we 143 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:26.560 for the justification of needing this particular position? >> Um well again I think Hel could help with that. I I know that the treasurer said that she was still doing April I believe for reconciliation >> of >> this this past April. >> This past April. Yeah. 144 00:41:26.560 --> 00:41:42.480 >> Auditor Patel >> can you provide clarification? >> Yes. From my side, um though the treasury side is up to date till April, I am still behind. As of July of 145 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:59.920 last year, which is beginning of the fiscal year, the reconciliations has not been done. Uh the process for the reconciliation is that treasurer will give me a green light that cash is balanced. I have to go and balance ambulance receipts, um the police 146 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:16.720 outside details, monthly reconciliation with the collection office, all the payroll deductions, and then I finalize the cash. And that once that cash is finalized for one month, that's when I call that month is closed. And that month has not been closed since July, 147 00:42:16.720 --> 00:42:32.240 which is the beginning of this fiscal year. >> Thank you. Um another question. So, this position was hired as a grade C, which I believe is an ASME 148 00:42:32.240 --> 00:42:47.280 union position, but this position is a non-un position. So, can you help me understand why they were hired for a at a union pay and they're not union? >> Yeah. So, um again, that would be um a 149 00:42:47.280 --> 00:43:02.240 question for the HR director who who did that. Um because again I don't um you know make those offers or choose the grade. Um and so I I think that would be a question for director Russo. 150 00:43:02.240 --> 00:43:19.040 >> Y great. Thank you. Um any other comments questions? Um also just comment it's been said uh I want the tax collectors office 151 00:43:19.040 --> 00:43:34.480 to be successful. I know in particular your office deals with a lot of um challenging situations just given the nature of your work. Um and so I certainly 152 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:51.200 respect everyone who's in that office and everything that you are dealing with and have to navigate. Um, I know that it's very difficult uh to be sitting, to be working, you know, I come in to pay my bills, right? So, I know how hard that is to kind of shift gears and do 153 00:43:51.200 --> 00:44:09.280 that and then have to sit down. And it's hard when you're having someone who might be unhappy and then to have to kind of process that internally and then to go back and sit down and have to get back to work into that kind of same mind frame that you were in. So, I understand how challenging that can be. Um and so 154 00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:27.040 you know certainly it sounds like um your office is is behind because you have less staff. Um, so certainly I'm hoping that this will accommodate kind of what you're you're dealing with and and by challenged by. 155 00:44:27.040 --> 00:44:43.040 So, you know, certainly I want to be supportive of you and I want to make sure that, you know, we're able to get everything done that needs to be done for the city, right? Particularly financially, right? Um, I think it's also been said that I'm really challenged by 156 00:44:43.040 --> 00:44:59.440 this entire process. I think I have a whole lot of questions um about a number of things that that have been talked about today. Um obviously we're not going to discuss those now, but um this was was incredibly problematic that this 157 00:44:59.440 --> 00:45:15.760 happened. Um so and quite frankly disrespectful to this council. So I just want to name that. Um that being said, uh Chair Beak, I will turn it back to you. >> Sure. Uh, I'm prepared to make uh a motion unless there's anything that 158 00:45:15.760 --> 00:45:30.960 anyone else feels needs to be said. >> Uh, councelor Schmidt, >> do we want to give the public a course? >> Does anyone from the public want to say anything? I forgot about online. I saw the person get up and walk out, so I was like, nobody. 159 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:52.160 Anyone online, please raise your hand. And seeing none, councelor Peak. All right, I will make this uh the following request in the form of a motion. Request is hereby made for approval of the following appropriation. Amount requested, $5,000 to be transferred from free cash, $5,000 to be transferred to 160 00:45:52.160 --> 00:46:08.560 collector part-time, $5,000. Uh description to fund uh clerk's position in the tax collector's office for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. Second. >> I have a motion and a second to transfer $5,000 from free cash to fund new 161 00:46:08.560 --> 00:46:24.560 part-time position in the collector's office for the remainder of fiscal year 26. Um any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstension. Motion passes. 162 00:46:24.560 --> 00:46:40.400 >> Um as that is the only thing on our agenda, I will take entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move to close. I forgot to >> I make a motion to clear close the public hearing. >> Second. >> So I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Uh any further 163 00:46:40.400 --> 00:46:55.599 discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Opposed. Extension. Motion passes. >> Now that there's nothing else on our agenda, I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second to adjurnn. Um all those in favor? 164 00:46:55.599 --> 00:47:04.920 >> I opposed. Absention. Motion passes. than our local cable subscribers.