East Hampton Town Board Work Session - 9/16/25

001East Hampton Town Board, we are live. >> Great. Thank you, LTV. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the East Hampton Town Board work session of Tuesday, September 16th, 2025. Cheryl, if you could please read the roll call >> Present. If we could all stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. >> So today we start with public portion and we ask folks to kindly keep their comments to three minutes and that's followed by topics. We're going to get hear about the bids that are going to be on for this Thursday from Jeannie Corrosa. We'll have a recommendation from Samantha Klene on the sustainable planning and

002coastal communities grant. We have presentations today from the Springs Food Pantry. They're going to give us an update and that's led by our their executive director Holly Reichart Weaten. We then have a presentation from the Family Service League by Jeff Styman and Carol McGee. And then that is followed by a presentation by the sustainability committee on tree protection code recommendations followed by council member Tom Fle's campaign make room for rescue. So before we get into our topics, we start with public comment. Is there anyone here that would like to address the board? Gloria. Oh, you know what, Gloria, when you get up, could you just adjust the the podium? It was moved last night for the arts council meeting and we want to make sure that Ian can see you. Perfect. And then if you

003could adjust the mic. My apologies. Is that about right? >> You're a natural. Thank you. >> I can move the podium. Yay. >> I'm here with my sustainability committee hat on. Thank you for for leasing that so well, Kate. and my East Hampton Compost Rewild hat on which uh as many of you know East Hampton Compost is a collaboration between the town and Rewild Long Island. And oops, we've done it again. It's another composter sale and RA rain barrel sale that is going on here in the town of H Southampton. Why is it so important? You can save money, reduce waste, protect our bays, and you know, it's an easy way to take steps towards sustainability in your own backyard. Everyone thinks that composting is really complex. It is really not. It's more like cooking,

004not baking. You can keep throwing stuff in that pot, let it simmer, and it's that soup's going to be good a few days later, a week later. So, um, join us, join the compost crew, join your neighbors who are composting. It's amazing how many people right here in East Hampton compost mainly they're worried about mus fuss smell um pests. We've got enclosed containers that will uh deter any sorts of pests. We've got compost coaches who will guide you through the entire stepbystep process. There's uh we've got a step-by-step guide on rewlong island.org/compost. So, please join us and help keep East Hampton green and blue. These are my the colors I associate with East Hampton. >> Do you want to put a plug in for Sunday afternoon >> in Matthew's Garden? >> Oh, that is that's

005um we are going to have um our accommodation ceremony for the summer program interns. We had 30 high school students this summer uh doing a full environmental and slash community internship doing everything from harvesting tomatoes to working in at Springs Food Pantry. Yay. Can't wait for that presentation. And uh and also compost. They collected almost or actually four and a half tons of food scraps. So, and sorted through all of them to make sure there was no contamination and everything is composting away very nicely at the town recycling center and at Balsam Farms. Thank you, Ian. Will the interns be coming to the work session for presentation like they did last year? Um, I can see if we can do that. Okay, that would be great. >> Yeah. All right. Beautiful. Thanks. >> Would anyone

006else like to address the board? Jason, is there anyone on the line? >> Yes, we have two callers on the line. I am unmuting the first right now. >> Thank you. >> Okay, caller ending 4602. Can you hear me? >> I can. Can you hear me? >> Yeah, you are on the air. >> Excellent. Great. Good morning, town board, and to all on this beautiful late summer day. This is Betsy Petroski calling in to comment to comment on today's work session presentation by the sustainability committee's proposal for a new tree protection ordinance to our town's current code. I had the opportunity last evening to read through the presentation's documents posted on the town's website and I must say with great emphasis that I agree wholeheartedly with its content and initiatives. I'm sure everyone who lives

007in our town has their own personal horror stories about properties in our neighborhoods and surrounding areas that have been recently sold and then 90 90% cleared regardless of our town's current clearing restrictions. I know I have many of my own experiences witnessing this act of destruction in my neighborhood and beyond its borders. Usually these old stately native trees are replaced by rows upon rows of arborite that we all know negatively impact our local ecosystem and environment. I am looking forward to the committees detailing all the key issues they have addressed regarding this problem. How it affects not only the charm of our town and sense of place but also the impact this clearing the destruction of our trees has on our environment and our wildlife. I want to thank this committee for taking on this

008massively important issue at this critical time for our trees protection and also to thank to thank the town board members in advance to take this issue very seriously as I and everyone else that I know does as well. Thank you so much. >> Thank you Betsy. >> Okay, moving on to next caller. >> All right, caller ending 3244. You're on the air. Can you hear me? >> Yes, I can. Can you hear me? >> Loud and clear. Go for it. >> All right. Thank you. Uh good morning, board. This is uh Martin Drew Springs. I'm calling once again to address the public safety issues that seem to have overtaken our neighborhood uh down here in Richardson Avenue and uh Maidstone Park Road with the uh ongoing nightmare known as Rita Cantina and the parking issues

009that have yet to be resolved which is uh bearing on the safety concerns for our residents who use that road Richardson Avenue and Maidstone Park to access by foot or bicycle uh to enjoy the park. So, I just wanted to ask you a couple things, please. Um, well, first I'd like to thank Steve Lynch for acting unilaterally to actually get the line striped down there because for the longest of time, we were told that, uh, there was no enforcement possible by the chief of police because there was lack of the lining. So, uh, now that it's there, we're finding out that although when we call in, as he suggested, uh, there's still no enforcement. We're getting excuses from the roadside officers. They're not really enforcing the situation about the legal parking with no permits on

010Maidstone Park Road South. Uh they're not uh speaking to anything about uh the perpendicular parking which is encumbering the right of way uh on either side. Um, and I know you guys are in court with this article 78 thing, but it seems everyone's dragging their feet and using that as an excuse when we know across the street from the property. Uh, in 1969 there were complaints about the illegal parking in the rightway. So, I've put forward plenty of suggestions about how to solve and fix the problems, but it seemed to be landing on deaf ears. So, uh, my thoughts were this. Uh, we need some no parking signs down on the uh wetland. Uh, I want to thank Steve and Mr. Cobb for uh getting the the new uh speed signs up. I'm also going

011to ask that the one that you guys just put on the corner of Richardson and ThreeMile Harbor Road to also start addressing the commercial through traffic. We would like to get a sign there that says no commercial through traffic because it's jeopardizing the safety of our elderly residents who use that road to access the park. and uh daily they walk their dogs and constantly have these speeding trucks. So, thank you for the speed signs, but now it's time to enforce things in the area, the speeding, the illegal parking, and all those sorts of things. So, I had three solutions here. Uh, the owners also own number 25 Maidstone Park Road, which could be turned into a parking lot to save their restaurant because town code tells us they need off-site parking to the tune of

012a minimum of about 29 30 cars. So, uh, you're not going to get away with using our neighborhoods as the de facto parking uh, without addressing the deficiencies in the site plan, the town codes, and the state law. So, uh, we've asked the state troopers to come down and help us. if the town police won't. And the reality is uh we're going to keep going here. So, I just want to let you guys know that uh we need your help. So, maybe if Mr. uh Councilman uh Felder Piedmont could uh I guess share the emails I've sent to him about the concerns with thoroughly outlined and uh we'd like some help. We want some results. It's been three years. This is ongoing too long. So, uh either please solve the problem by creating the parking

013lot or buy it with CPF funds or in ultimate uh reality, if the safety issues aren't concerned, you need to take it by eminent domain and put a bicycle rack there. So, you have some hard work to do. Please do it. Thank you for letting me comment. You have a nice day. >> Thank you, Martin. Jason, is there anyone else on the line? We have no other callers on the line. >> Okay. I'm just going to ask one more time in the room. Is there anyone that would like to address the board? All right. So, we're going to move on to our topics. First up is bids with our senior purchasing agent, Jeannie Carrosa. Welcome, Jeanie. Good morning. Good morning. A few acceptances and a couple of notices. Um, the first acceptance is for our

014annual drainage contract A, B, and C. Keith Grimes is the apparent low bidder for all. Contract A and B are both $260,575. Contract C, $297,600. A, B, and C are just the different zones that they are. Um, next is the East Hampton Town Police Department dispatch room renovations. Ronald Webb Builder is the apparent low bidder at $791,875. Next is a bid that we did for CDCHIA Sanitary System. The apparent low bidder for that one is Clear River Environmental Service in the amount of $116,250. Next, we did another IIA system installation at the for the Montto Police substation. Keith Grimes is the apparent low bidder for that in the amount of $138,425. Next, there's a couple of notices on um Canwell Court subdivision lot clearing project. And then next week will be um a notice for

015the advertising concessions at services at the airport. And then finally, um, an RFP was done for sustainable planning in coastal communities risk redu risk reduction, revitalization, and restoration. And Samantha Klein is here for the recommendation for this project. >> Great. Thank you, Jeanie. >> Morning, Sam. >> Morning. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Um, so the RFP that Jeannie just mentioned, it's a project funded by the New York State Department of State um, in the amount of $600,000. That was the largest grant award given to Long Island under that program. Um, this project aims to protect and revitalize the Montto sustainable planning project study area to achieve sustainable revitalization that supports a year-round resilient community. That study area includes downtown Montalk goes north to Industrial Road um the Montalk fire department as well as the

016Montalk Playhouse. The study area incorporates a lot of community assets. It has two of the focus areas of the coastal assessment resiliency plan known as KARP. So they were identified as having high vulnerabilities to climate hazards. Um, it also includes the commercial and resort district in downtown Ma, which is a major economic driver uh for the South Fork and even broader New York region. The awarded consultant will provide the town with written codes that are well positioned for adoption through having been developed with the community, driven by climate and economic data, and assessed legally through all the tasks of the project. Land use policies can be an important tool in balancing sustainable growth and function with environmental preservation in a way that can reflect the needs of a community. So, this project has a normal

017potential to open with great community visioning processes and take thoughtful steps to create implementable actions. Um, the town will be the driver of the project and is using the $600,000 grant to hire a multi-disciplinary consultant team. Um, they're going to utilize their expertise and resources to conduct regulation assessments, climate modeling, economic modeling, lead stakeholder engagement and public education plans, draft options for local codes, create a recommendations report, um, facilitate collaboration with our municipal boards, um, and believe it or not, even more other task items, which we will dive into the details of at a later presentation when I have a full slide deck and everything. Um to hire the consultants, the town drafted RFP 2025-104. Um that was drafted to be in alignment with the town's work plan with the department of state. Um we

018included sections on challenges of the study area and priorities of the project. A selection committee was established to review and evaluate those proposals um from the town staff. Members included myself and the town planning director. Tina Vavilla Slagaran will be the town's project managers overseeing the consultants and serving on advisory committees leazing to the town board coordinating with the grant people as well as with the consultants. A selection committee um also included our project partners. So representatives were Leo Dant, the president of the Montalk Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's anticipated involvement was written into the grant since the application in 2023. Their organization has critical stakeholders in this area and it's also for consistency that they were in very involved with the Karp study um serving on that committee as well as a part of

019the nature conservy's community consensus building project. The town's other partner represented is uh Allison Brinko. She is the climate adaptation director of the Nature Conservancy in New York. TNC is an organization that leads environmental work uh really on a global stage. She was the co-chair on the carp committee for many years um helping advance that project. We view her role as likely being similar on this one. Uh we also included Jennifer Carneakono who's the president of the Mont Playhouse Community Center Foundation and Andrew Harris who is a Mont resident as well as a representative from the town's waterfront advisory committee. Um so that's six of us selection committee members. Um, in addition to Jeannie Corrosa really overseeing this whole process of procurement, uh, Councilwoman Rogers serving as our town board liaison, um, as well as

020the deputy town attorney advising us, um, at some of these meetings. The town received five responses to the RFP. We, um, independently reviewed all these proposals, sent scores to the town's purchasing agent. We then discussed collaboratively, shortlisted four of those teams to bring them in for interviews. We provided those teams with questions ahead of the interviews. So that way we can procure an equal amount of information from all the teams to evaluate them from. Um and then we uh sent updated scores uh to the purchasing agent and then collaboratively collaboratively discussed all these at a follow-up meeting. So through this process, we're happy to make a recommendation to the town board that we would like them to hire James Lima Planning and Development, abbreviated as JLP and D. Um, some of the reasons why we

021thought they stood above the others. Um, to be honest, all the proposals were really excellent and we took a long time to deliberate on them. There wasn't ever a wrong choice. It was just about trying to advise on who the best choice was. Um, so their proposal was very strongly written. We thought they matched well the town's RFP, which is a direct reflection of our work plan with the Department of State. So, it's good that those would all be cohesive. Um, and while it clearly matched those, it wasn't a regurgitation of the information we had given them. So, they had scored well in project understanding. Um they discuss goals of creating implementable actions, a community supported and co-created plan, integrating best available climate and economic modeling data and working with nature not against it. They're

022they have proven success in related projects which included the nature conservies community consensus building study and some of the engagement efforts related to the Montek playhouse renovation. their project leads um have positive references from those projects that are actually the same project leads that are going to be a part of this project based on their proposal. They also had some impressive renderings and examples related to the project scope. Specifically, one of their subcontractors did work um in Nantucket which has kind of a similar look um environmentally and development wise to Monttok. So they were able to show some examples of that. They also had innovative ideas for stakeholder mapping that some groups will uh just need to be informed, others will need to be informed and given an opportunity for feedback and some need a

023seat at the table throughout the whole thing. They also have knowledge of resilient zoning and land use tools um experience with DOS funded projects and experience on codes in New York City. um in conversation they were also on board um of serving as an extension of the town's goals and expertise and vice versa that we want to be an extension of their work and stewards of the project in general. Um, so yeah, so I think yes, we also touched on some of the challenges ahead with this project that are mixed with a great opportunity we have for advancing resiliency work. Um, so we were thinking about the town's coastal assessment resiliency plan. I know a lot of the majority of this town board served as a liaison to that committee at one point or another.

024came to public workshops and ultimately made sure that that document was adopted. So, I think there's plenty of us that can speak to the difficulties that that project faced, but also to its widespread recognition that there were a lot of requests from notable organizations that invited the town to share information about that project and they included Noah, New York State Flood Plane Managers Association, New York Association of Conservation Commissions um among other groups. I think this project is going to be similar in facing and addressing significant challenges, but to some degree, the measure of an accomplishment and is in what it took to get there. So, we think that this project has a lot of potential and the grant really represents an enormous opportunity. In conversations with the company JLPD and through evaluating their written

025proposal, I think their team understands that as well. uh which means that we'll be able to work with someone that's pragmatic but also optimistic which can be a pretty tough balance to strike. Um so we're looking forward to working with them and ultimately this is all up to the town board. So we're happy to provide any additional information about the process or the team. Um yeah and I think that is everything >> questions or comments for Sam? >> Um just just mostly comments. I mean I I think look this is a vital project. Um it's also incredibly complex. I mean I think you know ensuring we have adequate community feedback from all all stakeholders I I think is key here. I I I think the committee is has been well formed in selecting this group

026you know as the project moves forward. I would like to see the outreach get wider and you know involve more institutions. I also think with projects like this you kind of hit on one of the key words is pragmatic. you know there's a lot of industry down there that you know just anecdotally I know is resistant to any kind of change and you know understanding and engaging those partners to ensure we make the right next steps that work for them is going to be key. So it's um look this is a a critical project one I'm I'm fully behind. I think it does need clear strategy and clear thinking and I I look forward to what they bring forward. >> Thank you. Any other comments? >> Uh, no. I'm just uh, you know, witnessing the

027the uh, selection committee's diligence to following correct procedures, being um, completely unbiased and looking at things uh, uh, each individual uh, proposal on its merits and nothing else. uh really was an outstanding and uh exemplary uh job that in in select in this selection process and I can say we did get very good uh uh proposals for this project. We had a wealth to choose from. So the selection committee took their time. Uh nothing was rushed and it was a collaborative effort. So um I can attest to the great work of this team. I'm I'm supportive as well. I I think it's an important project and and I think Tom and and you brought up good points which is I think we need we need buyin from everybody and so I think the outreach has

028been good so far. Um the selection committee obviously did a lot of a lot of work but I think going forward we'll have to make sure it's in everybody's best interest to participate in this but I think we just want to make sure that we we go out of way and not implying that anybody isn't doing that but um just so that everybody's on board and we can move forward. So, as I understand, next steps, we've got a resolution on for Thursday night to hire James Lima, planning and development. Uh, and then that has to go to the Department of State for final approval. Does it not, Sam? >> Um, so the resolution is able to be passed by the board. Um, then once we're at the um agreement stage, the state would like to

029see a draft of that before it's final. So, the agreement, >> so they don't have a say in who we hire. They just want to see the agreement that we enter into. >> Exactly. They're saying who we hire is more about um our process to get there. So, they wanted to make sure we procured the consultant fairly. >> Great. >> And then just for folks that are interested, uh on the town's website under work session materials for today is the James Lima's response to the RFP. So, it's hundreds of pages and it's it's all posted up there >> then. That's great. Well, thank you, Sam. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Okay, so next up we have a presentation from the Springs Food Pantry. Holly, we're excited to have you here today and and talk about

030the good work that you're doing for folks in our community that find themselves in a situation where they're food insecure >> having us. And for those who don't know me, I am Holly Reichart Weaten and I'm the director and chairperson of the Springs uh food pantry. uh means a lot for us to be able to come here today and share our story with you. So Patrick's going to run the PowerPoint and if you just need him to change the page, just give him the high sign. He's just pulling it up now. We're loading >> and we also have the video ready to go on our side if you need it. >> Great. Thank you, Jason. Okay, change. Here we go. Change. The Springs Food Pantry started in 1992 when my mom, Betty Reichart, and a

031few folks from the Springs Community Presbyterian Church noticed their neighbors were struggling, mostly fishermen and farmers. So they literally opened their cupboards and shared what they had. And that's how it all began. Five years later, after working in Chicago, I returned home to Springs and I started helping my mom at the pantry. And I've been there ever since. We grew slowly, but by 2018, the need was rising fast. Our numbers were increasing, but so was our need for funds to pay the food products. And even though we remain a mission of the Springs Presbyterian Church today, the decision was made to incorporate to become financially independent and form our own 501c3 to raise funds more effectively. Our mission's simple. Provide healthy supplemental food to Springs families, all of those in need. We've always been 100%

032volunteer driven. No salaries, just neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone knows the Hampton's for wealth, but the picture in Springs is very different. We're a hamlet of about 9,500 people, mostly workingclass families, construction, landscaping, cleaning, restaurant workers, and a third of our residents are Latino. The cost of living here is brutal. Over 13% of the families live below the federal definition of poverty. But according to the Suffach County's Welfare to Work Commission, that real number is considerably higher because the federal threshold doesn't reflect the high cost of living on the east end. Child poverty in Springs is double the state average. Spring school doesn't have a cafeteria, so there's no federally funded breakfast or lunch program. It all adds up. About 1,200 of our neighbors rely on the pantry every week, which matches that 13% figure exactly.

033And as winter approaches, those numbers grow considerably. In fact, just this past Wednesday, we fed almost 1300 people. And winter's not upon us. I frequently get asked, why do all these families need food? To illustrate, we created a model using reliable sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the IRS, the Census, the US Department of Agriculture, Zip Recruiter, PSEG, and others. All of these resources are listed in our appendix. We modeled the typical Springs family of four. Data subcontractor, mom, a cleaning professional. They make around $9,500 a month, about 120,000 a year. Sounds like a pretty solid income, but their costs, rent, utilities, transportation, taxes, and groceries, add up to more than $10,200 a month. That's nearly an $800 shortfall every single month. The pantry helps fill that gap. For a family of four, we

034provide about $61 a week in food, roughly $325 a month at retail value. That doesn't erase the deficit, but it makes survival possible. Our budget is about $1.2 million a year. Over 90% goes directly to food. The rest is basic overhead, insurance, rent, accounting. We now have an 11 member volunteer board, each with defined roles, purchasing, volunteer coordination, fundraising, technology, financial support, secretarial, etc. Takes about 60 volunteers a week to make this all work. And our volunteers are incredible. They show up rain or shine, always with a smile on the face, and they're willing to do any task that we ask them. And many have become donors. Every recipient registers with us. They must show proof of spring residency and have ID for every family member. We track everything with Pantryoft so we know who

035we're serving, how often, and what's needed. And then each week, we build menus, source food, and plan down to the very last item that goes in the bag to stretch every dollar and to minimize waste. The real story is in this graph. We served 20 to 30 families a week for years and by 2019 that number was about 55 families and then COVID hit and our numbers skyrocketed. Now more than 330 families over,200 people every week and the numbers have never dropped back down. Every Wednesday cars line up from 1:30 to 6:30 in the afternoon. About 86% of our families are Ecuadorian and they tell us fresh produce matters most. So we make sure that fresh produce is given to every one of our recipients every week. We scale bags to family size. A bags

036for families of 1 to three, B bags for families of four to six, and C bags for our seven plus family members. And yes, we have family members. We have families that total 8, 9, 10, and 11 family members. Meat and dairy are per person. We pack it on the fly. And when schools in session, fruit is packed as a grab and go for kids. If someone can't get to the food pantry, we deliver. And if we run out of an item, no one leaves empty-handed. We give IGA gift cards for the same value. Our partners make this possible. Our farmers donate produce in season. Businesses provide discounts or services. Media partners help us get the word out, especially for fundraising. And it's all about stretching the dollars. And every partnership adds value to our

037families. We want run weekly distributions plus the home deliveries. In summer, we run a summer lunch program to help busy working parents keep their kids fed. We've partnered with Ola and Sevidra and Perez for Latino community counseling. And during COVID, we teamed up with Northwell Health to bring mobile vaccinations to the pantry. And we're now beginning to work with Planned Parenthood to bring mobile services to our recipients. The pantry is a gateway. People come for food, but they leave with connections to health, education, and support. Most of our funding comes from individual donors through holiday drives, spring appeals, recurring gifts, and social media. Food grants from Long Island Cares and Island Harvest, and other state and federal programs help us with shelf staple items. Our events are vital, too. our summer garden party, our chowa

038chowdown, and our chili chowdown. This year's summer garden party was our best yet, raising over 60% more than last year. That community support keeps us going. We especially want to thank the town for your support. Your grant doesn't just buy food, it closes the gap for families. And without it, we probably have to turn people away. Numbers tell one story, but stories bring it home. Janine is a Spring mom, a former recipient, and now a successful small business owner. She gives back as a donor and a volunteer. Janine represents the cycle of dignity and resilience we see time and time again. Let's listen to what Janine has to say. Um, we're going to pause the uh we're going to stop the screen share for a second and then I'm just going to go uh full

039screen on our side. It's going to be a lot easier for everyone. All right. And transitioning over. >> And then suddenly it changed and I lost my job. And all of a sudden I found myself not being able to pay my bills and even putting food on the table was a struggle. cried because I was so embarrassed. I thought people would be judging me, but my kids needed food. So, I got out of my car each week, walked in. The women and the volunteers that were there always met me with a big smile, no judgment. And most times they would follow me back out to the car and somebody would give me an extra bag of food or an extra dozen eggs or an extra loaf of bread, whatever it is that they could spare.

040And I cried some more. And then I drove home and I tried to feed my kids. And it was a very dark part of my life that is still sometimes hard to think about, but I got through it. For us and and my family, it definitely is a full circle moment for sure. If you can give to the Springs Food Pantry and put it on your list of organizations and put it on the top of your list because so many people need it and those people could be you someday. So, when you're driving past the line at the Springs Food Pantry on pickup day and you see a new car or you see someone who looks relatively well-dressed, try to hold back the judgment because you really do not know what's happening on the other

041side. Thank you, Janine. Our biggest challenge is funding. Nearly every dollar we raise, we spend. We need to increase our recurring donations. And eventually, we'd like to establish an endowment for future stability. As we grow, we're hitting the limits of our space as well. We may no longer we may need longer hours and additional distribution days, but both require resources. And that's why continued and increased support is so important. On behalf of our board, our volunteers, and the family we serve, thank you. Thank you for having us today. We believe that no one should go hungry. Our dream is to one day not be needed when every family can afford life's basics. But until then, we'll keep showing up. I hope this presentation demonstrates our escalating need for your partnership and increased support. We've added

042two slides in the appendix which illustrate our analysis for a family of four as well as our process for weekly food purchasing. Again, thank you. Thank you for your time and I'll welcome any questions you have. >> Thank you, Holly. >> Um, well, just first I want to say thank you. I mean, what what you guys do as volunteers is phenomenal and and it's appreciated in the community massively. Um, I will say that I wish it didn't have to exist. >> Yeah. >> You know, I wish that we we had adequate affordable housing and that employees were paid a level that allowed them to shop at grocery stores and get what they need. So, you know, I think on our end, we're working on some pieces to fix that with housing, you know, but it's

043it's a challenge. Um, you know, I think my my key question for you really is is that we saw this big spike after COVID and we haven't seen that go back down. >> No. >> And what do you think is really kind of the reasoning behind that? What's what are you hearing on the ground for that? >> Inflation. I mean, the cost of everything is going up. Housing is through the roof. Our utilities are through the roof. Groceries are through the roof. And salaries just aren't keeping up. I mean, it's impossible to have two I mean, you think about two two incomes in the family and they can't make ends meet. I mean, it's incredible. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> So, I also want to thank you and the organization. I also want to thank

044the elders and the deacons at the Springs Presbyterian Church. Uh because without without a roof over the head, you know, the pantry wouldn't be as successful. And I understand the limitations on size at that beautiful historical building. And too uh you run this like a business and it it that's wonderful to see you know we see the good on it but for yourself and having a leader like yourself that use pantry soft and other mechanisms to track this and two and to be able to answer the questions sometimes of cynics and be able to also put in a format of outreach like you just did right >> don't be judging just be thankful and help out. >> Absolutely. >> That's what volunteerism is needed then too. Uh, I I think the food pantry and the

045and the users of the food pantry are lucky to have you as their leader. >> Thank you. Takes a village though. Takes a village. >> It's nice to see you again. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Holly, I I don't think we can thank you and your volunteers enough, your mother for founding this effort, uh, for seeing the need. Um, you know, when we we talk about uh working families in this town who to me are the backbone of our economy and our community and the need and how they're getting squeezed. And again, the emphasis on these are working families that can't meet their needs. So, uh, I can't think of what what our community would be like without you, without without the ability to help people eat a basic a basic human right. Um, so

046I I thank you so much and I thank you for in your presentation pointing out specifically who you serve and and the amount of folks that you serve because this is something we need the comm the broader community to really understand and then reach into their own pockets and help out in any way that they can as well. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> I agree with with all the previous board members. I think that um I I wish that there there weren't wasn't this need and that everybody was well off and able to to feed their families, but clearly there there's a need here that you guys are stepping into to fill. Um I also think there's an example with I I see the volunteers there and and and

047I know you and Kira and and it's one of the lovely things about our community that there's people who want to give back and and help support. you know, at at our heart, we're still a very small town with a close-knit community, which is why I've fallen in love with this place over the last last 20 years. Um, all of that said, all of the good intentions and and wanting to to serve doesn't go anywhere without a really strong organization and I've I've seen you guys grow and the work that you and Kira Bandman do to, you know, take donations from all different places and somehow assemble it in a way that works for the recipients as well. And that's way more complicated than I think anybody realizes. And uh I think you deserve a

048lot of credit and and for how how professionally you run that operation. I also want to give a shout out to Bill Sullivan who I know does a lot of delivery driving for you guys. And I think he's, you know, an example, somebody I know who um >> really always shows up with a smile and facilitates things happening. And you've got a lot of people like that. I just happen to know Bill uh personally, so I wanted to say that. And um as Dave mentioned the church, I think so many people make this happen. Um and as you you've said and others, I think that we should all be very careful not to judge. You know, it's it's hard for anybody to doubt that people need to eat um and have good food available. And

049and I think that we should put that way higher than any sort of skepticism of does this person need it or are they sort of gaming the system. There's a need out there and uh I'm so happy that you guys are there to help fill it. >> Thanks, Ian. Thank you. And I'm just going to give a plug to our Chowder Chowdown which is coming up. So it's October 11th. Mark your calendars and we're going to have it at the uh Springs Tavern on the patio this year. So come have fun and sample chowder from I think I've got 21 chefs. So it'll be fun. >> If anyone wants Sorry. If anyone wants to reach out to the Springs Food Pantry with donations of services, financial, how will they contact you? You can uh go

050on our website which is springsfoodpantry.com and uh they in fact look at our website because there's more than Janine on there with a testimonial. Um and we we're trying to bring more of that into the fold so people understand you know that it's everyday people who who are using our pantry. Um, we don't have a lot of seniors and we have, as Kathy said, working class people are are out there needing our services, but they can uh go on the website. Our phone number is on there. There's also a volunteer signup sheet on there, so they can sign up that way. Um, and my phone number, so they can always call me. >> Ali, thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. [Applause] Okay, so next up we're going to get a presentation and an update

051from the folks from Family Service League. So Jeff Stagman, Carol McGee, come on down. >> Another longtime partner with the town Family Service League. AB: >> Absolutely. It's wonderful to be here and and to talk about this um you know great initiative that's really been in place for 10 years. Um I'm Jeff Styman. I'm the chief strategy officer of Family Service League. We're the largest uh not for profofit community behavioral health organization in Suffach County. Um and we have over 60 programs in 20 different sites throughout Suffach. Um and behavioral health is our largest division. Um, and I'm joined by Carol McGee, who is the clinic director at our East Hampton site and um, is is a vital program for the town. >> Next slide, please. >> So, just to give you a little context,

052a little backdrop. So, the South Fork Initiative um, really has been a proverbial game changer in terms of where we were, you know, 10 years prior and where we are now. Um, and what I always say, I mean, it's one, it's a highlight of my career, and I've been in this field for about 30 years. Um, or you know, definitely one of the highlights, and it really is an example of what a public private partnership can accomplish. Um and and I say that in terms of our partners have been New York State and local governments including the town of East Hampton, um local school districts, hospital systems, um and ourselves really working together to make sure that there's access, real time access to needed mental health care when it is needed. And that's the key.

053Um it was an initiative that was started by Assemblyman Theo and Senator Laval and uh Senator Palumbo has championed it since and then obviously Assemblyman um Giovani. So, it unfortunately grew out of tragic suicides um at our local high schools. Um and at that point really a lack of accessible services for treatment um years ago and you know there were weight lists and there were months you know long and um really were not able to provide services when they were needed. Next slide please. Um so you know in the past and particularly after the unfortunate incidents um it was a very reactive system you know when there was any any concern there was that um that was evident in the schools. What would happen is that children would be transported to Stonybrook Psychiatric Emergency Program

054um usually by police transport. So that's about 60 mi away. They were handcuffed, put in in a ci in a setting that was often traumatizing. They were separated, you know, from their families behind locked doors and they often didn't need to be there. So really that was our charge. How could we come up with a better system um to really address the needs of those in crisis. Um the initial phase definitely focused on the crisis situation but over time it grew to linkage in general not just a crisis who you know whether it's students or families how can we bring services when they're needed um to those individuals. The success has been overwhelming. We have you know significantly diverted the need to send children to the hospitals. we respond the same day when there's a

055crisis and you know thanks to Carol and her team um we will arrange for you know it's a real streamlined referral pathway and we will see that individual that day and overwhelming majority of the cases we're able to determine that they do not need a hospital setting we can provide any services in the moment and ongoing and come up with any safety plan that's needed etc. Um so you know there really has been a reduction in those transports. Um given the success of the model it has been replicated. So um subsequently we we really um created the same model and re-engineered the system on the north fork. Um so there really at this point is a north fork initiative as well as a south fork initiative. Next slide please. Turn. So this slide um shows

056referrals that came directly from the schools. So as you from January and till June of this year. So as you can see Amigans at school referred two children to us. East Hampton 57, Hampton Bay 15, Monttok 4, Sag Harbor 14, Southampton 23, Springs 30, and Tako didn't have to send anyone. The the the other column shows the number of services, which means the number of sessions, therapeutic or psychiatric sessions or group sessions that all of those um children and adolescence received at our clinic. And this shows all of the referrals. So, you know, we get referrals from, you know, the families, PCP, um, other community resources. So, shows that the number of course is larger. So, um, East Hampton has sent us the most referrals, 230, but Amigans at 13, Bridgeampton 9. We even get

057referrals from Flanders 37, Hampton Bay 88, Montalk 32, Quag 19, Sag Harbor 52, Sagaponic 4, Southampton 80, Wayne Scott nine. >> Yeah. Um, Watermill 7, West Hampton 11, and West Hampton Beach 13. And of course the number of services is much larger because people are seen kids are seen at least once a week initially sometimes more and if they're in a group they'll be seen twice a week and if they see the doctor as well that's three times. We also um get referrals. Well, the first um col the the third column shows when adolescence or children from the town the South Fork towns went to dash or were or reached out to the mobile crisis team, but I can't see all those numbers. >> It's like a DMVi chart, right? Yeah. >> Um, next slide.

058>> That's you again. So, Carol, can I just ask you a question? So, for like East Hampton, where we see 230, um, if you're you're live in Springs, but you go to East Hampton High School, it's probably tracked as East Hampton High School. So, because East Hampton High School is a receiving district, it it's >> right. So when it when it's broken down to Monttok and Springs, that's, you know, when they're in grade school, >> right? >> And then as soon as they all come together, it's East Hampton. >> Yeah. >> And and just to be clear on your on your headings, you took this is only for a six-month period, January through >> from January to June of this year. [Music] So you know as the years you know have evolved you know we

059we really try to figure out how we can innovate and how can we bring services in in different ways. Um and one of the things that we have been engaged with um with the town of Eastampton as well as other town and village police departments is um Carol had mentioned dash. Dash stands for diagnostic assessment and stabilization hub. It is located in the Hop Hog Industrial Park, but um it is the first intensive crisis stabilization center in the region and actually the state has worked with us, our state partners to replicate it throughout New York State and and it actually is in the process. Other crisis stabilization centers are opening up. But again, a very diversionary model, try to avoid the need to go to a hospital. But what we did beginning in October of

06022 is worked with the the the police departments out here to reduce any barriers. So rather than you know there were some times where it may take a while for a mobile crisis team to get there or to expect someone to come to a particular setting. So what we did is that we since we opened the stabilization center, we always had a dedicated law enforcement line and any officer can call that line and we will be able to initiate a through our electronic medical record a teleaalth session. So we're providing that evaluation while the officer is responding to a 911 call if it relates to a behavioral health issue, mental health or substance use. And we are workers in hop who are all licensed professionals are able to provide that assessment crisis assessment to determine

061the best disposition and that has also been you know a game changer just in terms of bringing the services to where they're needed at the right setting you know at the right time and you know from January to June again a six-month period 118 children and adults have been from the south fork have been assessed. Um really want to highlight that 81% of those assessments did not result in transport. So when you think about that, that really is a savings from a system standpoint because you're not taking officers out of their sector. They're not going all the way to the hospital. They're a and the individual can stay in their community and figure out how to engage with what they need. Um so 69% were managed right through the actual teleaalth assessment. 5% came to

062dash even though it was you know it's it's you know somewhat of a trek. They came to our hot pock site and 5% our our mobile crisis team came out and assessed them in person. Um so our mobile mobile crisis team serves the whole county as well as the stabilization center. So Jeff, you gave a presentation a few months back to the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association and you were accompanied with three police chiefs from East End departments. Do you want to just so folks can understand what it looks like, you know, somebody gets pulled over or they go to someone's home and they're in crisis exactly how that works? >> Yeah. So I mean there there are so many varied examples, but it could be it could be a wellness check. It could

063be someone who is is grossly symptomatic. It could be someone who is extremely depressed or anxious, someone's worried about them. So, you know, a lot of times it may emanate from a 911 call. Officer responds. Um, often times, I would say the vast majority, it is not a clearcut decision for the officer. So, they have in the past been placed into that de facto position of being a social worker, a substance use counselor, and having to make a decision whether they should be taken to the hospital. are they at imminent risk or not? Um, they didn't like that position. Often times it resulted in kind of a a reflexive, well, I don't want to make this decision. Let me just take them to the hospital and let the professionals make that decision. So, here we're

064able to do that assessment, right? because they call they call the um the mobile crisis team and we're able to work with them in collaboration and they will stay on scene in until we say you know what this is okay we have this we can continue you can go back to your patrol um it has been extremely successful and it really has been you know the outcomes are the most important but it's also been really a systems saver just in terms of really you realign the resources to where they're needed. >> Um, but there are, you know, there are some situations, you know, 19% where we may concur that this person would be best served at a hospital setting, but when you think about that, 81% of the time they don't have to. And then

065it's not just that we're providing the risk assessment because that's most important. So whether someone comes to Dash, whether we do this over the phone or through teleaalth, we're looking to make sure that there's not a revolving door. So we don't want to deal with just a crisis. We want to figure out what's missing. Are they are they in treatment? Are they willing to, you know, engage in treatment? Do they need a different level of care? Do they need um you know more social determinance of health in terms of food? do they need um assistance with housing um and and other um you know psychosocial issues. So we really are trying to figure out what's the root of the issue and how do we really prevent this from uh you know kind of continuing into

066the future. >> So hopefully that answers your question. >> No you're connect and you're connecting them to services and that could be to a to a social worker at you know the East Hampton East Hampton Clinic. It could be Manat. Yes. Correct. Um, next slide, please. Um, all right. So, real quickly, um, obvious obviously we know the dire stats in terms of, um, increases in mental health struggles, substance use struggles. Um, and and you know, for kids, those were the serious emotional disturbances anywhere from 13 to 20%, probably even a little bit higher now, you know, postcoid. Um and and serious emotional disturbance really can be defined as you know significantly impacts their functioning. Um and obviously it affects not only the individual you know the youth but also their family and we know if

067care is available when needed and we can engage someone and their family successfully the outcomes are you know unassailable in terms of decrease in their actual symptoms. It could be a reduction in suicidal thoughts or behavior um decrease in behavioral issues, improvement in academic performance, etc. So, um the evidence is there obviously and you know I I always say you can't stress enough you want to be proactive, you don't want to be reactive, you want to be able to move upstream as much as possible and deal with things earlier on than later, right? Next slide, please. Okay. So, Carol's going to talk a little bit about the services at the Eastampton Clinic. >> Yeah. So, um we've talked a lot about crisis, but we do assessments whenever anyone comes to the clinic um for, you

068know, for possibly being in treatment. So we do we do um depression assessments, anxiety assessments, assessments for um substance abuse, um trauma, the list goes on and on. So we do we do an we do an initial assessment and then the the not all children are seen by the psychiatrist. If if the parents say to us, "We're not at all interested in medication or we don't determine that the child needs medication," they don't necessarily see the psychiatrist. But all adults do at least once. They don't have to be seen on an ongoing basis if they don't want medication, but they they're all seen once. Um and then we do individual um group, family, couples um in ongoing psychotherapy. and we offer medication management. We also have um we have a a we're kind of a

069small clinic so we don't have a lot of um individuals that come to us to have injectable psychotropics but we have some and we do that. Um, we do a lot of community outreach with parents and ongoing psycho education with parents. We have a Spanish-speaking therapist that can communicate to the parents in their native language, which is extremely helpful. And um, that's enough of that. Next, next. >> Could you just talk a little bit about that program? >> Dina Jimenez, who is our Spanish speaking um therapist, is at the high school every Wednesday and she has um a case load of about 14 that she sees at the high school and in the summer she just brings them over to the clinic and it's it's very it's it works really well. The school is very

070happy with our our arrangement with them because because the kids can go to the guidance counselor or to a teacher and say I I you know I help I need help and Christina's right there and so and so it's very accessible. >> That's great questions for Carol or Jeff? >> Yeah, Carol. I mean we we've worked together a little bit through the center youth task force and you know I recall I think it was the last meeting I think um beginning maybe of last year but you know we had the warning from the surgeon general at the time which is that look there is a mental health crisis amongst our youth and fundamentally it's been driven largely by social media among other things and you know I I think the recent banning uh of cell

071phones in school I'm interested to hear if any of your students have have had kind of any feedback on that and any positive correlations I know it's still kind of relatively early days but to kind of keep worry notice on that. Um but you know also I think you know just as board members I want us to kind of emphasize to the public like look mental health issues there should not be stigmatism attached to them. They are no different to having a cold or cancer or anything like that. The important thing here is to to seek help you know if you know and and to take away that stigmatism for people. So I think that's a critical piece that you guys are doing. I think in the youth that's really challenging um you know it's

072it's such a social hierarchy in high school. So, I I'm very grateful for the work you do in the schools there. Um, but you know, I'd be interested to hear for additional ways, you know, beyond the banning of cell phones that you could kind of think about how how to kind of get rid of that stigmatism to some degree. Um, and the last piece is, you know, really just based on conversations we've had in the South Fork Initiative meetings. Um I think the work you're doing is fantastic but the one thing that has been called out is that you know while teller health has been really fantastic in giving us some new avenues to get people help when they need it. Um the the the relative lack of presence of practiced um and qualified professionals

073in person on ground in the east end remains a challenge for our community out here. So you know when when parents are looking to try to get their kids to see someone in person that's still a real challenge I hear from many married parents out there. So, I'd love to hear if there's kind of any any more initiatives to to grow that network of professionals out here who can help children in person. >> It it is it is a challenge and it's a na, you know, kind of nationwide challenge. Um, but we are um embarking on different internal discussions to figure out anything that we can do um to attract and recruit professionals so that there is that ability for as much on-site as possible. well as well as as as many bilingual staff. So

074your point is is well taken and we have actually already started some discussions in that area. Um and and you know I really want to just also end with where um we started in terms of the partnership with the town has been really wonderful and it's allowed us to really have a foundational level of care um that does provide access um to these services. But you're right, recruitment is is a challenge. >> And and what about to Tom's questions? I mean, I know it's early with the the bell to bell, no cell phones, bell to bell in the schools. Are you is there any initial >> Absolutely. I hear. >> Yeah. I I hear that at the schools. Yes. And we uh we had the superintendent here. I think it was last week and Adam

075made a comment that, you know, kids are walking down the hall and they're looking each other in the eye because, you know, >> yeah, >> their phones in a what? In a bag. >> I I think we as adults could learn a lot from this experiment, honestly. >> Say something like like I think the adults were more scared of implementing this than the kids are actually reacting to it. They're just like, "Oh, oh yeah, I have to put it in here now." Okay. I bet you a lot of them are relieved. >> I I know at least one is. >> Um just one one last point. I think it's fantastic what work you're doing with Dash and PD on scene. I I do think it might be beneficial to do some outreach to the ambulance

076companies across town. They also have a lot of work they do with these um individuals. So, you know, ensuring that they know what um access they can get to relative resources when they might need them as well would be great. >> Yeah. No, absolutely. And um one thing I will add is that and I know I've spoken to Kathy about this is that we you know would love to be able to find a way to open up a a -2 so to speak on the east end to really better serve the Forks where it's not such a geographic barrier. Um so you know that's something we would love to be able to do and figure out how to make that happen. >> Yeah. There was talk at one time Riverhead right is would would be

077a satellite. >> Yeah. I I just want to and and it it's it's an incredibly emotional topic for parents like myself who were raising children, teenagers in the early 2000s out here before there was any of these services. And when you take a moment out to think of a person, a young person in a in a health in a mental health crisis being handcuffed and put in a a police car and driven 60 miles away. uh it's cruelty. Um and so I've seen and experienced families and in my own family um the availability that you've brought to our town u with family service league help young people so much so much who are in crisis and and I I remember those times too where those suicides were were so tragic. But there was no place

078to get help here. you had to even for if you wanted to do it privately, you were heading at least an hour up at least to Riverhead, which when a person's feeling depressed and horrible, it just adds it. It doesn't it doesn't help. Um, so I I want to thank you so much for starting this and also I want to acknowledge you, Kathy, uh, for your efforts in in improving mental health services for young people. I wasn't involved politically, but I certainly remember when you, you know, when we would talk and you would talk about how dire the situation was and and how important it was to to get services right here on the ground in East Hampton. So, I just want to acknowledge you for that and certainly acknowledge you for what you do.

079The difference now between then, it's it's like the dark ages and coming into the light. You you've helped so many young people and people. So, thank you so much. >> We appreciate that and appreciate the partnership and we'll continue to look to figure out how we can even further the efforts. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I agree with the previous board members. I think that this is an incredibly important service and it's and it's a challenging one to you know be in a position to offer. I'm sure it's a you know, it's a difficult job and I'm I'm grateful that you're here to to fill the need. So, thank you. >> Thank you both for coming today. Okay. So, now we have uh the tree protection code recommendations. It's going to be presented by members

080of the sustainability committee. I understand Jane, I think you're running point on the >> straw. >> Okay. Short straw. Um and Amarie will be running the presentation. Jane, you'll coordinate with Amarie. Um, and as Jane gets set up, I just want to frame this by um, acknowledging the work of the sustainability committee. There are members of the sustainability committee here along with Jane today. I just like to point them out in the audience. We have Len Green, Marjgerie Spitz, Gloria Frzy. These are folks on this committee that that have uh, long been dedicated to improving our sustainability across the board in our town. uh they do a lot of work, they have a lot of discussions, they do a lot of outreach, um not always in the spotlight, but certainly a effective group of people

081and all doers. So, uh thank you so much for all you do. >> Great. Uh good afternoon, town board. I'm Jane Miring, speaking only as a member of the East Hampton Sustainability Committee today and not in any other capacity. Um, as Kate introduced this session, we're honored to be here to introduce our unanimous committee recommendation that the town of East Hampton consider drafting and adopting what is known as a tree protection ordinance. Um, and I recognize my colleagues here today. Next slide, please. Um, so for warm-up, just a bit of tree inspo. You don't get to see uh Thoro and Dr. in the same place, but they're speaking about the trees and their importance. Next slide, please. Okay, here's what we'll cover today. Um, a note, there are, as you probably saw, a lot of

082slides here as we wanted to create a document that would serve as a broader education and reference piece on the topic beyond this specific work session. Not to fear, I'm going to be focusing in depth on only a subset and scrolling through a lot very quickly that you can go back to. Next slide. Okay. Uh, oh, sorry. Let's start with the summary of how this recommendation has come about. Next slide. So, at the start of 2025, the sustainability committee identified quote sustainable land management as one of our core action focus areas. As part of that, we voted unanimously to bring forward a recommendation to the town board to consider adopting into the town code what is known as a pre tree protection ordinance um with the purpose of one sustaining the crucial benefits trees deliver

083to our community and ecosystem and two to address the increasing threats to and degradation of trees across the town. Next slide. Um we're not here today to deliver to you actual draft code. Instead, because a TPO is likely rather unfamiliar to many, our intent right now is to build a solid understanding with the board, key stakeholders in the public of the purpose of TPOS's, how they're structured, implemented, um how to establish what we believe um and to establish what we see to be a compelling quote proof of need for a TPO in East Hampton Town. If the board should agree to move forward with this initiative at another time, we would want to come uh forward with more specific framework and codes. >> You can slow down a little. >> I know. I want Thank

084you. >> Not three minutes. Take a breath. >> Um anyway, with respect to critical need, myriad threats to trees are mounting here in East Hampton, as elsewhere. Even as the need to sustain trees grows more urgent and as science makes very clear the many essential and existential benefits of trees to health, safety and well-being of a community. Um, we also hear a lot of concern I think. Are we on this? >> Just advance one slide in. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, just >> great. >> Okay, great. Um, we hear a lot of concern from residents. I imagine you do too about uh tree issues and need for tree protection. Um, studying the entire suite of our existing town codes related to clearing and natural resources protection, we've identified a material gap. First, there's nothing in

085place that requires review or precludes anyone from cutting down individual or groups of valuable trees across properties. And two, the ability to hold violators accountable to current codes related to clearing and trees appears to be slim to none. Next slide, please. Um over the past six months, the sustainability committee has done extensive research about trees, has evaluated many actual TPOs in place across other municipalities. We've studied their purpose, value, their array of components, what makes for an effective TPO and also we've looked at what can undermine their efficacy, um and importantly how TPOS's are resourced and enforced. And by the way, I don't really get into the resourcing issues here, but it will be a very important conversation to have um if if we continue this dialogue. Next slide, please. Um in recent decades, the

086purpose of tree protection has evolved. It's expanded from singular lens of quote beautifification to a very full spectrum aesthetic, social, economic, environmental benefits and ecosystem services. Importantly, there is a much greater understanding now of how accelerating and indiscriminate tree destruction can create many risks and negative outcomes for a place. Next slide. So, here's what the research consistently identifies as the crucial benefits of trees from their canopy spread all the way down to their root systems and the microbial fungal communities they sustain. I'll go through these quickly because these are important to always keep in mind. So there's air quality improvement, water quality protection, uh climate benefits, ecosystem preservation, erosion control, flood mitigation, wind force dissipation, quality of life and well-being benefits. Again, aesthetic value, and there are economic benefits as well. Next slide. I'm going

087to skip this next one as well. Next slide. Okay, so just wrapping up this intro section. Here's a very short general definition of a TPO. Tree protection ordinances are municipal bylaws enacted by local governments to protect trees and other important vegetation by regulating and/or requiring permit for certain tree related activities and setting required replanting standards commensurate to tree loss. Next slide. Okay. So, um a tree protection ordinance, they're they're generally written to coordinate with or support other existing codes. They establish municipal protection um over trees on both public lands as well as on private property. Um they their purpose and their intent is to prevent the loss and destruction or undue harm of trees, assure restoration of trees if they've been properly removed, sustain and enhance the benefits of trees, prioritize native and keystone species,

088and importantly to prevent excessive monocultures. I know you see them all around town. And to ensure overall that development comports with a place's land use goals. Next slide. I'm going to slip this slide. Yeah, thank you. Um, you're ahead of me. Thank you. Um, no, you can. Yeah, perfect. Okay, so moving on. I just want to focus on East Hampton specific context and the existing conditions we see in town underlying this proposal. Next slide. Look, the top concern we hear consistency from consistently from residents is about loss of trees related to development or certain landscaping practices. I'm not calling out everyone. There's just certain things that come up that people see. and also what appears often to be clear-cutting or what people consider over clearing. In particular, we hear mounting concern among residents about some

089some who appear to exploit or evade what code protections we do have and a sense that some just quote get away with it without proper accountability. The natural resources department has indicated that penalties related to improper clearing are not sufficient and has also observed that they're often nullified when issues get to justice court. Next slide. So trees are all hot topic conversation. Here's a couple excerpts from some uh things in the paper um recently. One highlighting the concept that clear cutting has reached an unsafe tipping point. the other highlighting a poor mindset of many who seem to view trees as quote disposable. There's links, by the way, everything in this presentation is linked. Next slide. Um because there's no code in place that establishes a process to assess or permit individual tree protection. More mature

090trees are often removed to make way for expanded amenities, even if they're a viable alternatives. Next slide. And again, for your future reference, um, here are links to just a few other recent examples of tree concerns examined in the local news. You've probably read some of these already. Next slide. Okay. Um, trees in East Hampton we find are being threatened by many dynamics. Um, we estimate nearly twothirds of the land in East Hampton is subject to development and clearing of trees. And a 100% of our land is susceptible now to natural risks to trees like disease, pests, aggressive deer browsing. Okay, here are the big factors um we've identified as clear and present dangers to East Hampton trees. Increasing coverages, ongoing subdivisions, increased commercialization of residential neighborhoods, um right-of-way um tree risk caused by some

091of the bigger, lengthier construction projects. something we've talked have already talked about proper improper incursion by property owners into the right of ways. Now this is an interesting one. We have increasing size of the new IIA septic systems um fields. We have drain fields that are getting bigger and solar installations. All very good things but they do and can require significantly greater loss of trees and create areas that cannot be reveated. Next slide. Um, also there's an incorrect belief that trees should be cut down proactively to prepare for storms again diseases, pests, invasion of invasives, deer excessive deer brows. Um, there's very aggressive marketing of monocultures and creating misguided mindsets and finally widespread allowance for preexisting non-conforming 100% clearing that exists in this town. Next slide. So, this is a conversation more broadly for another

092time, but um you know, pre-existing did I Yeah, sorry. Um Oh, sorry. So, following up on that last bullet, we estimate at least 30% of all residential partials in town allow for perpetual 100% pre-existing non-conforming clearing and that there is another material percentage of lots that have perpetual pre-existing clearing that exceeds current code allowances. Next slide. Here's just two examples of a constant trend we see in sale listings that push pre-existing 100% clearing status as a big plus. You can see the ads show the existing vegetation and then they manipulate the uh the the aerial to wipe out all the trees to uh you know kind of push that as a good idea. Next slide board. We know you're all familiar um with the presentation Andy Gates gave in 2023 dealing with the significant challenges

093impacting the town's woodlands and we factored his information into our analysis as well for the recommendation. Next slide. So all in, we see the pressing need to enhance our town code in a way that provides the utmost protection of native, ecologically valuable and culturally significant trees and ensures species diversity across all property and to address the proof of need in our advisory capacity. We think a TPO is the best way to address these imperatives. Next slide. So speaking of town code, in this section we've gathered all the existing what we find we think are the existing and related relevant East Hampton town codes in one place. For time's sake, we're not going through all of them, but we'll just highlight some observations here briefly. Next page. Okay. The town code um actually let's skip this

094one. Next slide. All right. So let's start with our unique town code defining clearing pictured and linked here. Most important to understand is that if you maintain trees on your property, but you remove some or all of the understory, then those areas beneath the trees are considered and documented as fully cleared. On the other hand, so on one hand, we la the rigor of this definition. It's pretty cool, but on the other hand, it creates an unintended consequence. It means that in many instances, cutting down trees above this area that's already considered clear doesn't actually increase your documented clearing percentage relative to the maximum allowed. So, it kind of undermines the incentive to keep the trees for many people. Next slide. Um, aside from clearing, here's somewhat the broad town definition of reveation. It reads

095a little more like a suggestion rather than a tangible framework for restoration. Next slide. There's also on the books chapter 234, vegetation protection ordinance, which appears outdated, lacking important elements like material accountability, and it has no it establishes no jurisdiction related to private property. Next slide. Now, the town does have multiple relevant code sections that though they don't protect trees directly, we think they provide valuable context and a strong basis for a TPO. These include, of course, aside from the comprehensive plan, the purposes of zoning and the codified coverage ratios and clearing ratio formulas. Next slide. As you recall, 25511 was updated not that long ago and enhanced with uh resilience and sustainability emphasis. And here are some multiple sections um that have been added that we also believe do and could support and enable

096a TPO. Next slide. Okay. Uh this is important too. The slide summarizes the crucial as of right maximum clearing ratios relative to lot size. Um in summary, it's important to note that per this code and our town lot size distribution, 37% of all residential lots in town potentially can be cleared between 75% and up to 100% of the entire lot. That makes for some very significant amount of over overall allowable clearing and potential loss of trees. Um, next slide. We're going to skip the next one. Skip that. Thank you. Um, okay. So, the last part of this code section is the natural resources protection, which is the subject of two chapters, chapter 180 and 255. This code enumerates crucial benefits of natural resources to the town, residents, and ecosystem. It delineates all types of natural

097resources and natural features that the code finds important. And these codes codes grant certain natural resources oversight to jurisdiction of the zoning board especially through the natural resources special permit. Next slide. So in these code section in the in these code sections we find another critical gap. 180 makes clear that quote woodlands and large trees as well as unique plants and trees are to be viewed as essential natural resources and that their quote stewardship preserving protecting and conserving is supposed to be ensured through well resource tracking and oversight. However, next slide. Though the woodlands and trees are delineated as important in 180, they are left out of chapter 255 sections about protection of natural resources. A gap that we recommend be addressed and again suggest suggest that a TPO would be essential here. Okay, so

098wrapping up this code in totality, East Hampton Town has multiple important codes but still a very significant gap tree protection. All right, next slide. Um, I'm going to go through I'm going to leave this to you to to go through as well, but I just delve a bit more substantively into the mechanics of TPOS's. Um, so TPOS's uh obviously they they can codify what activities are restricted or prohibited completely, what can take place without overview and what can take place only with a required permit. They very flexible. They come in many forms, but mostly they generally all um deal with or bring into the code regulation by a lot a combination of all these elements. So I'm not going to read them all, but they can regulate by tree size, by age of trees, by

099various tree parts, by different tree species, by the location of the trees, by the quantity in certain areas during different time periods, by other types of significance, by tree related actions, by replanting, and by exemptions. I'm going to leave this. I think this is an important slide to come back to if you want to dig into this more. Next slide. Um we found in a lot of research reading a lot of papers and and documents tposs are legitimate legal and enforceable and when properly crafted are shown to be effective in sustaining tree car character and tree diversity. Now, opposition or push back can arise um even though they're legal and enforceable um from some potentially developers or those who insist upon completely unfettered property rights. Um so, education of the community is crucial for support

100and adoption. And importantly, TPOS can fail if they do not align with other community values um or if they're undermined by exemptions and lack of enforcement. Next slide. I'm skip this next slide. Okay. Um and so uh I'm sorry I'm I'm skipping this slide too. Thank you. Okay. So based on all our research, the most balanced and effective TPOS as I said are written to accomplish specific objectives. Um they're they have to be developed via a clear and sometimes lengthy and transparent process. The mitigation required for tree removal must be set proportional to the tangible environmental impact of the loss of trees. Um they need to be applied equitably enforced evenly have meaningful penalties and this again the dedicated resources necessary for effective administration cannot be uh under under. Okay. So, um, a TPO, so

101it's essential, um, but without strong community education and mindset evolution, it'll be hard to change destructive or careless behaviors. And I I think the sustainability committee knows and you you all know that luckily we have important citizen groups that we believe will join us in support to educate and advocate for this initiative. Okay? And then I'm going to skip through this pretty quickly just so we can get to any conversation. So this is the last section. Um we provide we provide in this section a quick overview of TPO growth and trends national, state, local. Next slide. Um you know these have been around in the 20th century since the beginning of the 20th century. About half of US communities are estimated to have code that provides for tree protection. Next slide. Um this is from

102a paper that's linked here. You can this shows a big inflection point around 2000 in the number of TPOs adopted by municipalities across the US and the trend towards setting minimum tree size thresholds. Next slide. Um she one of the most important uh trends has been the extension of TPO jurisdiction from just municipal and public land to encompass private property. Um, and many existing uh codes that have been in place for a long time, the municipalities are now again improving them and trying to strengthen them and add to them. Next slide. Um, by the way, there's been a New York State enabling law since 1987 empowering all municipalities to adopt and enforce local codes that protract protect trees. It's still in in effect. Um, next slide. I'm sorry I'm not hearing you well. Um, there's

103also a recent research poll that says that about 70% of all New York State municipalities have adopted some form of tree protection ordinance. Next slide. So, East Hampton appears to be in a bit of a minority, but I will admit the South Fork overall based on our research has been weak regarding TPOS's. Um, however, there's recent South Fork activity that shows increasing desire for codified tree protection. There's been an adoption not that long ago in North Haven. Sag Harbor Village you probably read about and Southampton Town is in the midst of drafting some form probably for their larger lots. Next slide. Um leave you to explore these links if you want. Um okay so we're working on a comp sorry next slide. Oh there it is. I'm sorry looking at the wrong thing. We're working

104on a comparison of TPO codes um that establish of TPO codes that are out there um that cover both public and privately owned parcels across 30 New York State municipalities. Um this benchmarking will supply to you when we're done and I think it will provide great ideas and alternatives to consider though it's clear whatever we do has to be tailored to East Hampton's unique circumstances uh the the stakeholders in the town and resources. Next slide. So done closing out. In summary, the sustainability committee represent recommends beginning the process for the creation and adoption of a meaningful TPO. We assert to you the need for tree protection is proven and the benefits are likely to be meaningful and this committee seeks support from the town board to continue this dialogue and initiate a formal drafting process

105for a TPO framework. Thank you. And then there's an index an appendex that have lots of learning links and links to some of the codes. So that's it for notes. >> Yeah. So I just want to acknowledge all the work that uh this obviously that everyone's done on this presentation. It's it's an encyclopedia of information. It's a lot to absorb. I I encourage folks uh in the community and and across here. And I I think also I'd like to bring this to town departments. I know natural resources has been in this but uh bringing this uh idea but for me um you know looking at the list of communities that have tree protection codes it certainly is something that we can take a hard look at and I believe we should continue to take a

106hard look at um and further these presentations uh and I support this process um we have uh we've learned so much um from when our clearing code was written, you know, and and and Len will tell me um that I have to understand also how important the leaves on the ground are as well to to our ecosystem. And I don't don't dispute that. But just for context, when our clearing regulations uh are are very restrictive um and the unintended consequence of that restrictedness where if you rake leaves that area if you rake leaves out from under your trees that's considered cleared and now those trees can be taken down without increasing any type of clearing. So while when we wrote these clearing registration uh regulations past boards had the best intentions and we're trying to

107do what now I think in a targeted approach would be a a better way to do it. um it does have this in unintended consequence and uh that's really I just again just want to acknowledge all the work that went into it into this hard look by this committee and just please take a look at all the communities on Long Island that have tree protection codes. We're certainly not uh blazing a trail that's well that's a bad terminology. We're certainly not looking at things uh that haven't already been assessed and adopted in many other places. That's it from me. >> Do other members of the sustainability committee want to address the board on presentation. >> Len I'm Leonard Green. I'm a member of the sustainability committee and I'm East Hampton resident for the last 30

108years. I I'll be brief because Jane has been very encyclopedic I think and very thorough. Um but I just want to say that trees are a community resource. Um and we need to treat them as such. That is um I think it's um you know as I walk around I see every day every day when I take my walks trees that have been taken down for reasons that are hard to understand. Um, I see often properties that are literally clear-cut despite the fact that we have protections u um that should prevent that. So, um I think it's imperative that we recognize the importance of trees in the sustainability of our um well for biodiversity, for hydrarology, for um the health of our aquifer. Um that these are not simply disposable objects. um that should be

109left at to the whim of individual choice and decision. So um that's all I have to say. I really deeply appreciate your uh taking time to consider this and hope that we'll be able to move forward. >> Thank you, Len. >> Welcome. >> Hello. Marjorie Spitz and I just want to remind everybody because there's a lot of technical information here and I'm yes ending everything that's already been said but this the beauty of the trees and it's so hot right just think about what it feels like when there's no trees there's no shade you know on a hot day in our communities here and the community needs to understand I I I'm a bit of a halana I tend to believe that a lot of people just don't understand what they're doing when they're clearing

110those trees. They're trying to make their property what they think is beautiful, but they might not understand that what they're doing is they're taking away what part of this community is about and the beauty of this community. So just implore the you know the board here to to think about what's been said to continue this conversation ask any questions um and recognize the impact on the environment and to tweak some of the language so that the unintended consequences don't become consequences that we cannot reverse given what's going on the climate. Thank you. >> Thank you. I think an underlying theme in Jane's presentation in all of today's presentations also um Len and Marjorie both said the words community and we've heard today from um family services which just does so much amazing work in our

111community. the Springs Food Pantry, which one of the board members uh agreed with the the presenter saying that it does take a village. It is about community. And one of the things that we do is look at what is the greater good because we're not just a collection of or we're not just individuals living in our own thftdom in our own property in our own world. What we do as individuals makes a difference for the entire community. So, yes, it is. What can we do on our properties? But just as you're not going to let me dig a a sand mine on my property, nor and destroy it, nor should I be allowed to clearcut my property and destroy another valuable benefit for not just me, but for my community. And when I wake up

112in the morning, I listen to how many birds do I hear? I turn on my Merlin app and there are fewer and fewer birds that we hear. That is directly related to the habitat to the resources that we provide on our properties. And there is the phrase the canary and the coal mine. Well, we don't have coal mines here, I think. Probably not canaries either, but it's all tied together. One of the things that we we have this uh Friday afternoon, 2 to 3:00 p.m. at Windmill Village in the Rewild Community Garden is a talk about the mental health benefits of gardens in nature. And that's one of the things we've seen with the high school students this summer is we're out in nature surrounded by trees and people put away their their cell phones.

113They're not here. They're here together in community celebrating the nature that we have here in East Hampton. And it's all important and it's up to us as a community to work with our individuals to really continue to build community. Thank you. Thank you, Gloria. >> Okay, board members, do we want to discuss the presentation? Since I rarely do I go on the early end of things already. I'm gonna take take a chance. Go in. >> Uh I mean look, I think that everybody is going to agree that this is well I I think this is a very important conversation to have and I'm happy we're having it. I think this is definitely a preliminary step of just acknowledging that trees are important. I think that the good news is is that almost everybody will agree

114whether you're a developer, a a naturalist. I think everybody loves trees. And I think that particularly in East Hampton, we're all drawn here to the natural beauty of, you know, our beaches, our trails, our forests. Um, so that's very very big picture. I think that the specifics are going to be very very important here. Um, and so it's hard to say, you know, what that'll look like in the end. I know there's a lot of reference here. I looked through some of it, but not all of the links that you had and what other, you know, TPOS look like and how. I think the the most important thing is that the whatever eventual um legislation might pass that it's clear, interpretable, and enforceable. I think that the worst case scenario is when is if we

115were to create something that, you know, sort of the the worst examples of people who are are developing, you know, town land take advantage of and still get to do whatever they want and then, you know, other people are sort of bound by difficult and, you know, tedious regulations. I'm not saying that that would happen but that is the that's the biggest risk I think is that we don't address the need we we create unnecessary hurdles for particular people and other people are able to do whatever they want which frankly I think is a situation we have um you know in certain cases already one thing that I'll say I mentioned it in my leazison report maybe a month ago I think that the rightway protection is just absolute no-brainer to me and I don't

116know if that's part of this or a separate thing but the idea that people are cutting down trees or destroying any vegetation that's not on their property is absurd. And I think that having that, you know, delineated when people are doing projects is something we could move forward on. That's a very simple thing. I think that would have little push back, but people currently are clearing the right away and then maybe planting a couple of non-native trees or something and that's that's certainly not appropriate. Um so I just think that the the balance here is going to be important you know and just to highlight some other but to play devil's advocate or to make sure that we look at the other side or the concerns I think you know we also want to encourage

117water quality so you know you mentioned in here septic systems that might take a bigger leion field how do we strike the balance and make sure that we don't have two separate pieces of legislation or policies that contradict each other and end up making it very difficult to get things you know get things done. Um, I also think it's going to be important to balance the the the longer term planning goals. You know, I think protecting mature trees is important because we all see them and they're important to our our daily lives, but I also think that in the, you know, in the planning process, we want to look longer term and and trees are living things that that die. So, you know, I think there's a balance in protecting trees and what currently exists,

118but making sure that we don't do that at the expense of sound planning. for example, having a driveway that isn't a dangerous place because there was one tree there. I think that uh and how we strike that balance, I don't know. Um, you know, I'll lean on you guys a lot for what gets proposed. I just want to make >> deal with striking that balance. >> Yeah. Yeah. I just just want to make sure that we all understand because it's easy, I think, to um look, this is a very feel-good conversation. I don't think you're going to get a lot of push back if anybody says, "I hate trees. Cut them all down." Um uh that said, I think that you know everybody on this board was supportive of of protecting trees and nature generally,

119but we all I think in certain cases agree that clearing is okay for particular, you know, reasons. And so again, this the specifics of of how we strike that balance is going to be really really important to me and making sure that whatever legislation moves forward that it it it isn't just a feel-good thing that we're achieving a real concrete goal and and recognizing and maintaining a process that is smooth and efficient and works for people because you know I'll say personally and I think everybody's probably been involved in some sort of you know permitting situation or bure bureaucracy situation where it just didn't make sense and it seemed like it was much more difficult to do what you were trying to do when there wasn't a real problem. And so I just want to,

120you know, again balance those two things by making sure we're achieving a real goal and that the process for people on the other side for property owners or whoever also makes sense and is still efficient and and doable. So I I commend you for bringing this to us. I think that this is going to be you acknowledge there's going to be some um opposition. I'm sure that there will, but I think >> or at least debate, right? >> Yeah. I think this is exactly the kind of conversation that we as a town, as a board need to have and we need to be appreciative that it's going to be complicated and difficult and that's all the more reason, I think, to dive in and do it. >> Thank you, Ian. Tom, David, I don't know

121who wants to go next. >> Um, yeah, look, I I I echo Ian's comments here. I think preservation of our trees is, as I think Len called out, it's more than just the trees. is water quality. It goes down to the soils. It goes down to myelium. It's a they're a huge asset and we have to maintain them. Um I I think to me this falls under a kind of a bigger picture of overall land management, you know, and and you know, for this to move forward for me, I would like to see it be done by conjunction by our land management departments, our natural resources department, our planning department and other departments too that will have kind of in in you know integration here because you know we're going to have a presentation later

122today. Ian kind of hinted it a bit, but you know, managing land, be it on public or private lands, is is critical. Um, you know, unfortunately, we see through climate change or other factors invasives coming in, destroying entire forests. Um, you know, we see invasive trees coming in. Um, you know, we have a crop of tree of heaven trees out there. Like, we want them gone as soon as possible. um you know so I think you know understanding um how this is done in the right way really needs to make sure it's touching all those relevant departments within the town department within the town itself um you know I I know um our fire marshall's office we're working on doing a presentation on you know what is appropriate clearing for defensible space on people's properties

123in terms of fire management and fire risks and you know I we we have a very different climate here to the west coast they've got a more aggressive policy on that there but A lot of what they kind of put out there in terms of what's the safe thing to do is is right and it's challenging and when we talk about the leaves on the ground you will hear diverging voices on that from fire chiefs who say I want those away from the property to you know the more environmental bent who might say no that's habitat and we have to preserve that at all costs we have to find that right balance as a board and I think that's another reason why like look something like this to move forward really does need to be

124coming from our internal departments to make it happen. Um, with that said, I think like look, as I kind of points out, go back big picture. What is this community all about? It is about the confluence of our tourism and our environment. And you know, whatever industry you're in, be it building, be it retail, um, you name it. Your overall well-being is based on having a solid tourist industry and a solid environment out here that supports that. And I think, you know, ensuring we have a healthy forest out there is key. and I think on people's properties as well as much as we can. It's just finding that right balance and I think it will be challenging and communication is going to be key. >> Yeah. >> So there's a lot to unpack here and

125what I think I I'll recommend to the residents that might be watching and might be catching the brief overview that you did and I appreciate that um is to go online into the meeting documents. There's a lot of information in here that will elicit debate and discussion on there. So before you elicit and just send remarks in, let's try to see why these recommendations came this way in the very logical. >> That's why we get it all down in >> completely. I'm not speaking to you. I'm speaking actually to the audience on there. And also and that that just means go read this first and then come back and we'll discuss it even more debate. I think it's more discussion. >> Um couple things on here I think that I want to mention here then

126too. Um I I don't like when I hear that things are just being nullified in court than to you know if it's something about being penalized and make sure our penalties are up to the action. That's an easier thing and I think that's something that could be accomplished if this doesn't even move forward that should move forward on there. >> Um one of the things I don't believe that this uh tree protection is increasing the commercialization due to short-term rentals. I think that's a separate discussion point on there. Um, third one on here. I think we also have to discuss assessive deer brows if you're replanting and a lot of the a lot of the species that we actually recommend uh are not deer proof anymore out here and too. So, I think we have

127to have that discussion. That comes a little bit to what the wildlife management committee has done recently. The deer exlosures. Those are a couple hectares on on shelter island. We're now doing that also up in uh Grassy Hollow Preserve. And maybe we bring that back to a discussion land manage the other departments to discuss also then too because if there's excessive deer brows on there we lose our unders story right now. And I'm going be very honest there is an abundance overabundance of deer out here where I don't believe it's in balance right now. And that negatively affects our uh understories and our seed bankanks too and how they want to try to regenerate but unfortunately we can't get that all back then too. >> So they can't take the epidemic. Oh no. Listen, >>

128my legs are itching right now. >> And I will say just for everyone who wants to know, you know, that is, you know, how to effectively manage ticks and deer populations. That is a tough conversation happening both in the wildlife management committee and the tick advisory committee. So it's it's forthcoming. >> Thank you. >> No wor no worries. Um I would probably prefer uh I mean there might be two sections of state law here. uh I know uh effectiveness of uh uh the tree protections ordinances but also there's no other state laws that actually govern what's in our municipal rightaways. It might be uh prudent of us to pull that out of this as we move forward since there might be more consensive to uh to work with the critical root zone protection and that

129that might be an option for us to to effectuate something almost more immediate as as this discussion continues going on. Um enforcement You're correct. >> It needs to be done more and I think a lot of that actually will come with uh um bringing in our departments that have the enforcement u prerequisites or allowances and uh have more uh educational components to that then too. I think as a town board and the supervisor always the states and we want to train our our our staff always more to do their jobs not even just better but effectively and this might be a portion of it also. Um, lastly, I just had a couple things flagged on here then, too. Um, that was enforcement also. Uh, to me it I've been trying to work on clawing back

130the town's farmlands. >> A lot of pre-existing non-conforming in the area of the lanes might be old dairy farms or such. And two, that we're never going to claw back a working farm in the lanes. So, there's ways we want to look at pre-existing non-conforming clearing. I think we have to look at the opportunity sites where we could pull back agriculture into the township for uh uh for lands such as what we've done recently and try to get those a lands working. Now, if a lands are there and trees grow up because they've been uh u not used for years and I wouldn't want to penalize trying to pull back a lands because trees have grown up. Most all of East Hampton was deforested at one time. It was one of the national commodities that

131we had here during the colonial days and wood was actually shipped away to New England from East Hampton on here. Uh but I understand that we have not as much old growth lands but new growth being 100 years old which is still things we need to protect with those eye glands. I wouldn't want to make I wouldn't want to make sure if we were to decrease potential areas for pre-existing non-conforming clearing locations on there because they were a glands in the in the past. I want to make sure that we don't inhibit trying to claw back and bring them back as usable a lands in the future. Uh so as this discussion moves forward that would be one of the things I I would recommend to whatever the working group is going to be. Another

132one is our open vistas. Open vistas are in the town code. There's open vistas for the springs historical district many of our historical districts and a lot of vistas on the way that they are supposed to look to our waterways. that was attempted I believe in 2011 or maybe even earlier on Bluff Road. Some of the areas that are also on u on Old Stone Highway, Springs Fireplace Road is called out uh as far as sighting of building structures, fences, walls, but also how does it allow for one of the things I I enjoy the most is being able to look at an open vista, but at the same time work within this potential code. Also, I like seeing the water. I remember one time when we were able to see the water from Montalk

133Highway down to the high down down to the beach from here. Good luck on that anymore. Same thing as I also don't really care for a monolithic line of evergreens and two that to me is just too easy on there and I don't think people have recognized how hard it is to maintain eventually then too because they're done for the easy sale. Sorry I've gone long here. Uh but overall I think this is well worth looking further into it. But there's caveats I think we have to be very careful on uh on and look at a little bit more intensely as this this potentially moves forward. So just laying it all out there then too. Uh I I appreciate this particularly the work that went into it. I do think there's other things we have

134to be mindful of and other viewpoints on there. But for myself I would like to continue looking at this. there certain things maybe pull out and certain things maybe add into our long-term look. >> Thank you. >> And thank you to you all. >> So, it sounds like I'm looking at page 56. So, it sounds like we've got [Laughter] >> the board is >> I am who I am. >> The board is in agreement that we want to we want to move forward with a tree protection ordinance. Right. So, your last bullet says you're going to come back with uh or I'm asking I'm assuming your your next step then would be to come back with the process on how you want to draft it. If it's going to be one suite or you're breaking

135it down into into pieces or, you know, buckets. >> Yeah. I'd like to see um in regards to that and to be able to to look at what uh again so many municipalities on Long Island that have similar had farming have uh um a lot of wooded area have these codes. I'd like to see maybe some kind of chart that tells us what what each or which each local town I mean I don't know if it needs to be statewide certainly beginning Long Island wide what they've targeted right >> um so that we can have a comparison whenever we have a discussion of of what we're doing what other other places have done I think in that research we've done it before where we've always looked across municipalities to see how they're written um and

136how we can tweak that to be uh specific to our town. >> That's the benchmarking uh study of 30 that I so it'll literally be like a big chart and it'll all the different elements. It'll show what different places did and we'll characterize it relative to like >> yeah the international society of arborist there's a website that actually that had about 166 of them on there. um that and I I would uh I agree with uh colleagues I think specifically David to uh I think we can move on road rightways uh uh in in the in immediacy um and we can pull that out of the overall code uh because they are public lands and uh they're they're not private lands and well we do I mean we the sustainability committee came back to you

137a few months ago and pulled up that critical root zone um piece of code that was drafted and I think went to public hearing. So, you know, we would love to just see that. >> Yeah, we would have to public hear it again, but obviously >> hear it again. But, you know, that get that done. Sure. >> Um and then Yeah. Anything else? I know again hung on every word of your presentation, Councilman Lee, about the right of ways and you know what the board said. So, >> so I don't know if the the images in here were from East Hampton or they were stock photos. I mean, I think that >> half of them were here and then some of them were still. >> Yeah. Because I think we could also in the interim

138do a little, you know, social media campaign about the importance and benefits of trees and maybe invite folks to send in photos of beautiful trees in their neighborhood or on their property or on on town property that we could we could share. I think that would be helpful. And I think we also so there's an education component that could be done in parallel as well as um and I know this is near and dear to Lens's heart sustainable landscaping and I think you know right now on the website we have a list of you know native plants that we recommend that people use but it's um >> it's not an approachable list and I think it's something that we can be working on as you know and maybe that's something I've thought about putting in

139uh as a project for the 2026 budget where we can I don't know if it's a a pamphlet that has illustration that shows what the different plant species are, but something that makes it because they're native plants are beautiful and they're attractive and it's, you know, your yard doesn't have to be all hydrangeas. I mean, you just, you know, take a look at what's what's living here. Um, so I So, what's interesting to that, Kathy, is you've you're mind reading. Um, Len and I are working on an invitation uh to all of the uh nonprofit organizations that are that are have the expertise on uh putting together these pamphlets. Uh we were waiting for the season to be over with everyone so busy and taking a look at what we have as resources and reframing

140them in a digestible usable form. So, uh, that's that's something we, uh, Lynn and and I have been working on along with, uh, all of the organizations out there, Adwina Vangal and Jane Champ and Rec and the expertise to back up the concepts. >> Um, so, uh, I look forward to that that forum and I invite my colleagues also to attend that forum. I'm gonna hopefully bring staff into that as well even though it may be an evening >> an evening forum. >> And so, Madam Supervisor, um the one of the and to the board, right, that these TPOS are not just about stopping people from taking stuff down, right? Obviously, you're going to be able to have building envelopes and clearing and you know, there's a clearing code that has ratios that are if

141you can do an as of right, then you know, you can do it. But the other big part of these TPOs is when you do take down trees, what do you put in their place? Right. And to your point, it these these TPOs really get um much more educative to educational and more specific about if you take out this species, you know, you should be putting back a species of equal value. We can I'm not going to get into how that's calculated right now. Um, and so that is a really big part about, you know, how you replant, how you reveate and not having just the rows of, you know, the green soldiers one foot tall in a day, right? >> Okay. >> I think one one piece that's going to be interesting in all

142of this is like, look, we have projections of what climate change out here is likely to be. And al although at a centrade level it's not considered that high you know individually the impact that's going to have on our woodlands out here and the species that are currently dominant and what might come to supersede those is something most need to figure out >> and and we are already impacted. We're not looking at future impacts of southern pine beetle and and the dangers of wildfire because of that are present in our community now. I mean I put it on hold right now but there is some research developing that looks at you know as places warm so as the northern climates warm warm some of the native species you know may not able be able to

143adapt so a community also has to look at okay what's happening south or in warmer climates that may be the next so I didn't include it in this but you know we've started thinking a little about that so >> thank you >> okay I'm going to take all in what you said and you know we'll come back and continue the discussion. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you Jane. Thank you to the committee. >> Okay. I think the last topic we have is the make roof room for rescue campaign. >> Yes. Um thank you madam supervisor Amry. Thanks for bringing this up. So just some background to this. This um came to me by way of the fire commissioners across East Hampton Town. Um, basically there have been continued issues and reports of

144fire emergency vehicles not being able to access properties uh or being delayed in accessing properties. And you know, just want to take people through this is an educational program we're going to be putting out there. They're going to be two posters that you'll see posted around towns, post offices, delies, etc. that just kind of really emphasize what the key messaging is we're going to have on here. And I'm going to walk you through that kind of key messaging out here as we we get there too. So we just wait for that to come up and then we'll jump in. >> Um is it you don't see it on the screen? It's >> I can see it from here from the second from the right. >> Make room for rescue at the bottom. Amory. Yeah, >>

145I see it there. I'm just trying to get it. doesn't want to open. >> Wait, let me let me do this. >> Sorry, >> I can see your cursor now moving around. >> There you go. >> Perfect. >> Oh, there. Okay, >> great. So, this is an example of the poster you're going to see around town and it just kind of really highlights a few different messages on here that I'm going to take you through. Bruce, if you want to jump to the next slide. So, the first thing is why does this matter? Um, and I will speak from this both firsthand um, and anecdotally, but if we can't reach you, we can't save you. I I've been to fire calls where the ladder trucks have not been able to get out the driveway. So,

146they've had to have guys jump out, get a chainsaw up there, um, remove an offending limb that stops a ladder track being able to get into the property. Like, this is time. And that is property and potentially lives lost. Um, it can be an ambulance having difficulty getting down certain driveways because it's too narrow. Um, you know, we've said this throughout, you know, the building of the new medical center in Eastampton. Time is hard. Time is life. You have the the golden hour for heart attacks. You have the platinum minute for trauma cases. Like, the sooner we can get to you, the better off you are as an individual. Um, you know, if your driveway is too narrow, blocked, overgrown, it delays ambulances and fire trucks and police. Um so that that's why we're doing

147this. Next slide please. So what are the town code requirements? Uh the minimum driveway width per town code is 12 ft. Um that is based you know largely around these emergency vehicles. They can be up to that wide. Um and then the height requirement is for 13t 6 in. So um you know that's higher than you might think. If you drive around town you see some of our bridges. Um you know there's there's 9.9 ft and you're looking at like that's pretty high. it it's it's a significant height. So, it's worth kind of getting out there with with either yourself with your tape measure or with your landscaper out there and have a look what that height is because, you know, if a vehicle is catching up on a branch is kind of in that

148height area, it can't get to you. So, the height piece is something that's often overlooked. Um, additionally, keeping you know, driveways free of par cars, bins, and walls. You know, obviously some people park in their driveway, but you still need to kind of leave that access for the emergency personnel to get into your driveway, especially the longer it is. Um, fairly obvious one, but you know, if you have bridges, um, culverts over there, you know, they have to be constructed to support um, emergency vehicles adequately. Um, and then lastly on here is the turnaround requirement. So, for those of you who have driveways that exceed 500 ft or 152 m, you are required to have a turnaround in there for emergency vehicles. It varies. You can contact the fire marshall's office for exact dimensions of

149what those will need to be. The number to call is 631-329-3473 or you can email fires safety at eampington.gov. Next slide, please. So, just home checklist. What we would like you to be doing is measure your driveway width today. Trim any overhead branches that you might think be um obstructing access. Um you know if if there's um any wires that are low, please contact your service brides, be it PSCG, Optimum, have them come in um you know, explain to what the town code is. They know what it is. They need to get those wires up above those restrictive heights. Keep your path drive path clear at all times and maintain your turnaround as as possible. So, in terms of getting involved, as I said, you're going to see these flyers going out there, posters. We

150have a little social media campaign going as well. We're working with the fire districts uh and the fire marshall office to have a community driveway check day where, you know, someone from the fire department can come out to your property, have a look at it, just advise you if they see anything that's problematic. Uh you can also reach out to the fire marshall's office for that as well. Uh and then last slide here, just putting this out in for our Spanish speaking community as well. Um, you know, obviously, you know, if people don't speak uh English as a first language, we want to make sure this information is available to you or anyone who might be working on your property as well. And that's it for me. >> Great. Thank you, Tom. >> Yeah, Tom,

151I commend you for uh bringing this forward. Uh again, it's uh like a public service announcement to what's already in the code. Um I would also even say that I think the town should look at uh the code for the widths of the driveways uh knowing that uh apparatus are getting larger in the future. But uh this is something that everyone is it's only helping yourself if you make sure that you have this access and clear the way for uh emergency responders. So I thank you very much, Tom. >> Okay. >> Yeah, Tom, this is something that even when you're pulling in and out of your own driveway, you know, if you don't have the awareness of the size of of emergency vehicles, it's never going to be in your head. So this campaign for

152education on that, I think, is really important. I think it will save lives. >> Yeah, I agree. I've heard the same concerns from from fire departments and you know that this is a real issue. Of course, it's not an issue at all until it is and then it's too late. So, um I really appreciate the >> um public service announcement and I think we should get the word out there and hopefully people will listen and and and sometimes it's it's going to be a very minor change with a single tree limb or a single, you know, branch or something like that. So, um again, in the case of emergency, people need the space to access it. So, thank you, Tom. >> As I understand, there's a press release going out and you've got a social

153media campaign that you're working on with Patrick. So, thank you for bringing this to us. >> Just just one thing that one of the um members mentioned to me as well while we're doing this, just remind people on house numbers, too. It obviously relates to this that you know, as per town code, you are required to have uh house uh numbers on your property mailbox or outside your property. Uh the size needs to be at least 4 in in height with a minimum stroke width of half an inch in a contrasting color. Um just I mean that's just so critical that if the vehicles are driving down the road and they don't which number your house is, they honestly don't always know to get in there. So please do ensure you're doing that as well.

154>> Great. Thank you. All right, you're up again for >> Yes. Thank you. Um okay, so we will start off with human services. Um just a reminder to uh everyone, we're going to have the seniors lunch tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Amagansit. Um great looking forward to that and seeing everybody there. Um just what's been going on uh with our senior nutrition program. Um last week um sorry from the 2nd to the 5th we had 95 clients that we serve congregated meals to and for the grab and the go for the same dates we had 80 clients we gave meals to. Uh the senior center will be closed tomorrow, September 17th because of the senior nutrition program. Um, additionally going on November 6th, there is the East Hampton High School Health and

155Wellness Fair. Uh, on November 6th from 4 to 6 PM. The human services department will have a featured booth there. Please do feel free to stop by and understand some of the services we offer. Um, health tips, wellness fun, and meaningful connections. Uh, and then lastly for human services, just a reminder that there's a wellness 60 plus class at Ashwalk Hall beginning next week, Wednesday, September 24th with Kiong at 100 p.m. Um, as I kind of spoke to a little bit earlier today, uh, the fire marshall's office is going to be doing a work session upcoming on defensible spaces. Um, just to kind of find that balance for how people can protect their property within the laws of the code. Um, ADU implementation. Um we're looking to get uh the code proposed code changes in

156front of the planning board on the 24th of September meeting. Waiting to hear back on the planning department for that one. Um digitization. I'm working with all the department heads. An email went out just to understand you know property um uh data ownership of specific data points by department heads. Uh so we can kind of help work on our databases for that. East End fire commissioners. We have our next meeting Tuesday, November 26th, uh, at 7:00 p.m. This will be at the Sag Harbor Fire Department. Disabilities Advisory Board. We're meeting this Friday at 200 p.m. Wildlife Management Committee. Um, few things on the agenda for our upcoming meeting. Um, deer population is one. Uh, Suffach County has also now started allowing crossbow hunting on its land. Um, we'll be discussing that from the wildlife committee

157and what their recommendation is as to whether they would like to see that allowed on townlands as well. Business committee is meeting tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Emergency preparedness, just a reminder to people um that this is hurricane awareness month. Um, just few quick checklist things. Ensure you have a battery powered radio and fresh fresh batteries. Check your supply of flashlights, blankets, non-p perishable food, and bottled water. Create an emergency communications plan. Develop an evacuation plan. Check your cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Make sure you have cash available. Banks may be closed or inaccessible after a storm. Fill up your vehicle's fuel tank. Bring in unsecured objects and furniture from patios and balconies. Compile a list of emergency phone numbers, including, for example, PSCG. Um, discuss storm and lightning safety with your family. Um,

158and then, uh, if you need information on utilities, etc., You can follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook uh for updates before and during after the storm. Um tick control, we have a meeting this Friday at 4 p.m. Uh we will be discussing uh management strategies for tick um populations. Um it's going to cover a wider range of things from the four poster program to uh increased deer hunting and and donation of meat to food pantries. That's also going to kind of be happening with the wildlife committee too. Um, but just one thing to say to people right now out there, nymph ticks are hugely abundant. Please be very careful when you're out there. There are guidelines on the town website as to help protect yourself, but wear long pants, use peromethine. Uh, they are horrific.

159So, um, please be aware. Uh, lastly, there is a board meeting uh, tomorrow at 5:00 pm for the YMCA at which we'll be discussing the pickable CS. >> So, >> great. Thank you. I took one for the team and I visited uh Town Lane Park the other day and I am itching my legs right now. >> It's a banner year for them. >> So, thank you very much. I've done it did unbelievable did really really well all season long. But >> anyway, my own fault. So, um Miss Preserve committee met this past week. Uh we discussed a management plan for the three properties at the edge of Hog Creek. Uh that'll be coming forward to the town shortly. also working with Scott Wilson uh to further develop uh moving forward uh Town Lane Park and

160what was presented to the town bar board about the Sofur family foundation. Uh so we'll continue on those discussions just to let you know that's still moving. Um want to talk about the Monttok dredging that we talked about last week. uh in discussions with the Army Corps of Engineers uh and their contractor. We're still looking at the exact timing of the project uh and it might actually be pushed for about a month and then we're going to find that out and let the we'll let the fishing industry and the Coast Guard, everyone know once we get some more determinance on that. I also want to discuss everyone about the easements that were uh that were procured. uh uh myself working with internal working group. We procured the the the necessary easements in record time for

161the four properties. Uh once asked, Armory Court engineers gave us the notice to proceed on there at a time frame and the town board and the supervisor did not wait on those easements. They moved forward expeditiously and procure those easements unlike what other municipalities have been able to accomplish recently on their own Army Corps projects. I want to let everyone know that in Montalk we are continuing the work uh of the Carl Fischer House. We had a meeting recently with the Montalk Historical Society and doing some capital improvements to that historically uh locally historically landmark property which will include HVAC. It's going to be a large project. Uh the historical society is very happy with what the recommendations are. We'll bring that to the town board and we look forward to trying to get that

162out to bid and uh uh by the end of this calendar year. uh also. So I'll continue bringing that forward to everyone. I want to let everyone know that there was some uh drainage as we've heard from a drainage contract today that was in the areas of Uklid and South Yuri I think uh that there was some uh slumping in some of our drainage that has been fixed by the contractor uh patched and returned and hopefully the potholes are done and again if there's anything else that occurs we will get them fixed immediately. >> Yeah, thank you very much. >> No worries. Um, we're continue the work at the Westlake commercial dock. Um, again, it's another initiative of the town board to uh uh to upgrade our fishing uh commercial fishing facilities down there. I

163actually had a very nice meeting with one of the restauranters uh the son of the restauranteers that's running the restaurant and when we might look to maybe add a little more beautifification in that area. I'll bring that to the town board or see see what our availability is. But I thought it made made a lot of sense. Uh and uh anyway, I want to thank uh thank Christopher for that. Um also in downtown lawn talk, we're going to be moving on some ADA saw cutting. This is a process in which the the highway department has uh procured uh a contract that will actually saw cut um uh lips on on on sidewalks. So uh reducing trip hazards also then too uh that are out there in the particular specifically in in the downtown Malk area.

164Um, let's see here. Uh, I am not going to be here for this current Thursday. I have a family obligation that I will be leaving town tomorrow, but coming back late Thursday night then, too. So, uh, you guys have fun while I'm away. Um, but I do have some resolutions on uh I I already emailed the clerk's office that we dispersed. If you have any questions on resolutions, please let me know. One of them is going to be the hire Bob Hefner and also a contractor due to examination of the Henry Mitchell's home at the at the Dodge property. Again, uh we have IIA installations as uh as Gannie Corrosa mentioned today. One of them is at the Montalk substation. The reason why that's super important because that's a public bathroom. Also, I don't think

165everyone recognizes that uh uh the Montalk substation. The town board is continuously looking for opportunity sites uh to increase that public infrastructure there potentially for a new uh um multi-ep department station there. But right now it is extremely important to upgrade that public bathroom because it is one of the IIA system because it is one of the only public brooms in downtown Monto that is open year round. Uh that's all I have and if you have any questions you know please let me know. I'll be available. >> Thank you David. >> My pleasure. >> Yes. Uh I'm going to start off Jason if I could have the uh cleanup day slide put up. The litter action committee uh actually the town has designated the uh third Sunday the third Saturday in in September as uh

166cleanup day. East Hampton is again uh participating this year. It's a national cleanup day. It's actually international. And we're asking all residents, community groups, businesses, and schools to organize your own local cleanup. So, how it works is uh choose a road, beach, trail, or park, rally your group, and clean up anytime. Um, and also, please send us pictures uh of your uh of your cleanup, and we're happy to gather them uh on the uh on on the litter action committee's Instagram account. Um, thank you, Jason. Next one, we have another uh happening. Uh this is for uh the our uh Gloria mentioned it. Our compost and bin rain barrel sale. Again, this is a partnership, but East Hampton has the has provided the contract and this is offering discounts on compost bin and and rainbarrow

167sales. Also, there's a webinar um uh on Tuesday today between 6:00 and 7. You can go to real wildl long island.orgcompost to sign up. And you can save uh money by participating in our compost and barrel uh sale, rain barrel sale, the order online by Wednesday, September 24th, 2025. Um, everybody loves a bargain and there's certainly some good good discounts on backyard composting. It's 35% off and you can reduce waste, save money, feed your garden, conserve water, protect our bays. Win-win win-win. And there are compost coast uh coaches for support. Uh thank you Jason. The uh energy the sustainability committee met yesterday. Obviously uh this was the topic of that meeting in general. Also noting that in our code uh gas powered leaf blowers are allowed to be used as of the 15th. However, again,

168we note that this is not a time period where leaves are falling and would like to look at that schedule to make it more efficient for when we actually have uh fall leaves coming down. >> Is it the 15th or the 20th? >> It's the 15th, isn't it? >> Double check. >> But it's soon, but again, if you look outside, it's still beautiful and the leaves are still green and there's no leaves falling. Change Hampton uh is having an event in uh outside in our community pollinator garden at here at town hall on Saturday, September 20th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Uh there will be music, poetry, um a tour of the new Native Grassland Pollinator Gardens. The purpose of this event is to honor all that have contributed to this success of the garden

169in the meadows. This is the second year uh and it's uh doing beautifully and it's a great example of what you too can do. Um so please uh stop by tomorrow. Um I'm sorry, stop by Saturday, September 20th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Also for the New York State Grant um group, we have uh presentations that were on today of where we are in that process. And there will be a resolution on Thursday to hire the consulting team that the selection committee uh has recommended to the town board. And I believe for now that's all I have. >> Leaf blowers are the 21st. >> 21st. Didn't want to give out the false information. But again, I think we should take a look at that as there's no leaves coming down anywhere near September 21st. That's

170all I have. >> Thank you, Kate. Ian. Uh yes, the siding on the Parson's Blacksmith shop will be being replaced starting this week and that should be completed in November or as late as December. Uh excited to see that project go through. Um I think that's a lovely building in the heart of Springs. Um also in the heart of Springs, Springsfest, the second annual Springfest will take place on October 4th from 4 to 7:00 p.m. Um I don't know if anybody who was there last year, but there were a lot of people there, so I'm sure some people listening were there. It's a lovely event celebrating springs in a beautiful setting. I encourage everybody to go. Uh the spring CSC meets tonight at 700 p.m. at Ashwag Hall. Uh 700 p.m. Note that's a different

171start time than normal. Um normally it's at 6:00. So 7:00 p.m. tonight. And there will be a candidates forum with uh various candidates running for election in November uh election. Property Management Committee will meet tomorrow tomorrow uh Wednesday right in this room at 4:30 from 4:30 to 5:30. The main topic of conversation will be the management plan for the Osborne Homestead. I know we're going to have uh visitors from Wayne Scott, at least I expect to and and welcome all members of the public uh to help us craft that management plan before hopefully we bring it to this board in the near future uh for adoption. Uh, also just want to note Dave already mentioned this, but the Henry Mitchell home that's going to be um investigated further for just to look into the history

172there. Um, that sort of that idea came with with help from the property management committee. Bob Hefner did a a report implying that that probably is the Henry Mitchell House, but there's so many um layers that have been added, you know, after the fact that uh the property management committee recommended and I wholeheartedly support. I know Dave does as well to investigate to find out, you know, that that that may be a very important part of our history and if it is, we want to make sure that's preserved before we um go to RFP or or figure an end user for the Dodge property as a whole. Uh Community Housing Advisory Board will meet next Wednesday um on September 24th at 5:00 PM in the planning department conference room. Again, all members of the public

173are welcome to attend. excited to have the new housing director, Mark Morgan Perez, who's had a um busy first week. Excited to have him join and meet that board. And um that's all I have. >> Great. Thank you, Ian. Uh last week, Chief Sarlo, Captain Martin, Lieutenant Alvera, Town Administrator Becky Hansen, and I sat down with the superintendent from East Hampton Springs, Amigans, and Malkque to continue our discussions regarding the town school resource, the school resource officer program. Right now, we have one full-time SRO at the East Hampton High School and another full-time officer covering our feeder schools. Lieutenant Alvera oversees the program and also steps in directly supporting investigations, leading classroom programs, and working with school administrators on safety and security planning. This school year, Sergeant Nick Lloyd, a certified SRO, will also be

174working more regularly in our schools, strengthening the connection between students, staff, and our police department. I've also requested that another officer complete the required week-long training so that by the end of the year we will have five members of the department certified as school resource officers. At its core, our SRO program is about protecting our children and strengthening the bonds that keep our school safe. The program's work will continue to focus on teaching the DARE curriculum to fifth and sixth graders, supporting classroom learning with presentations in health and drivers education while working closely with school staff on behavioral, disciplinary, and safety matters, and addressing youth related investigations with care and professionalism. We understand how important it is for families and schools to feel supported by a visible police presence, and we are committed to providing

175that support. And just as important, our officers are there to build positive relationships with our young people, fostering trust and understanding that will carry beyond the classroom. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our children will always remain a top priority for the town. Uh yesterday afternoon, Patrick uh Becky and I were on the Long Island Railroad Strike Prepare preparations Zoom meeting. And in the in the middle of the Zoom meeting, we got word that the immediate threat of a Long Island Railroad strike has been delayed. The strike deadline has been pushed back by at least two months and possibly into the spring. For context, the town has more than two dozen staff members that rely on the Long Long Long Island Railroad to get to work. So, we had been making plans on how to

176accommodate staff schedules in the light in light of a strike. And then lastly, I just wanted to I had punted last week on my uh reporting out on my East Hampton Sag Harbor CAC. Uh we talk uh quite a bit sometimes about traffic and intersections and they were talking about the new bypass at Stephenhance Path, Cedar Street and Old Northwest. Um there was some reports that people are uh not stopping for the stop signs and there's also concern about the intersection of Aabonic and Collins where there's a three-way stop. So I've asked uh East Hampton Town Police Department to pull accident reports so we can look at the data. Um, we also talked about the the flooding that happens when we get these, you know, incredible rainstorms at Collins and North Main Street. We still

177have, you know, issues there. Um, and it realized that we had, it's been a while since we've gotten an update from the county on the county road reconstruction project. So, I reached out to county legislator Anne Welker to get an update and also to see when our town staff will be able to look at the engineering plans. Um, wanted to just touch base. One of the things we talked about and and I've heard from other community members, uh, particularly during the season is that Uber drivers were parking along the the town's rightway and were destroying the shoulder, leaving litter behind. Uh that is something uh Tom and I we've discussed at our public safety meetings and PD and the other agencies uh code enforcement and whatnot are well aware and have um you know kept

178their eyes on. Uh and then under the old business we talked about apparently a trash can was removed from North Main Street and that was by the convenience store and the reason uh that was done is it was really for the safety of our town staff. Parking a a garbage truck there was blocking um sight lines and it wasn't safe for our staff to be in and out there. So, the uh CAC has asked for um a garbage can to be located at right near 20 Fireplace Road that the Cheryl Dairy property that we purchased and closer to the senior center. So, I've relayed that to Steve O'Brien and he's going to look into that. The east that the CAC has adopted a highway along that stretch of Springs Fireplace Road. They go out religiously

179at least once a month. So, they know where the hot spots are for for trash and that's why they're they're requesting these two trash cans. And I think that's about all we covered uh in our East Hampton CIC. So, that is all I have for my liaison report. So, we can move on to resolutions. >> My pleasure to offer resolution 2025 1233. is to approve agreement with PCON Land Trust for mowing of CPF properties not to exceed $760 per year. >> Second. All in favor? >> I have resolution 1234 which is to uh support the uh justice town justice court uh for applying for funds from the justice court assistance program for the 2025 2026 cycle. I resolve that the board of the town of East Hampton authorizes the town uh East Hampton Town Kirk

180to apply for JCAP grant in the 202526 grant cycle of up to $30,000. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Resolution 1235 is to accept security and undertaking uh at Third Street Invesco LLC urban renewal parcel 17 and SP uh 2-1. Uh and this is resolved the undertaking with the following security are hereby accepted by the town. Again, this is uh Third Street Invesco LLC. Uh the location of the property is 83rd Street in Springs and the security is $16,500. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Resolution 1236 is approval of various special events for September 2025. >> Second. >> Uh just discussion. I think we should just there's a couple of big ones that I think it's the Lawrence uh recently. >> Okay. So, uh I'll just run through them all. Uh it's the

181arts just for us, the arts at Duck Creek. Uh that's for the 2025 music series. Uh Zo Abidea Trio. Uh this will take place on uh Saturday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rain date is the next day. Uh, the East Hampton Union Free School will hold their East Hampton High School homecoming at the Honorable Fred W. Theel Jr. recreation facility at Steven Hance Path on uh Friday uh September 26th, 2025 from 400 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Uh the US the bicycle shows us God's love we deliver uh will uh their this is their uh ride to MTOK starting in Bridgeampton, New York throughout East Hampton and ending at Montalk County Park third house Saturday September 27th 10:00 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. And lastly, the Mighty Man triathlon swim bike run yearly event is starting at

182Lion Soccer Field and the parking area on South Erie Avenue through various town roads ending at Lion Soccerfield Sunday, September 28th. Uh this will take place at uh from uh early in the morning at 6:50 to 12:30 p.m. and the setups the day before. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I like to table resolution 1237. Uh, I'm going to move that on Thursday just for the sake of of tracking and and it'll be easier to notice that public hearing. >> Second. Yes, sir. >> All in favor? >> I uh resolution 1238. This is to establish a leave bank share time for a town employee. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I have one walk-on resolution. It's ID and this is to terminate probationary employee. >> Second. >> All in favor? >>

183I. >> Okay. So, those are the resolutions we have for today. So, do I have a motion to go into exact session? >> Yes. I'd like to make a motion to go into executive session for CPF, personnel, real estate, litigation, and contracts. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Uh, since we have a hard stop tonight at five o'clock, could we do 2:15? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Is that good for everybody? Works for me. Okay. Send 210. >> All right. Thank you, LTV. >> Thank you. And you are