Town of East Hampton
Town Council Public Hearing
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
East Hampton High School Auditorium
Minutes
Present: Chairperson Melissa Engel, Vice Chairman John Tuttle and Council Members Thomas Cordeiro, Christopher Goff, Barbara Moore and Susan Weintraub. Also present were Interim Town Manager Robert Drewry, Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
Not Present: Council Member William Devine
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: Chairperson Engel called the Public Hearing to order at 6:00 p.m. in the East Hampton High School Auditorium.
Public Hearing – Amendment to Chapter 109 of the Town of East Hampton Ordinances to Abolish the Position of Chief of Police and to Restructure the Police Department:
William Marshall, 6 Fairlawn Avenue, strongly disagrees with the ordinance change and supports the Chief. He discussed the petition drive that will begin if the ordinance change is approved.
Laurie Wasilewski, Hog Hill Road, commented on a conflict of interest for Ms. Engel and Mr. Tuttle to participate in the ordinance vote as they are named in a lawsuit by Chief Reimondo. She opposes the ordinance change and feels the police department needs more funding.
Angela Sarahina, 37 Old Middletown Avenue, commented that she supports Councilor Weintraub and is against the ordinance change.
Mike Bloch, 31 Cone Road, reviewed the Colchester Task Force report that he provided to the Council and discussed the budget.
Richard Walker, 69 Collie Brook Road, discussed newspaper articles and the Josh Piteo Show and commented on the petition.
Donna Valli, 46 South Main Street, noted her concern of the events over the last three months. She feels the full town budget should be looked at for cuts. She does not support the ordinance change.
William Dinunzio, Spice Hill Drive, asked about the savings that would be gained if the ordinance is changed. He feel a community the size of East Hampton needs a police chief and does not support the ordinance change.
Kyle Dostaler, 56 William Drive, noted that he doesn’t feel the firing of the Chief was budgetary. He commented on the two council members that are named in the lawsuit. He does not support the ordinance change and commented on the petition drive.
Dick Edmonds, Wangonk Trail, thanked the Council for their work. He noted the police chief issue should be put on a ballot for the election in November.
Jill Perruccio, Wangonk Trail, asked why Matt Reimondo was not offered the lieutenant position and if the ordinance is changed will the Council need to create an ordinance for a lieutenant position.
Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, handed out an organization chart for the Town of East Hampton to the Council. She commented on all those that have been blamed in the process of the removal of the Police Chief. She discussed Jeff O’Keefe’s resignation and the severance he was given, noting there were no witnesses on the document.
Tom McLean, Hog Hill RoadogH, gave his support to the Council in their effort to downsize government.
Kim Page, 99 Midwood Farm Road, does not support the ordinance change.
Barbara Suprono, Walnut Avenue, commented on the budget that was approved in May which included the police chief and asked about a reimbursement for services not rendered. She noted a petition would be started if the ordinance passes tonight.
Janice Cavanaugh, Hog Hill Road, provided her support of Town Council and their actions. She does see a need to downsize the departments.
Herb Olson, Young Street, doesn’t agree with the way cuts were made to the Police Department.
Robert Foberg, 81 Charles Mary Drive, commented that he doesn’t support the ordinance change and questioned the sick and vacation time paid to Jeff O’Keefe with his severance package.
Curtis Akerley, 31 Tarragon Drive, spoke against the removal of the Police Chief.
Deborah Kohn, 45 Eastham Bridge Road, commented on the removal of the Chief and the sexual harassment charges that were brought forward. She does not support the ordinance change.
Helen Bonoff, Spice Hill Drive, commented that she doesn’t feel the residents are being responded to in an appropriate manner.
Jacqueline Fantasia, 85 North Main Street, commented on the process of the removal of the Police Chief. She does not support the ordinance change.
Donna Moyers, Maple Street, commented that she wants to be assured of safety in town. She noted she has no confidence in the Town Council and the Council actions were not for the right reasons. She does not support the ordinance change.
Patrick Barber, 4 Town Farm Road, commented that he does not support the ordinance change.
Shawn Fisk, 22 Tarragon Drive, commented that the Police Chief or the 1st Selectman in town needs to approve firearms permits. The town does not have the required personnel for approval of firearms permits.
Scott Bristol, 3 Old Flatbrook Road, commented on the wording and language in the ordinance.
Dave Hass, 5 Bridge Street, commented against the ordinance change.
Bonnie Sweet-Reilly, 41 Lake Boulevard, provided examples of the Council being rude.
Joyce Biondi, Lake Vista Drive, commented that many years ago she voted to have a police department in town and there should be a vote now regarding the Police Chief.
A motion was made by Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Goff, to adjourn the Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
| 
