Town Supervisor Delivers Address at Swearing In, Hints at 24/7 Emergency Facility in East Hampton

East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell, who took his oath of office and began his second term today, delivered an address that spoke of big plans for residents in the coming months.

Cantwell began his remarks by saying he’s ”fortunate to serve on a town board that wrestles with difficult problems—such as helicopter noise, enforcement challenges in Montauk, overcrowded housing in single-family residences, and downtown Montauk beach stabilization—and I know how hard making some of these decisions can be. I personally want to thank each town board member for their work trying to make our community a better place to live and for their dedication in simply trying to do what is best for the community as a whole.”

Looking ahead, Cantwell said all decisions are based on a “firm financial foundation,” and said over the past two years, the town’s year-end finances have been balanced, with surpluses created. “We have adopted two town budgets below the state tax cap and have reduced total town indebtedness each year. We must be diligent in the year ahead: balancing the budget, holding the line on taxes, and continuing to reduce overall town debt.”

Big plans are in place for the coming year, including efforts to replace the old Town Hall, sell the existing office space at 300 Pantigo Place, and consolidation of departments on existing Town Hall property, he said.

In addition, the senior center on Springs-Fireplace road needs to be replaced with a new, expanded facility, he said.

“In financing the cost of the new Town Hall and senior center, we should look to offset these costs by selling the 11,000 square feet of office space at 300 Pantigo Place and selling the former scavenger waste plant property on Springs-Fireplace Road,” Cantwell said.

And enhanced medical care could soon be on the horizon.

“We have held preliminary discussions with Southampton Hospital, which has expressed serious interest in building a new year-round 24/7 emergency care facility in East Hampton that will provide emergency room care for residents and be a major improvement for our ambulance services,” Cantwell said.

The town, Cantwell said, will continue to implement a methodical capital and maintenance plan for airport facilities, with a focus on maintaining and enhancing safety, following improvements in the new all weather operating system, runway lighting, some pavement repairs with a new fuel facility, and a paid parking system, along with completing the pavement analysis. In March, the time should be right to review the noise analysis that takes into account the geographical patterns of operations from the past season, he said.

There’s been evidence of renewed interest by businesses seeking land leases at the Industrial Park, the supervisor said.

”We are in preliminary discussions with three new prospective tenants with the potential to maintain and create jobs and generate significant lease revenue for the Airport Fund. As we continue to promote new commercial tenants at the Industrial Park, we should also begin the process of creating new industrial sites on some portion of the 600 acres of land surrounding the airport.”

The year ahead will also mean a focus on protecting and preserving water quality, including the possible development of a comprehensive plan and a proposal of some limited use of Community Preservation Funds for water quality protection, that will be subject to voter approval in November.

Cantwell said he’d also like to develop a townwide water quality testing and monitoring program with town trustees, sharing costs and expanding upon the trustees’ efforts in regard to testing and monitoring of surface waters.

“Over the past two years, we have preserved more than 200 acres of land, with another 50 acres pending under the CPF program, protecting community character in every hamlet throughout town. Preserving environmentally sensitive land while reducing development density — as we have done with the Lake Montauk and Springs outreach — will continue to be a top priority in the year ahead,” he said.

“With the increasing threat to our coastline from climate change and sea-level rise, we must force the issue of how as a community we want to adapt. The coastal assessment and resiliency plan will study the erosion rates along our coast, potential storm threats, and how we should adapt to changes. This study will begin this year and will present the opportunity to better understand what the future may bring and how we need to adjust our thinking and land use moving forward,” Cantwell added.

Attention must be focused on the Army Corp of Engineers’ Fire Island to Montauk Point Plan, which will be announced early this year.

That’s notwithstanding the Army Corps’ Downtown Montauk Project, which Cantwell blasted as ”at best, half a loaf and, as a result, without a major beach sand replenishment, it leaves the beach in Montauk in a less than desirable condition. We will press the Army Corps for a sand-only FIMP improvement and work to reach a consensus with the community.”

Planning will be critical in the coming year, the supervisor said, with hamlet studies on tap for Amagansett, Montauk, Wainscott and Springs, and community input encouraged.

Tangible results in the affordable housing arena are also necessary, Cantwell said. “The severe lack of affordable housing for seniors on fixed incomes and local working residents is an ever-increasing crisis. We need to get the Manor Houses on Accabonac Road built, support the housing authority’s plan in Amagansett, and find other opportunities for new affordable housing throughout town. As a community we need to move beyond the word ’no’ when we should be discussing ’how.’”

Enforcement and protection of the quality of life of residents is also a goal for the upcoming year, he said, with efforts in place to implement the new rental registry law, including workshops this month for realtors and landlords and a push to provide information to the general public.

“We are seeking cooperation to help make this law an effective tool to protect our residential neighborhoods and prevent overcrowding and illegal occupancy,” he said. “At the same time, if you have been participating in a group house, high-turnover rental, or multiple family occupancy in a single-family residence, it is time to stop. If we find illegal housing, we will bring the full force of law to bear.”

In conclusion, Cantwell said, “It is good to begin the year with an optimistic agenda, and, of course, it may not all get done, and there will be new issues that require attention. Let’s keep working together and every day try to make our community a better place to live and work.”

Patch photo courtesy of Sylvia Overby.