Last Minute Agenda Items Walk onto Town Board Candidates' Debate Discussion

Last minute additions to the agenda, and the lack of public access to agendas, were a topic for discussion at a debate between the four candidates for East Hampton Town Board at the League of Women Voters debate on Monday.

Just on Thursday, there were two walk-on agenda items at the town board meeting; one on the consideration of geo-tubes to prevent coastal erosion and another about hiring an engineer for constructing a fence at the airport.

Job Potter, a Democratic candidate and former town board member, said the two Democrats on the Republican majority board hadn't had a chance to see review the resolutions. "To spring two resolutions like that when we had a work session Tuesday . . . is bad practice," he said.

Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, a Democratic candidate who spent nine years on the Springs School Board of Education — the last two as president, said she believes in participatory government. "Walk on resolutions have to happen sometimes. I should not be common practice," she said.

"It was certainly no surprise that I have been pursuing that resolution for a very long time," Councilman Dominick Stanzione, a Republican incumbent, said. The fence at the airport has been "one of the most fully discussed issues in local government."

Republican candidate Fred Overton, who currently works at the town clerk — a position he has held for 14 years, agreed last minute resolutions are a problem because, he said, "The councilpeople don't do their job." A software program was purchased sometime ago so that town board members and attorneys can get their resolutions to the town clerk on the Friday before the next meeting. On the morning of the meeting, the town clerk's office is still waiting on resolutions, he said.

"When you elect me, I will do my best to insist that the councilpeople observe that protocol and that procedure," he said.

The town board candidates also discussed their positions on accepting FAA funding for the East Hampton Airport. Potter and Burke-Gonzalez are in favor of letting grant assurances run out in 2014, which may allow the town to set more of its own regulations about the use of the airport.

"The principal that I standby is that the airport belongs to the Town of East Hampton and we should have as much control as we can," Potter said.

Though Burke-Gonzalez made it clear she isn't looking to close the airport, Overton said he is worried that that is the ultimate goal. "The airport is an asset," he said.

Stanzione remains committed to accepting FAA funding. "I do believe that taking FAA funding is the most fiscally responsible policy the town can accept on behalf all its residents," he said. "I will not allow that airport to be closed."

Overton and Stanzione spoke directly about the importance of not having only one party represented on the board.

Republicans Councilwoman Theresa Quigley and Supervisor Bill Wilkinson are stepping down at the end of year. Only Stanzione is seeking re-election. Democrat Larry Cantwell, who is also endorsed by the Independence party, is running unopposed for supervisor. Councilwoman Sylvia Overby and Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc are both Democrats are only in the middle of their first four-year term.

"A five-member Democratic board is a serious concern to everybody," Stanzione said. "The last time we had a five-member Democratic board we ended up with a $26 million deficit."

But, Potter said it shouldn't matter what party a person belongs to if they are the right person for the job. "Pick the best two," he said.