State Awards East Hampton Municipalities $400K To Gas Up Together

East Hampton town and village have been awarded a state grant for construction of a new joint fuel facility that will help both save taxpayer dollars. 

New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., I-Sag Harbor, announced the awarding of $400,000 from the Local Government Efficiency Grant Program on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the town conducted a feasibility study finding that a new joint fuel facility will provide significant cost savings for taxpayers, through a reduced per gallon cost for fuel, while also providing for state of the art fuel inventory control and billing, reducing the environmental impacts with above ground technology. Multiple fuel depots will be consolidated into one operational facility that will be equipped with a new generator and the new safety measures to ensure the site is operating according to local, state and federal requirements for toxic and hazardous materials.

The grant may cover the costs of the facility.

Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson credited Charlene Kagel, chief auditor, and Nicole Ficeto, the grants coordinator, who initiated the application. "This is an example of how municipal governments can cooperate through a shared services model that benefits the taxpayers of both jurisdictions," Wilkinson said. "As you know, this now totals over $900,000 in Local Government Efficiency Awards this administration has received in 2013 alone and is a clear template for future administrations to follow.”

In June, the state awarded the town $536,425 in recognition of its financial recovery plan. The money will be pumped back into the government's structure, as it is earmarked for a state-of-the-art, open-floor-plan workspace proposed for the old Town Hall building. New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales visited East Hampton in September and said the town's restructuring is a model for other municipalities.

“I applaud the Town of East Hampton and the Village of East Hampton for taking the initiative to reduce costs of government operations, protect our environment, and ultimately save their taxpayers money," Thiele said.