Town Board Does Not Reinstate Fisheries' Consultant in 3-2 Vote

Despite a request from the fisheries committee, the East Hampton Town Board did not reinstate Arnold Leo as its consultant in a 3 to 2 vote on Tuesday. The decision follows the position's salary being slashed as one of the many reductions in the town's 2011 budget.

Councilwoman Julia Prince supported the recommendation, because, she said it takes years to make headway at regulatory meetings. Leo has been in the position for four years. She said she was also "concerned that we would not have representation in the committee,” if they do not appoint someone soon.

Councilman Pete Hammerele agreed, but Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, Councilwoman Theresa Quigley and Councilman Dominic Stanzione voted against doing so.

Wilkinson, who is the liaison to the fisheries committee, told the board, “I am not happy with the performance of Arnold Leo," though he would not go into specifics.

When reached by phone on Wednesday, Leo responded by saying, "I'm not particularly happy with Wilkinson either. He seems to be the only one with something negative to say about my performance as the consultant in the four years I've been in the position."

Wilkinson told the town board, “I decided to not reappoint Arnold Leo,” during his first year as the liaison to the committee. He said that until last year, the committee was too focused on commercial fishermen and that "the committee should be equally represented" by recreational fisherman, which include charter fishing captains. He said he has recommended 16 other people for the position.

Prince responded, “There are four charter boat individuals who support that letter.”

“The letter is from the chairman—not necessarily those four,” Wilkinson rebuffed, referring to Ricky Etzel, whom he appointed chairman last year.

The letter, dated Jan. 7, said the committee voted to retain Leo as its representative to the Mid Atlantic Fishery Council and Atlantic State Fisheries Commission meetings and to public hearings on the fishery management plans.

The consultant has to be approved board and sign a contract to adhere to the budget, which recently was reduced from $40,000 to $15,000. Even still, Leo said that he would still like to do the job. "Nobody is going to be there at the meetings to represent the town." He said the town can not just send different representatives to each meeting.

"Wilkinson does not really care about the fishing industry and it's evident that he has some personal agenda and has animosity towards me."

Etzel said the commitee would meet next week to discuss what to do next.

WITH REPORTING BY KERRY GOLESKI