Seniors Get New Vans Thanks to Donor; Cop Gets Gold Badge

Thanks to money left to the town in a will, the clients at the Human Services Department will enjoy two new vans soon.

At an East Hampton Town Board meeting last Thursday, the board announced it will use one third of the .

Kopf was an East Hampton resident who died in March at 81. The town formally accepted the funds in September.

"Looking at the senior fleet, it was discovered the handicapped vans, each of the handicapped vans has over 100,000 miles of them," said Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, adding that $125,000 of the donated amount has been allocated to replace them. "The timing was just incredible," he said.

The board reiterated its appreciation for the donation.

Budget Hearing Scheduled

The public hearing on the will be held on the last possible day, the Thursday after Election Day. The board will take comments in a special meeting on Nov. 10, starting at 7 p.m.

The supervisor's tentative budget, which is available on the town's website, is for the amount of $65.6 million with an increase of 2.45 percent over 2011. The proposal would lower taxes by about .2 percent outside East Hampton and Sag Harbor villages and 9.4 percent inside the villages. Overall, the budget is a $1.57 million increase .

The board will discuss any changes afterwards at the work session on Nov. 15. A vote on the budget will be held on Nov. 17.

One Auditor on Board, Another Not

The firm of Nawrocki Smith will perform an audit of the town's 2011 financial records for no more than $100,000.

According to the town board's resolution, "Nawrocki Smith LLP has been lauded by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office for its contribution to the Grand Jury investigation of Town financial operations."

The firm has conducted the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 audits. The board expects the audit to actually cost less than the maximum amount, the resolution said.

Meanwhile, the board had to table a resolution on Thursday to hire another firm for an audit of the town's building department.

William T. Ferris and firm Bracken Margolin Besunder revealed it had a conflict, Councilwoman Theresa Quigley said.

The cost of that audit is not to exceed $15,000.

Police Officer Makes Detective

Officer Wayne Mata will be appointed to a detective.

The position opened after Detective Daniel Roman asked to be reassigned to the patrol division. The changes will be effective Nov. 6.

As a first-year detective Mata will make $100,887, according to town records. Roman's salary is $99,488. 

7-Eleven Ingress, Egress Decided On

After more than a year of discussions, signage will be installed on the 7-Eleven property in Montauk noting the safest entrance and exit ways.

Town Police Chief Ed Ecker had recommended that an entrance and exit from the year-old convenience store would increase safety in downtown Montauk. He also recommended that exiting traffic only make a right turn onto Montauk Highway.

With the owners consent, the town building maintenance crew will install the entrance and exit signs, as well as the 'right turn only sign' on the property.