To Double Three Mile Harbor Oyster Garden

A proposed expansion of the community oyster garden that was launched in Three Mile Harbor last year took a step forward on Monday when the East Hampton Town Trustees voted unanimously to put in motion a process that would double the size of that garden while establishing another in Hog Creek.

Rick Drew told his colleagues that he, along with Barley Dunne, the director of the town’s shellfish hatchery, and Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc had secured public access to the proposed site at Hog Creek. Mr. Dunne had previously told the trustees that the property at 124 Water Hole Road, which was purchased by the town using community preservation fund money, could serve as the access site.

The oyster garden at Hog Creek would encompass a 30-by-70-foot area and accommodate up to 20 gardeners. Its establishment is contingent on a public notice published in the trustees’ newspaper of record, The Star. Richard Whalen, the trustees’ attorney, will prepare the notice, which will include the site’s location and dimensions, along with other pertinent information, Mr. Drew said.

At the same time, the seven trustees present voted to double the size of the Three Mile Harbor site to 60 by 70 feet, accommodating up to 40 gardeners.

Modeled on what is known as SPAT, a Cornell Cooperative Extension initiative in waters off Southold, the program allows individuals to harvest half of the 1,000 oysters seeded. The cost, approximately $250 per participant, includes gear and instruction in addition to the oysters. Last year, 15 individuals or families took part in the pilot program in Three Mile Harbor, which was seen as successful.

In other matters discussed at the meeting, Bill Taylor told his colleagues that plans to dredge Accabonac Harbor, as well as the culvert under Gerard Drive, should be implemented as soon as possible. Jim Grimes said that a call to a contractor had yet to be returned. The body voted to authorize Francis Bock, the clerk, and his deputies, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Drew, to use their discretion in obtaining a cost estimate from contractors to perform the work.

The trustees debated the merits of a town-owned dredge versus reliance on Suffolk County to complete needed projects. The latter option is clearly untenable, they agreed, as the county lacks a budget commensurate with the town’s needs. But the town’s purchase of an excavator may be no more efficient, they said. A more reasonable approach, Mr. Grimes said, might be an intermunicipal agreement with other East End towns under which a contractor would invest in the equipment with a guarantee of sufficient work to justify the investment.

Municipalities can enter into such agreements and share the expense, Mr. Whalen said. “If we could join up with surrounding towns on the East End, we could do this much more efficiently,” he said.

The trustees agreed upon a plan to draw up a list of needed projects and engage in outreach to other municipalities.