Government Briefs 02.07.19
East Hampton Town
New Features to Town Website
The East Hampton Town website, at ehamptonny.gov, has been updated to highlight announcements and current news of interest to the community in a regularly updated news section on the site’s homepage.
The first stage in a systematic improvement of the website, which is expected to culminate in an extensive overhaul at the end of this year, is a “News and Announcements” section. Visitors can sign up for text or email alerts when new information is posted by selecting the “Stay Connected” button on the homepage, and then the “Notify Me” section. From there, by scrolling down, visitors can sign up for “News Flash” alerts. At that page, visitors can also elect to be notified about topics including upcoming events, meeting agendas, bids, job postings, and emergency notifications.
Republican Committee Screening
The East Hampton Town Republican Committee has put out a call for those interested in screening for the positions of supervisor and two seats on the town board as well as town justice, tax assessor, and town trustee on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Amagansett.
The committee will screen candidates for the town board seats now held by Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, Councilwoman Sylvia Overby, and Councilman David Lys, all Democrats. All three announced their intention to seek re-election at the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee’s Jan. 16 meeting.
The Republicans’ screening process is open to Republicans, Democrats, Independence Party members, and those unaffiliated with a party. “If you believe in East Hampton and love our community,” Kyle Ballou, the committee’s secretary, wrote in an email, “then we want you.” Potential candidates have been asked to email Manny Vilar, the committee’s chairman, at [email protected] or Mr. Ballou at [email protected].
The Republican Committee will hold a nominating convention at its next monthly meeting, on Friday, Feb. 15, at the American Legion Hall. Election Day is Nov. 5.
New York State
Approve Offshore Drilling Ban
The New York State Legislature has approved a ban on offshore drilling, a measure co-sponsored by Senator Kenneth P. LaValle that would prohibit offshore oil and gas production.
“As the original lead sponsor of the legislation, I am pleased that the bill was approved by the Senate and Assembly,” Senator LaValle said in a statement on Tuesday. “We have painstakingly worked to preserve and protect our pristine waters, and we certainly do not want to imperil all of our efforts to maintain clean water by allowing drilling off our shoreline. I request that the governor sign the bill into law, so we can further protect our waters.”
The bill would amend the state’s Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the leasing of state-owned underwater coastal lands for oil and natural gas drilling. It would add a new component to prevent the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of General Services from authorizing leases that would result in the increase of oil or natural gas production in federal waters.
In addition, the bill would amend the Transportation Corporations Law to restrict the powers of such corporations to develop pipelines associated with the delivery of natural gas or oil from the North Atlantic Planning Area, which spans the coastline from Maine to Delaware.