Government Briefs 02.23.12

Duel Over the Green

    Two Montauk groups hoping to receive mass-gathering permits for use of the Montauk hamlet green over Memorial Day weekend will have to wait another week for a decision from the East Hampton Town Board.

    The Montauk Artists Association has held an art fair on the green, but last year a veterans’ group, the Montauk Memorial Committee, also requested use of the space for a Memorial Day ceremony. The two shared the space. But this year, the veterans have expanded plans for three days of activities, and say their request should take precedence because of the holiday.

    Speakers supporing both sides — and several promoting a compromise — gave their opinions at a town board meeting last Thursday. After a brief discussion at a subsequent meeting on Tuesday, Dominick Stanzione, the councilman who is the Montauk liaison, set a deadline of next week for the Solomonic decision.

Lighting Committee

    Susan Harder, a lighting consultant from Springs who was appointed to a committee formed recently to review proposed changes to the town’s outdoor lighting code, resigned from the committee, reading a letter explaining her rationale at the town board’s meeting Tuesday.

    Ms. Harder claimed that Councilwoman Theresa Quigley, who has spearheaded an effort to change the lighting code, wants to repeal the existing “dark-sky” code, which was designed to limit excessive lighting, and, she said, replace it with a code that “eliminates important provisions.”

    Ms. Harder, a member of the Dark Sky Association who has worked with other communities to craft lighting legislation, has said that simple amendments to the existing code could solve problems with it, and that she had delivered her recommendations instead to Councilwoman Sylvia Overby.

Chief Auditor On Board

    Charlene Kagel, a certified public accountant who has been working for East Hampton Town, was appointed to the newly created position of chief auditor at a town board meeting on Tuesday. She will have status as a department head, and continue working with Len Bernard, the town budget officer and head of the Finance Division.

    Ms. Kagel, who is now paid on an hourly basis for a total of about $84,000 a year, will earn a $90,000 annual salary in her new position.