Government Briefs 4.10.13

East Hampton Town

Deer Management Online

Deer management in East Hampton Town is now the subject of a new page of the town’s website, at ehamptonny.gov. Included on the page are the deer management plans adopted by the town and by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, aerial deer population survey results, a guide for hunters and landowners who might wish to allow hunting on their properties, information about local venison donation, and links to information about numerous deer-related topics such as tick-borne illnesses and the environmental impacts of deer.

Recent state legislation has reduced the required setback from buildings from 500 feet to 150 feet for bow hunters, which will add to the areas where hunting may take place, with landowners’ permission. In a recent press release, both Town Councilman Fred Overton, the liaison to the town’s deer management advisory committee, and Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell underscored the importance of hunting in controlling the deer population.

Capital Plan Adopted

With a vote last Thursday, the town board adopted a three-year capital spending plan with close to 100 projects totaling $12.9 million.

 The projects in the 2014 through 2016 plan, which must be individually approved and bonded for, include repairs to several town buildings and sports facilities, the purchase of Police and Highway Department vehicles and equipment, a vault for town records, the digitization of records, and new public garbage cans.

Because some existing debt is due to be retired, the town’s overall indebtedness will go down by approximately 20 percent, despite the new borrowing, Supervisor Cantwell said Thursday, while allowing the town to accomplish some needed work.

Seek Contractors for Affordable Housing

Through May 1, the town housing office agent will accept proposals from contractors interested in building affordable single-family houses on two town-owned lots.

The town board will choose an approved contractor, who would then be hired by those next in line on a waiting list for affordable housing maintained by the housing office. The future homeowners would pay for construction of a house. The town will maintain ownership of the lots.

Information and proposals packages will be available beginning Monday from the Office of Housing and Community Development in Amagansett, which will hold a pre-proposal conference for contractors on April 23 at 10 a.m.

Stanzione on Energy Committee

Former Town Councilman Dominick Stanzione was appointed to the town’s energy sustainability committee through a resolution approved by the town board last Thursday. Mr. Stanzione had served as liaison to the group during his time in office.

A second new appointee to the committee added last Thursday is John Franceschina, a representative of PSEG Long Island.