Meter's Running: Paid Parking Nears
A less-than-full-strength East Hampton Village Board, William Heppenheimer and Elbert Edwards being absent, dispensed with its monthly business in less than half an hour Friday. Most matters had to do with receiving and spending money.
The village expects to begin collecting soon on a recently established paid-parking scheme that is now in force. A machine that takes drivers' money and dispenses receipts was installed at the end of July at the westernmost long-term Lumber Lane parking lot. A computer glitch delayed its operation for a couple of weeks, reported Larry Cantwell, the Village Administrator, but all systems are now go and village police are on the alert.
Nonvillage residents, those whose cars lack a village beach sticker, must pay $5 a day to park more than 23 hours in the lot. Permits cost $250 for the year, but have been reduced to $165 through Dec. 31. They can be purchased at Village Hall.
Shuttle Business
Short-term parking in the lot, as elsewhere in the village, is free.
Meanwhile, the village shuttle bus is gaining in popularity, with ridership "increasing each week," Mr. Cantwell said, although it only has about 10 days to go. The service will end on Labor Day.
Between 30 and 50 patrons ride the bus on an average day, he reported, with a peak of 120 on Aug. 5. It was raining that day, Mr. Cantwell noted.
Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. accepted a $1,000 check from Eileen Fisher, who owns the Newtown Lane clothing store that bears her name, and the store manager, Nancy Goell, saying he "applauded" it. The funds are a contribution toward the Gardiner Windmill restoration, set for completion in time for East Hampton's 350th anniversary next year.
On the spending side, the village has received six bids since Aug. 8 on the largest of its planned projects: renovating the bathrooms at the Main Beach pavilion. The lowest, $197,512, was from Versandi Construction Corporation of Eastport and Centereach.
Mr. Cantwell will review the company's credentials and make a recommendation on the bid at the board's meeting next month.
Yellow Pine Fence
In an earlier bidding, only one firm responded, with an estimate of more than $300,000. "We made the right decision by rebidding" the job, said Mr. Cantwell.
In other action, the board:
- Agreed to pay Martin Mahar of Amagansett $3,884 to replace an 18-foot portion of the Gardiner brown house fence on village property. The Ladies Village Improvement Society, which owns the house, will be responsible for the 173 feet of fencing on its property and will pay just over $25,000 to have it replaced. The fence will be of Spanish cedar, with support posts of yellow pine.
- Approved a $25-per-hour pay rate for Kevin Miller, Tim Tyler, Frank Dext, and L.J. Arceri, who are removing widgeon grass and other marine growth from the bottom of Town Pond. The village has obtained a State Department of Environmental Conservation permit allowing it to dredge the pond, a freshwater wetland.
- Accepted a low bid from W.F. McCoy Petroleum Products for number two fuel oil.
Airport Procedures
The board also:
- Confirmed Michael Clemence of East Hampton as the village's representative on an East Hampton Town Recreation Commission to run the RECenter. The commission is in process of being formed.
- Noticed for bid a variety of Fire Department equipment, and
- Approved the draft of an agreement letter, to be co-signed by East Hampton Town, outlining procedures to be followed in the event of an accident or emergency at East Hampton Town Airport.