School Board Choices

    Civility and courtesy mostly ruled the night, as the three men vying for two openings on the Springs School Board made their opinions known during a meet-the-candidates forum Tuesday.

    For the nearly 25 residents in attendance, the gathering provided the only opportunity to hear the positions of each candidate before Tuesday’s budget vote and school board election.

    The three candidates — Martin Drew, Jeffrey Miller, and Adam Wilson — discussed the state-imposed 2-percent tax cap, the feasibility of school consolidation, and issues related to housing and taxes, among other concerns.

    Laura Anker-Grossman, a former East Hampton School Board president, moderated the forum, which was jointly sponsored by the Springs PTA and the nonpartisan East Hampton Group for Good Government.

    “I grew up in Springs. I care about what happens here,” said Mr. Miller, 42, who attended Springs School and East Hampton High School. He has two daughters; the youngest is in the second grade at Springs. “This is a great place to live. And I plan to be here until the day I die,” he said.

    A graduate of the Suffolk County Police Academy, Mr. Miller has been a member of the Springs Fire Department for more than 24 years and currently serves as the deputy fire coordinator for Suffolk County, a volunteer position. He also works as a heavy equipment operator for East Hampton Village’s Department of Public Works. His wife is the vice president of the Springs PTA.

    Among his many priorities, Mr. Miller hopes to “clean up the documentation process,” referring to the concern of some parents that non-Springs residents attend the school by being dropped off at local bus stops early each morning. If elected, he would urge that the issue would be further investigated and that a truancy officer be hired to enforce such policies.

    Though candidates signed affidavits agreeing not to spend over $500 on campaign materials, Mr. Miller, who is relying on word of mouth, says he has yet to spend a penny.