The East Hampton Town Board appointed Robert Connelly as the new town attorney last Thursday. Effective May 30, Mr. Connelly will be the town’s lead attorney and head of the legal department at an annual salary of $175,000.
John Jilnicki, the current town attorney, will remain on a temporary basis to assist with the transition. He has more than three decades’ experience as a municipal lawyer for the town.
“His institutional knowledge, and of the town and legal matters, is beyond compare,” Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said of Mr. Jilnicki upon the board’s vote to appoint Mr. Connelly. “We thank you so much for your dedication to the town, and your support of the board — this one and many before it — over so many years. We’re pleased that you will be sticking around for the transition.”
Mr. Connelly, who lives in Jamesport, previously served as an assistant attorney for the town from October 2010 through March 2013. Following that tenure, he served as counsel in the land use and municipal department of the Farrell Fritz law firm. Since 2017 he has been counsel to the Tarbet and Lester law firm in East Hampton, focusing on municipal law, land use, and real estate. He received his law degree from Hofstra University in 2005 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science from Fordham University.
Mr. Jilnicki has been with the town since 1987, initially appointed as deputy town attorney. Throughout his 36-year tenure, he has served in various roles in the legal department, including several previous stints as town attorney, lead counsel, and head of the department. Most recently, upon the resignation of Michael Sendlenski, the previous town attorney, in May of 2019, Mr. Jilnicki was appointed as acting town attorney. Later that year, he was formally designated as town attorney.
The town board was effusive in its praise of Mr. Jilnicki last Thursday. “He’s always a gentleman, always concerned about the community, and has always responded to everything that I’ve asked,” said Councilwoman Sylvia Overby. “I appreciate it very much.”
“There isn’t a question we go to you with that you don’t have the history of,” said Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “You’re a vault of information.”
Both Councilman David Lys and Councilwoman Cate Rogers referred to their time on the zoning board of appeals in acknowledging Mr. Jilnicki’s assistance to them. “John, you’ve been the navigator for this ship of the town,” Ms. Rogers said, speaking of “the invaluable advice you’ve given” the town board and the zoning board. “Your generosity of your time, and your commitment to the town, is so greatly appreciated.”
“On top of all that, you happen to be a heck of a nice guy and a gentleman,” Mr. Van Scoyoc said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with you these many years.”
