Tuesday’s organizational meeting of the East Hampton Town Board saw the swearing-in and appointment of several officers, both new and existing.
Along with Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, who was elected to the town board 10 years ago and elected supervisor in a landslide victory in November, Councilman David Lys, first appointed to the board in 2018 and subsequently elected and re-elected, and Councilman Tom Flight, who was elected in November, were also sworn in. Like Ms. Burke-Gonzalez, both won by wide margins in November.
“The confidence they’ve had in me in the last six years to move forward for the next four years is very humbling,” Mr. Lys said of residents. “We live in a very special place. We should never, ever forget that, but it takes a lot of hard work, and the board members and myself will work very hard, relentlessly, to defend our quality of life.”
“It’s the community that makes this such a special place to live,” said Mr. Flight, a newcomer to government. “We rely on you to step up, and I look forward to working with each of you in what you’re passionate about to help make this town better.”
Town Justice Steven Tekulsky administered the oath of office to his new colleague, David Filer, both in judge’s robes. Francis Bock, re-elected in November as clerk of the town trustees, was then sworn in by Carole Brennan, the town clerk. Later, his colleagues Bill Taylor and Tim Garneau, and a newly elected trustee, Patrice Dalton, were sworn in. Ms. Brennan also administered the swearing-in of Jeanne Nielsen and Jill Massa, both of the assessor’s office.
Councilwoman Cate Rogers, who was elected in 2021, was appointed deputy supervisor on Tuesday.
Charles Collins was appointed assistant town attorney, and Nicholas Coritsidis was appointed a temporary paralegal to the town attorney’s office. He has passed the bar exam, Ms. Burke-Gonzalez said after the meeting, and will become an assistant town attorney following his swearing-in.
There are also new members on the planning board, the zoning board of appeals, and the architectural review board, which also has a new chairman for 2024.
Jaine Mehring, whose tenacious campaign to draw attention to rampant development in the town and encourage the board to compel “rational restraint” and “more modulated proportions” was followed by the formation of the zoning code amendment work group, was appointed to a five-year term on the zoning board. She replaces Joan McGivern. Denise Savarese is the Z.B.A.’s new vice chairwoman.
Bruce Siska was appointed to a seven-year term on the planning board, replacing Randy Parsons, who retired. An architect, Mr. Siska previously served on the East Hampton Village Planning Board.
Chip Rae replaced Kathy Cunningham as the head of the architectural review board. Ms. Cunningham will remain on the board but is on a leave of absence through February. Frank Guittard is the A.R.B.’s new vice chairman, and Chris Britton was appointed to a five-year term, replacing Esperanza Leon.
Lynn Overton, Cheryl Pharaoh, and Dorina Kastrati were appointed deputy town clerks.
By resolution, The Star was again designated the town’s official newspaper.
With Reporting by Carissa Katz
