Councilman David Lys, who has served on the East Hampton Town Board since first being appointed to fill Peter Van Scoyoc's seat after he was elected town supervisor in 2018, will now serve as deputy town supervisor.
He will be appointed to the position at the Jan. 6 town board organizational meeting.
"It has been my privilege over the last decade and a half plus to participate in meaningful volunteerism and leadership within my hometown of East Hampton," Mr. Lys said in a text. "I am honored to be able to assume the role of deputy supervisor and work alongside Kathee [Burke-Gonzalez] in this new year for the township and its residents. There is a lot of work to be done, and I'm as energized today as I was the first day I started on the town council."
Mr. Lys and his wife, Rachel, live in Springs and own East Hampton Physical Therapy. After graduating from East Hampton High School in 1994, he went on to obtain a degree in kinesiology from Penn State University.
He will replace Councilwoman Cate Rogers, who has served in the role since the beginning of 2024.
Patrick Derenze, the town's public information officer, said it has been a practice of the town board in the past to have a rotating deputy. Under Mr. Van Scoyoc, Sylvia Overby served as deputy for three years before Ms. Burke-Gonzalez served for the next three.
The deputy supervisor functions much like the vice chairperson of a board. If the supervisor is unavailable, the deputy supervisor runs the meetings. If the supervisor is away on vacation, the business of the town must proceed, and the deputy has signatory power and is able to manage the town completely in the supervisor's absence.
"I think it's a wonderful thing to share the roles," Ms. Rogers said Monday. She has known Mr. Lys "longer than any other town board member. We worked together on the zoning board of appeals. He'll be fantastic in the role. I look forward to 2026 and being even more focused on my goals."
First and foremost, Ms. Rogers said, she will spend her extra time focusing on a $600,000 New York State Regional Economic Development Council grant, awarded to the town in 2023, meant to plan for the sustainable future of downtown Montauk.
"I also look forward to further protecting our environment and community and keeping our neighborhoods from being exploited by commercial interests," she said.
"Councilmember Cate Rogers has served as deputy supervisor for the past two years with care and a strong sense of responsibility to our community," Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez said in a statement. "I am grateful for the time, focus, and leadership she brought to that role."
"From the start, I have believed in sharing leadership across the town board, and after two years, it is now time for that role to rotate," the supervisor said. "David brings experience and a collaborative approach, and I value the way he works with his colleagues and our community. I appreciate both Cate and David for their service, and I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of the people of East Hampton."
