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Fire District Votes Cast; Pitts Wins in Montauk

Wed, 12/11/2019 - 09:01
In the Montauk Fire District, the only one locally with a contested race, William Pitts won election as a fire commissioner.
Taylor K. Vecsey

Commissioner elections were held in four fire districts that are in charge of fire and emergency medical services in East Hampton Town on Tuesday, but only one of them — Montauk — had a contested race. There, William Pitts was the winner in a field of three. 

Of the 298 people who turned out to vote, Mr. Pitts received 134 votes, 85 ballots were cast for John W. Mark, and 76 for Carmine Marino, according to Dawn Lucas, the district's secretary. Three votes were spoiled, she said Tuesday night. 

The newly elected commissioner will join the five-person board in January, filling the seat of Richard Monahan, who did not seek reelection. Mr. Pitts, who is 79, is a 57-year member of the fire department and a former chief. His term is for five years. 

Propositions on the ballots in two fire districts passed. In Springs, voters handily approved allowing the district to buy a new rescue truck with $225,000 from its equipment reserve fund. A total of 58 votes were cast in favor, with only one in opposition, according to Danna Miller, the district secretary. 

The new 6500 Chevrolet Silverado Rescue 1 truck, which will replace a 28-year-old truck, will cost a total of $425,000, the balance will be borrowed. 

Leander Arnold, who ran unopposed, was re-elected Tuesday night. He received 52 votes and Peter Grimes received 6 write-in votes.

The Amagansett Fire District's proposition also was approved, according to Jessica Cantwell, the district secretary. Twenty-four voters gave the board the green light to establish a capital reserve fund for the purchase and acquisition of Firematic and emergency equipment, separate from its current fund to purchase vehicles.  

John M. (Jack) Emptage was re-elected to another term with 23 votes. There was one write-in vote for Gene Gilligan. 

In the Bridgehampton Fire District John O'Brien was re-elected to a second term on the board of fire commissioners with 34 votes, according to Pam Balserus, the district secretary. He ran unopposed. Voters also approved a proposition to make the elected treasurer position an appointed one. No one has been elected in the past few years, and no one ran in this year's election, although one voter wrote in Jack Zito's name for the post. Mr. Zito is the department's current treasurer. He declined the position.  

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