Complaint against 'Take Back Our Town' Dismissed

After more than three months of heated debate in East Hampton concerning the removal of Matt Reimondo as police chief, it didn't come as much a surprise to residents at the Sept. 28 town council meeting when the council voted to repeal the ordinance requiring the town have a police chief.

Opponents to Reimondo’s ouster were ready.

After the meeting ended at the high school, tables were set up in the lobby where residents could sign a petition to force the issue to a referendum. Many in attendance did and eventually there were enough signatures to force a November vote.

The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the chief, 3,701 to 1,617.

Not everyone in town, however, was happy with how the petition drive went down, including the pamphlets and press releases that were circulated in support of it.

Ted Hintz Jr. filed a complaint on these and other issues on Oct. 19 with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

In his complaint, Hintz charged that, pursuant to General Statutes § 9-7b, a group of two or more individuals who were circulating pamphlets regarding a petition drive to cause a referendum failed to register a political committee and follow certain campaign finance rules of reporting and disclosure.

Hintz claimed the group known as TakeBackOurTown.org failed to designate a campaign treasurer and depository institution; file a registration statement with the East Hampton Town Clerk; file an itemized campaign finance statement; file disclaimers on their pamphlets and web site; and disclose the proceeds from T-shirt sales.

On May 18, the commission voted unanimously to dismiss the complaint (see pdf).

“The fact that Mr. Hintz chose to file complaints against the Chatham Party and Take Back Our Town and not the members of the Town Council majority, who have been found guilty of violating State statute and FOI laws, clearly demonstrates his bias,” Kyle Dostaler said in a statement released by the Chatham Party (see pdf). “If he was truly motivated by nothing more than to seek compliance with the law, he filed the wrong complaints against the wrong parties.”

Hintz was asked to comment but instead asked for those with questions to read the details of his complaint contained in the commission's final decision.