East Hampton Cuts Town Engineer from Budget

Gone from the budget is the position of town engineer, a consultant (or part-time employee) for the economic development commission, one of two police cruisers, $227,500 from the education budget and $40,500 from contingency.

East Hampton went to work on trying to come up with a budget that would satisfy residents the second time around after voters rejected the first one last week at referendum.

As a result, the board of finance met on Tuesday night and cut $325,000 for a proposed mill rate of 25.99, an increase of .31 mills or 1.21 percent.

Overall, spending will increase $605,000 or 1.6 percent.

The proposed FY 2012-13 budget initially called for a .60 mill rate increase and was defeated on May 8.

Perhaps answering the board’s call for more feedback, several residents did attend and some spoke on issues such as the transfer station and the budget including water for employees.

Karen Wall wanted to know why the town was spending almost $7,800 on water for town employees at work.

“Why can’t they drink town water? she asked. “I think it’s a waste of money. If you want to cut, you should cut that.”

Later in the meeting, the need for that expense was addressed.

“The drinking water at town hall is not drinkable,” said Finance Director and Acting Town Manager Jeff Jylkka, adding that adding there are issues at other town facilities, such as Fire Company No. 1, as well.

“It’s non-potable water,” Jylkka said.

Board member Patience Anderson got the discussion started with her motion to cut the $325,000 from the budget, including an accounting for where the cuts should come from.

Anderson felt that since the education budget accounted for about 70 percent of the overall budget, further cuts should reflect a similar percentage. However, the board of finance and town council had previously cut $300,000 from education prior to the referendum.

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In the end, her motion passed, but barely. The vote was 4-3 with Chairman Matt Walton, Mary Ann Dostaler and Dave Monighetti against.

The two lengthiest discussions revolved around eliminating the two new hires in the budget: the and the economic development consultant.

Asked what cutting the EDC position would mean, Dostaler said: “It will mean it will be one more year before the town can be aggressive in terms of trying to fill vacant space that we have.”

Board member Tom O’Brien didn’t think the timing was right.

“By delaying this right now, it’s not going to hurt this town at all,” O’Brien said, adding that the town has to get its own house in order first.

Walton agreed the EDC position was a small piece to the puzzle.

“It’s not the answer by any means, but it’s someone who could actually help the Town of East Hampton,” he said. “The question is can we afford it right now.”

Monighetti felt the town engineer position would help the town move forward and the EDC could use the support.

“I would not be in favor taking either of those out of the budget,” he said.

As the meeting went on, however, it never appeared the votes would be there to save either position. The fate of the town engineer position was sealed once the negative perception it had with the public came up.

“This position in this election is a lightning rod,” O’Brien said. “People saw that it’s a new position, bad times, how can we afford it. … I can’t support it till next year.”

Walton supported the position but thought that keeping it could jeopardize the budget.

“Shame on me. I did not realize that position would have such a reaction,” he said. “I do not think we did a good job in selling it. I’ll take the hit on that.”

The budget now goes to the town council. The next referendum will be held June 5.