Town Council - Special Meeting

regarding sming.

So yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna make that. Yeah.

It's going to be a one day a Well, that's gonna that's going to all come right I'll just give a quick synopsis of that and let let people No, I think we'll just explain it and be part of the discussion and I'll let people know right up front. Yes.

Yeah. Just to get everybody Yeah, agree. Yeah, I agree.

David, are we ready?

Good evening. I'd like to call this special meeting of the East Hampton Town Council to order. Would you please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Before we go into before we go into the agenda, we plan on having a uh a modification, an amendment to that presented. There had not been a call for public remarks and we are going to include that. I just want to let you know what the parameters of that are as well as one important piece of information that would be uh relevant to maybe your comments or remarks. First of all, there's a signup sheet for anybody who wants to speak. It's out at the door here and we will go in order of those that signed up. Secondly, uh we were informed by a communication from uh D Griffith of uh Bioolids company that they are no longer interested in East Hampton are withdrawing from the town.

there. There will be more about that when we get into discussion and and more on the agenda. With with regard to public remarks, we're going to limit it to a total of one hour of time. We will also go according to the signup sheet in order until we either run through everybody or reach one hour. Comments will be limited to three minutes strictly adhered. At three minutes you're going to be gled off and the next person can come up. So, if you are on the sign up list, line up over on this side of the the uh hall at the appropriate time as things are moving along so that we get as many people in to speak as desired to do so. And uh remarks are by the way are limited to agenda item two on on the agenda discussion of possible actions regarding WPCA matters. So that's the only thing you can speak about. There's a lot there but this keep it narrow to those items. Hearing that is there a motion to amend the agenda? So move

to add uh public comments to two or one v two I don't know wherever you want to put it however you want to number it doesn't make much difference motion made second and seconded to include uh public remarks as section one see one a no one A is there any discussion on the matter? If not, those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Nay added to the agenda. Motion to approve the agenda as amended.

Second. Motion made and seconded to approve the agenda as amended. Is there any discussion? Not those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppose. Nay. The agenda is amended. Moving on to agenda item two, discussion and possible action regarding no public. Yeah. 180 public remarks, right? Oh, public remarks. Excuse me. How did I forget?

I'm going to the list which was delivered to me. Can you please speak up? Very hard to hear you and I'm in the second row. I'm speaking about as loud as I'm capable. It's this old age, you know. Do you want to give Ted or I the list to read them? I will. Frank Mlan the fourth is the first speaker.

Let me read the next three. Huh? Michael Pier Galini Valen Hill Baker and S Nusafer or

may begin. Yeah,

thank you. Uh, my name is Frank. I live at 28 Tibo Hill Road in Cobalt. My friends and family that will be here tonight call me buddy. I will not be as long-winded as I was on Tuesday evening. I will try not to cause any chaos. Um I'm a little shaken up right now. I feel like um us looking at you here tonight while discussing what I described as a debacle, which was phase two of the project, that we are in a David versus Goliath situation, and I think we just won. Um So, frankly, friends, one down. Um, I want to news people, you're not going to like this. Right now, more than 50% of Americans get their their news from social media. We respect you. But that's the fact right now in our current political climate that is just a no pun intended assess pool. We are conditioned to be very entrenched in our sides right now. This room looking at you. We're not Democrats and Republicans and independents looking at Democrats and Republicans and independents. And I really hope frankly that you are not entrenched in your in your position as Democrats, Republicans, independents looking back out at us. At the end of the day, we are all neighbors. We are all one community and we are better when we stand together. And this issue that we are discussing is not a Republican

issue, Democrat issue. It is an East Hampton issue. And frankly, as an East Hampton issue, we need to look at who we are and what we expect. And what I expect is transparency in our elected officials. And I also expect a certain level of decorum. And I expect accountability from you because you you're his boss. But you need to remember that everyone in this room tonight, we're your boss, right? What we're facing right now, there's not a lot of legal complexities to it. Mr. Cox, appreciate your time again last night. Right here, you can look at me. Not going to bite. You have an HR issue. A direct report of yours, and I'm not very smart, but hear me out. A direct report of yours has been caught on camera essentially really talking about how he would lie and blame one of your citizens for his inefficiency and the disaster he's trying to develop. He lied. He's talking about the town lying about your constituents, your con.

I'm almost done. I don't mean to be offensive. I just would like to keep this to 3 minutes. It will be. I'm almost done. That being said, tonight and in the very near future, your bosses, we're not asking you to do the right thing. We're telling you to do the right thing. Fire Anthony Dimone. Do the right thing or do the right thing. Do the right thing. And it's not a please. Do the right thing. Thank you.

Lights. Hello everybody.

Michael Perigrine. Okay, Michael Pergalini, 16 Fern Lane. Uh, if anyone from the media wants to go into the details of the math, please see me later. the facility that was being uh in in somewhat in hiding developed by the the WPCA is 50 times larger than the the needs of the town of East Hampton. I'd be happy to go through the math later. Everybody here has already heard it before. whether or not everybody in this council knew about it. Uh that memorandum of understanding with with Griffin was signed in December of 2024. In August, these are the town council town manager report in August 12th of 2025. In a very simple line, the town manager says that uh this facility will read it exactly. Facility was described as a processing municipal wastewater sludge for the region reducing the volume of the sludge by rem moving water and thereby reducing the volume to be uh sent to the for incineration which would significantly reduce the cost of disposal for the town's wastewater plant. The facility is expected to significant a significant tax revenue to the town without significant negative impacts. We discussed the other night that these are 1 and 210 of a percent of the entire budget of the town of East Hampton. These are rounding errors, not significant savings. Just to know show that there was

continuity. the town uh the town council and t town town manager report again mentions this project in November 10th of 2025 and how it was progressing and that it was pretty much just kind of going all get paid for by by federal funds and this this was no big deal. Whether you guys knew about it, I think it was very clear that there was a lot going on behind the scenes that you may or may not have been aware of. We're all talking about Mr. D. Simone. We can't leave out Miss Hajj. She's addressed both in this initial document of June 5th written by Mr. D. Simone addressing the town council, the town of East Hampton, and the town planner. Those are the ones copied. So, she's known since then. here in January 26 as part of the regular planning and zoning meeting. Uh we're reviewing the joint facilities proposed acquisitions of properties 288 and 292 High Street. This was known whether or not you folks are doing it without the control of really the people we need to rely on, the town council. Here it was being buried underneath under the um under the hood and and getting to a point where it was not able to be uh pres properly defended. Mr. Solomon, you knew about it as well. We've addressed the last time the letter that you were aware of too. I don't have much to add to this. It's clear and everybody in this room knows that Mr. D. Simone needs to go. I would counsel for what it's worth my opinion that maj needs to be looked at as well. This is not the only in this is not the only incident and we've referred to others but I'm keeping my comments

specific to the events at hand. Miss Wanet, you focused everyone on this uh plan of conservation and development. It is one of the most leading and misleading documents I have read ever. There are 13 questions leading out of the 58 questions 30 of them are leading towards the development of sewer and water. 18 of them are about commercial and uh commercial development not keeping the town as in a small complex. Three of them are about climate change.

Mr. has passed. Yes, I understand. Would anybody like to seed their time for another minute or two? No. Let's finish up and keep to the agenda, please. The the last item I'll bring up is that there's a one of the questions specifically addresses six areas where development should be in the town. Two of them, areas five and six, the Route 66 and Longill Crossing and the Cobalt 66 are both R1 and R2. Why are we asking even a why why are we even asking a question about commercial development in those areas? I I just don't understand it.

That's enough for me folks. Valerie Hill Baker. Thank you. Hi, my name is Valerie Hillbill Baker 9 Lena Lane. I am here tonight to talk to you because this um I believe that this entire attempt to slide a an industrial waste plant into residential areas of East Hampton under the cover of darkness, without transparency, without adequate due diligence on the part of you, without adequate due diligence on the part of our water people and using deceptive practices is reprehensible. We demand that you guys do a better job. And if you want to bring something in here that will materially lower property values around the site, you shouldn't be trying to slide it in without letting the town vote on it. I understand, Miss Wat, that you questioned that because you wanted to get clarity, but it isn't even a question. When you were going to materially change the town, the voters and the taxpayers must have a vote, a vote on it. That's all I have to say. Hi, Sanora. Um, being a former member of the board of education, I just want to remind you that uh we almost lost middle school sports over a matter of about $30,000. So, last night at the meeting, people were talking about buying the property

of around a h 100,000. And with our taxes being so high and such, I wanted to want to encourage you to find an alternative. Look, if necessary, then yes, go ahead with that. I think it's more worth it. However, if there's a way of legally preventing the surrounding properties from uh being used in such an exploratory manner um without costing the town additional money and keeping our taxes low that be done so thank you Baker, Robert Bear, and then Kevin Rogers. Good evening. My name is Fred Baker 9 Neil Lane. Um, I don't normally do public speaking, so this is the first time I've ever approached the town council publicly or openly, but uh, the words that I have are, um, accountability. I feel like we're not holding you accountable. You know, do a self-examination. Think about the people that you would have possibly impacted their health by dropping this mess into a residential area. That's what I thought of when I heard about it and I had to hear about it through social media. My request to all of you is to please communicate to your community what your intentions are. Don't walk around behind us because then you're going to get this and I appreciate that. Thank you everybody for coming to this. This is very important to me. I apologize for having a shaky voice but again not a public speaker. That's all I have. Thank you.

Okay. All right. I I didn't come up to yell. I didn't come up to get angry tonight. I'll listen to my mom. Um I'm Robert Bear. I am Bobby Bear's son. We have the big farm in East Hampton that was made fun of. You know, the sewer thing is going to affect a lot, but I think to drag our name through it was wrong. And the fact that I don't know, I was hoping there's public speaking after we found out who got fired. The fact is this guy should be fired. And there's more people that need to be fired. And I am not going to stop with just him being fired. My name, my family's name was dragged through the dirt, laughed at. And to find out, the town knew about it. The town council knew about it. I had to find out through Facebook. Luckily, residents have they can look at the stuff and they found out that we were on there being made fun of. We had to do this, the people, which I appreciate every one of you guys coming here because apparently the town council does not have our back. Luckily, the town people I had to find out from. And that's that sad. And I'm not going to stop just D. Simone being fired. The town manager, Dean Markham, Karen, why not? Whoever else didn't stand up for us. There you go. Um, Kevin Rogers, uh, 8 Coughlin Road, U, which is ground zero for this. Um, I'm going to make it quick because I'm anxious for us to get to executive session. Um, where I implore you to do the right thing twice.

All right? and also um a third time which we'll be talking about very soon. Um thank you very much Angel.

Hello everybody. My name is Beth Angel. I live at 34 Country Lane. First of all, I would like to thank all the people who showed up today uh doing your civic duty. Please don't stop. Please come to every meeting you can and raise your voices. That's how this town will keep hopefully it's small town rural quality of life. Um I just I'm not actually sure if those uh and I heard that the one of the projects is gone because Griffin is pulled. I don't know if the other project is still there, but there's a lot of questions. I've listened to people on both sides and I have a lot of questions and I I haven't seen a really good meeting where questions are uh heard from the um people in the in the audience and answered with deep respect. I was at the POC meeting when they talked about infrastructure and the head of the WPCA, Tony D. Simone, was there and I was so disgusted with how disrespectful he was to the people who were raising issues on the sewer facility. He cut people off. He uh pushed his point of view without even bothering in my opinion to listen to what the people are saying. And unless we have full and open meetings where people get to fully raise their questions and get to honestly and openly hear the answers, we're going to have problems in this town. So, please, please, please don't stop engaging with the uh the town's people and please don't stop coming. I love seeing how full this room is because I used to come to these meetings all the time and they were never like this. But don't stop coming and doing your civic engagement

and please open up and be respectful the town's people and hear what they have to say and honestly answer their questions because we've heard a lot of lies. We've heard a lot of lies and this is not new by the way. This has been going on for years and I'm not the only one who talks about the lies coming through the head of the WPCA, Mr. D. Simone. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the way I feel and I just hope that we listen to the people of this town. Thank you very, very much. I'm not on the list, but that's okay. Kind of like the invisible ink that you guys used on a lot of your memos.

I just want to say that the other Please,

I just want to say that the other evening when Mr. Bear was so upset. I went home and I thought about your reaction to all of that, your blank stairs, your sullen looks as if you had no idea how much you had hurt somebody in our community. And that bothered me. I don't even know Mr. Bear, but that bothered me greatly. And it cons I considered the fact that you folks as you were sitting there, any one of you had the opportunity and you also town manager to stand up and publicly apologize to that man. heartfelt with sincere heartfelt sorrow that you embarrassed someone the way that you did. It was shameful and I just wanted to say that bothered me and I'm sure it bothered a lot of people in this room and a lot of people who couldn't make it to these meetings. This is our community. We don't talk about people like that and you need to do better and my suggestion would be instead of waiting for you to get fired or to be relieved of your duties, maybe you should consider resigning. Thank you. Dr. Kimberly

Jennick. No, on Zoom. Jennifer here. Oh.

Hi. Uh, my name is Kimberly Tiny. I live at 87 William Drive and I'm here tonight on behalf of families of William Drive and Charles Mary and I want to be honest about what tonight feels like for our neighborhood and it does feel like relief but it's a relief that no family should ever have to earn. I'm standing here tonight with a freedom information request in my hand formally prepared and ready to be filed. I have a formal objection letter signed by the majority of families on both of our streets. neighbors who knocked on doors, who sat at kitchen tables filling out forms, who trusted me to come here tonight and speak for them. We're prepared to deliver those le letters to state agencies and the press. We're prepared to fight this with everything we had because that's what it took. This is what the process forced ordinary families to do, just to protect their homes and their children from a project that we had already said no to. This is not right. And you know it's not right. We should not have had to file this request to access basic public documents, engineering reports, environmental assessments, meeting minutes. Uh these belong to the public. They should be posted openly before hearings and we shouldn't have to find them. So tonight, I'm asking this council for three commitments to notify residents early and honestly to make all project documents publicly available for hearings and honor our votes. Because when this community showed up it and you listened, that meant something to us. Don't let it happen quietly in reverse. We're not going anywhere. We're organized. We're paying attention. We still have these letters and we hope we never have to use them or organize like this again.

Dave, is there somebody on Zoom list? Two ones. There's one on this list, but Okay. Jennifer Gal, Miss Galvin, go ahead. Unmute. Can you hear me now? Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. Okay. I just have one question and it's actually directed for Karen. Karen, have you ever made a deal with the WPCA or Anthony D. Simone to get a free sewer hookup.

Public comment. The council does not answer questions during public comment. I'm sorry. So, you won't go on record and answer that.

It's quite easy. Yes or no? You You won't answer that. I have three minutes. I'll be completely transparent with everyone here. The WPCA asked to have an easement through my property. I am not giving them an easement through my property. Have you ever have you ever that and tell them how you were going to get a hook off of order? Miss I will bring the proof to the next town meeting. I have nothing further. Thank you. more time. Yes.

Then you could your list is out but you could ask for more somebody else on school. Is there anyone else who you have a R? We have one more on take the person online. Mr. down here. Oh, can you hear me? Yes.

Guys, this is this has just gone on too long. This is this you have destroyed this town in the matter of I don't know, a week and a half. You need to do what you need to do tonight or we will keep on coming back and asking for your resignations every two weeks until you all resign. Dean, I saw your interview last night on channel 3 and I seriously questioned your ability to lead this council. Never mind sell a piece of property for my family. And Dave,

I know you're already in hell. Keep on burning. You have one more online. Go ahead.

Go ahead. We can hear you. Hello, my name is Cindy Beloga. I live at Fort Cone Road. Uh, first of all, I just want uh to say that I oppose the purchase of property for expansion of the sewer treatment plant. I attended via Zoom the WPCA meeting last week and overheard some upsetting conversation. One board member addressed another that we don't need a new plant. We're not utilizing the one we have anywhere close to full capacity. And the response from the other board member is that he would get the Department of Sanitation involved to force people to hook up by failing their septic systems. And it was very upsetting

um that they were doing an underhanded uh possible underhanded work to make it plausible. So I just wanted to uh to mention that. Thank you very much. What did you say about that?

My comment. Is there anyone else who wishes to make public remarks this evening? We have someone running up from the back. Can I try and end this on a positive note? Absolutely. We have one more question. Go ahead, Michael. Will

I don't have much to say here, but um when I was here before, I told um at the last meeting, I said that I had called the attorney general's office and I asked for you people to sign the people that were here signed. Um if you haven't, I'm going to pass a paper around. You just, you know, because we're going to file complaint with the attorney general's office and uh about the people involved here and the more names we have, the ser more serious. Mike Pergalini. And as I just said, I'd like to try and end this on a positive note and put some power back into this council. While the Water Pollution Control Authority does operate with some autonomy, as does the planning and zoning committee, you have the ability within the charter of the town of East Hampton, to put some guard rails up. you have the authority and the ability to provide the appropriate oversight so that nothing like this happens again in the town of East Hampton. While they may still have their autonomy, the public awareness, the ability to have uh input, and most importantly, a public vote is well within your authority and your ability. Please consider that. And that's as positive as I can put a spin on this.

Thank you for your time. Yes. Would you please give your name to

Oh, yeah. It's uh I'm Becky Abbott, 138 Bear Swamp Road. I didn't plan on speaking, but so many issues do come have been coming up. And I guess I'm left basically wondering who has oversight over all of these committees and boards when they meet and what what conversations really happen because we know that probably what is given on paper is not actually what's being said as we're finding out. if you want to go and zoom every single meeting. Me naively, I thought either the town manager or the town council was aware of what was verbally happening in these meetings. Who is overseeing these to protect the town's people or to stand up and say you can't do that? I haven't seen any of that happening and I haven't heard of anyone taking any responsibility for the oversight of all of these committees and boards. So, I know you're not here to answer questions, but I will say I would like to see something published on who has total oversight to actually look at the Zoom meetings, not not hear what they're reporting, but actually look at the Zoom meetings and hear what is being said. comments, side comments, laughter, all of it. Because right now I feel like no one is

just briefly regarding your question, Miss Abbott. Did you want to I I think each and every commission or board or agency of the town is either appointed by us the council. It there are a couple appointments I believe by the town manager. Not anymore. Not anymore. But none of us

have the number of hours in a day that we would be able to

check and scrutinize every council, every uh board and commission meeting. We rely on the good people of East Hampton appointed to those boards to do their best job on behalf of all of you. And some apparently some things have slipped and we're finding out we're finding out at the same time you did in many cases and a lot of in I find this process a lot of information or misinformation or lack of information. For instance, the cancelled town meeting was not to vote on approval of the bio uh bio whatever

bioolids

bio bioolids I wanted to call biosphere bioolids plant that was not an issue at all. It was about the purchase of 2.1 acres on West High Street, 292 West High Street, which was not next to the plant and it was not an issue. It was to be the purchase of that property and it was to be held for future in the event of future problems. And no. And secondly, we were never ever intended on building a new plant to process sewage and septic. And if anybody thinks if anybody thinks we were they don't have an understanding of the financing because it's probably something of that nature is approaching a couple hundred million dollars. That's nothing we would ever afford or do

sign a letter of intent. Different issue. I'm not saying something wasn't signed with Griffin, but it was not for vote on on that. Uh I apologize. Meeting scheduled for the 10th. I apologize for that. So, Mr. Chair, you have one here and one online still. The one online is 20%.

I am Katie Huey Pepin, 56 Key Road. Thank you to everybody in town for keeping this out of my backyard. Maybe my kids can continue to grow here and live here and enjoy the community that we have built for them. A lot of us in this town are very tired today between this and spending days in Hartford fighting other infringements on our rights. But for biggest thank you to everybody. But second of all, there needs to be more open transparency on the buying of land by East Hampton. There's currently a house property. That's one of the few that are in the budget for middle class families. And the town was at the open house the other day looking to buy it, knocking out families like mine. Can this be more transparent to all of us instead of young families buying a home in town? One three Young Street.

What number? One and three. So that was all I think people need to know that. Can you tell what property? One and three. One and three. Young Street Young the corner of 16. It's a property 16. You know which one it is. That was a What's the town's interest in it?

Right. That's what I'm curious about. There are families that are interested in this house. Middle class families. I'm curious what what we're looking at it for. I do know anything about No, I don't know anything of this. Julie know nothing about people need to look into it. Sellers are not accepting offers until the town gets their offer. Who was there? I'm asking I'm asking

sorry I am asking what is the town's procedure to looking at and buying properties? Is it transparent? Is it not? I'm not sure from who who from the town was there and what they were representing. But that's why I'm asking because I figured this was the perfect opportunity. If it's somebody that's not from the town that is saying they are, it needs to be looked into. That we will do because this first first time we've heard them. That's why I'm asking is there is there a process to be transparent?

There is a process for for acquiring land. Uh and it depends on uh there it's specifically listed uh if we have a land that's adjacent to town land that we know that becomes available then we do pursue it. Um it is usually taken up in an executive session first. Um if the prior to any offers being made u once that is through it goes to the board of finance. The board of finance then has to approve any uh purchase of land by by charter. Okay. once it goes by through the town um town council, board of finance, town meeting, P&Z,

that's why I wanted to ask because as you hear things while stuff like all of this is going on, it raises questions and I figured this was the perfect place to ask instead of comments flying, questions flying, I wanted it right from right from the mouse. Thank you. Thank you. I didn't know I didn't know what ran you know when that's what I would be by by the busyard think of that busyard

William Jay Nton Jr. for Coughlin Road Cobalt as I said last night or the other night I'm right in the middle of this my house is on the corner of Coughlin Road and Route 66. You go by it all the time. It's the grey house on the corner. And this project would have been, if I can use those words, would have been blocking me in both sides, backyard with the plant and front yard with the traffic going down Coughlin Road. So, I just want to say thank you to whomever was involved with negotiating with Griffin Industrials to lead them to decide to not be interested in this project anymore. Whoever was involved, thank you. And on behalf of my neighbors, because there are only four of us on the street. Across the street, we have Lisa. Next to that is Jeff, who's here, and Kevin, as you know, and and Tammy Rogers who have been very involved in this, and we appreciate that, and we hope that this never comes back. Thank you. Uh, green,

I just received the text. Would you like me to I just received a text. Um, I know it's not proper, but uh, apparently Mr. D Simone was at the property. He was looking into the property for a joint facility upgrade uh to the Middletown Avenue pump station. How's that? I don't even know what property is, but I think it's the corner of Is that by the busy yard? Yes. I think it is. Yeah. So, it's a

Anyway, that's who was at the property.

I'm sorry. I I think I still have some minutes. Um I just want to make sure um Dean um that you are aware of um the fact that 292 West Street is very much related to the Griffin um residuals project. Um the numbers that were put together or that were put together by Anthony D. Simone who we know um all we know I don't need to get into that. He was hired by him. I'm I'm just saying he signed off on this early. All right. Um so you you do not need to let him off the hook. Don't think that these two projects aren't related. video.

I don't think you need to talk.

Uh Rebecca Hajj, 28 and 22 Old Middletown Road. I'm I'm the next road from Coughlin Road. So, um not not as bad as being in my backyard, but nonetheless, um I'm a professional project manager for 20 years. Uh one of the things we do at the end of a project is a postmortem and lessons learned. So, I feel really good. I think I'm going to sleep so much better tonight along with a lot of people in town. Uh but we're not done. We have to figure out there are so many points of failure here. I I can't even begin to list them. Um so I'm not done. I'm going to peel the onion on this and um I might reach out to a ton of you to help me here, but but we just can't let this happen again in our town. We we can't do it. We can't do this over and over again. It's always a code red here. You know, the lack of accountability, the lack of transparency. We We need to take a lesson from Portland. I I I don't know if you guys know on social media, Michael Pellin, right? He he writes his little thing every every week or whatever. Here's what's going on. Here's how the Nordic Spa is going. It's ahead of schedule. He puts little photos in. They're having their meetings last night on the school uh consolidation, right? I feel like I know way more about what's going on in Portland than what's going on in my own community. So, so we got to get our act together and we got to hold accountability here and I'm happy to do that and I'm happy to spearhead it. So, reach out Thank you.

My name is Rita Crocklin Gibbons. I live in East Hampton. Have been brought up all my life. Born and brought up here. I just want to remind everybody, everybody in this room, these people have to be accountability accountable for what they do and the town manager is supposed to make them accountable. Actually, they can fire the town manager, which should be done. But one thing, one thing I want you all to remember in November when you go to vote for any one of these people, the town council, the anything, you have to take into their accountability, what you know about them beforehand, and how they act towards their neighbors and how they act towards people in general. That's all I have to say. Thank you. comments.

That's it. We're going to close public comments at this time. You're all welcome to stay, but we're going to proceed with council meeting. Okay, that's up.

I would just make one point possible clarification. I don't know why Mr. D. Simone was looking at one or three Young Street, but it is a next to it is next to the pump station that brings the sewage from Colchester to our plant for processing. That pump station is now many years old and it's in need of a a rehab and rebuild. That's something we're looking at and will be looking at in the near future. That's the only reason I can think somebody

What's that? That's the only reason I can imagine that someone would be looking at that property because it is adjacent to the existing pump station. But it's nothing other than a look see that I could figure out at this point. We will check into it, but I don't see us acquiring any property here. The comment was made though that the owners were waiting on a bid from East Hampton before entertaining other bids, which is very concerning. So, I would uh urge you to contact the owners and uh

let them know that it was not an offer or do not be waiting on an offer for the town of East Champion. Um at this time, we have never seen it discussed it. Um and if he acted as an agent for the town and they're waiting on an offer, then we have a problem. Yep. which we all concur with. It would be a problem, I'm sure.

All right, moving on. Agenda item two, discussion and possible action regarding WPCA matters. 2A, potential property acquisition. 2A1 legal memorandum regarding acquisition of property. Does it matter what order we go in? Does it matter if we go two one or one two? No.

Okay. Um I I was just wondering um and uh I asked the Dave to bring our uh purchase and sale agreement uh from our last meeting and when we're talking or or many residents were talking um there wasn't an objection necessarily to the land. It was what was going to be done with the property. Um, our town does have in our um, zoning that if there's a parcel of land that comes up for sale adjacent to other town properties, we should be looking into it. Um, right now that the contract does read that it is with the town of East Hampton to purchase the property for $100,000. It was originally going to be done by uh paid for by the WPCA, which is why we have the letter from the attorney that said that the town was not allowed to vote on it because there was no funds being expended by the taxpayers. They So that's why the residents were not going to be allowed to vote on it. Um, I don't necessarily think it's a bad idea for the town to continue the pursuit of this property through our regular channels by putting it to the board of finance for the $100,000 appropriation. Um, I think maybe we should be talking about whether we should buy this as open space, put it in our bank, and if the um WPCA at some later time does need a variance of some sort for some mandatory uh modification to their plant, you know, on the edges of it or they're getting too close as a buffer, but we definitely need to keep that as a buffer from the plant. maybe even plant more trees, maybe do something to uh continue um to preserve that area

um from both the smells. Um and they do come and they were there this morning. Um you know, and the trees do help with that. Um, so I I would like to see us continue on this with the contract and maybe Dave can elaborate, but it says that the contracts with the town of East Hampton, not WPCA. And I don't know if at this point the council would be interested in pursuing this as open space land. um whether we do it, you know, lock the developments down on it and uh put it back to the board of finance to see if uh they would entertain an appropriation for the $100,000 to uh purchase a land.

I'm going to agree with that. That's I'm going to lock it down at Yeah, I'm agreeing with that.

I do think it is smart anytime there is a parcel of land adjacent to something that the town owns for the town to look into purchasing it. that's why we have it written that way. Um, so I I'm fine with the town owning it. Um, I will say that it's really important when we start thinking about regulations because those parcels over there are zoned residential and that's actually a problem because there's no buffering on residential property. So, we really want to also focus on making sure that we're changing those properties accordingly and zoning them. Stop. Stop. Please listen. Okay. There is no buffering required on residential. If you changed, for instance, the property that already has the WPCA sitting on it. I'm not saying any other properties where there is already stuff there. The town garage, the WPCA, the state garage, those parcels should be zoned industrial because then there is a much much larger buffering requirement. not the other one.

They should already have been zoned industrially. Correct. Correct. So, he should They're not at this point. They're all still correct uh listed as residential properties, the WPCA, the public works, and the they are listed in the town records as our uh our two zones, I guess. Yes. So, if we fix it and zone them correctly for what they're being used for, then they have larger buffer requirements and then we can force those buffers to be put in. so that there is that correct buffering between that property and any residential property adjacent to it. So my interest would be protecting the neighboring property with the correct buffering for it. So we've verified that with the uh land use attorneys just to make sure that clarify what with

clarify that if we were to change them industrial that that would have no impact on future change of again I I agree with what I heard in the audience that we are do not allow spot zoning in the town and if we change those to industrial um which actually came up at my property because if you all remember my property is where the FedEx truck used to sit. it. Um, and the owner that owned it previous to me was going to allow FedEx to park all their trucks along 66 there. And that would be an industrial use. And that is the only reason that he could not sell the property to FedEx to use as a um a storage unit. But if it then abudded an industrial property, it would not be a spot zone and they could potentially change the the zoning to it. So, uh I would the only thing that I would be concerned about is um kind of like in a scope creep where we go from industrial to now we have someone here and then it allows the next parcel to be industrial. And so if there's a way to guarantee 100% guarantee that you cannot then continue to creep down 66 with industrial toward cobalt. Um that that would be one thing

that could be written as the PCD that we do not want to extend but that changes every 10 years. I'd rather something much more solid that cannot change that would guarantee that that is not going to be scoped. You don't need that guarantee that it's not forever if you don't change them. But if we leave, somebody else comes in. What type of action could be could we take to guarantee it can't be changed? I don't know that that's what we need the land use attorneys that uh that's why we have land use attorneys. I I'm fine with that, but we need to figure out what we can do perpetually. I just don't want to I just don't want um right, let me understand. You're suggesting that the town buy 290,

continue with this contract, buy it for the 100,000 and make it open space. I'm okay with that. Yeah. Well, again, because it was not going to be paid for by the taxpayers, the board of finance has not reviewed this and we could not move forward without board of finance approval. So, this would have to be turned back. I don't know if we have a a time limit on this, but this would have to go back to the board of finance for approval. Then it would have to come to a town meeting.

So, um we'd have to kind of back pedal a little because of the funding of it. U but I'm sure that um the board of finance has many meetings next week with their budget deliberations. I'm sure we could uh get a special before our next uh our next council meeting uh in two weeks to uh get them to look at it and potentially approve it um if there is some kind of time limit and then we could get back to the public and get a a true public meeting to vote on the land.

You know, I I think I think that's a good idea. Uh without a doubt. Uh, I think what it does, it opens up the the possibility of if if WPCA really gets jammed when when they have to redo those tanks uh and take care of what 20,000 odd people who flush their toilet every day. Uh, that's an important thing. if if we had the land, uh the town that is, uh we could work with them if they really got into a crunch as far as doing whatever they need to do to take care of those plants. Uh that's very key. No, no two ways about it. Uh one of the things about the timing there's like five different steps um that have to be be uh followed here in the agreement. Town council approval, P&Z,

finance, uh board of finance, town meeting, and any other governmental approval. So to be honest with you, um I don't think that's a bad idea at all. Uh I think that's a great idea. I just want to make sure the timeline fits. Well, has it has it already gone to PNZ?

It did. As I stand here right now, I think about whether it matters that it went to the PNZ in the context of ownership by the WPCA rather than this concept. I suspect the answer is probably a more affirmative yes, that it complies with the the town's BOC, which is the initial review that they do. um probably doesn't hurt to send it to them again uh just to be sure on that, but we Juliet and I can talk about that. Uh you have really in the time the the least amount of time you have in the in the purchase and sale agreement is through the 18th of May. Um, so you've got some time to go back if you want all the way back to the P&Z planning and zone uh planning and zoning commission uh then the board of finance and be back at the town council in time to to reschedule the public hearing or rather a town meeting uh prior to that time frame

without being a little snarky. If it already went to PNZ and we need a legal opinion to get away from a town meeting, we should be getting be able to get a legal opinion that we don't need to go back to PNZ. Very well could be the case. I mean, it's it's a if you will a less um uh I'll use the phrase significant use maybe is the way I would put that. So, but I think we could get it by the middle of May. Yeah, I hope so. even if we wanted to go through the due process and allow them again. But if it doesn't say order anything though, it could still go to port of Binance and then just wait on the first week of uh uh the first Wednesday in April

uh is uh PNZ. So uh so it could be noticed it on the PNZ meeting. I don't know if it would have to go to public hearing which would then prolong it. Okay. So it if it if it it still went to the board of finance on this month's meeting which is next Monday could we could they don't normally have other business on that night but they could uh but if if they did that and then you know um it would just we could even take action subject to planning and zoning approval on the first um and then that would mean on the first you could then set the you know get the timeline for the public meeting because we could all do do make all our motions at our meeting subject to the first approval.

You could. Yeah. As long as we don't fall outside the zone. That's the key. I just want to make sure we do not fall outside that and make sure that the taxpayers are aware and we get it out there. I don't want to be another buyer. There's an extra 60 days in the contract. There are. There are. And if I if push comes to shove, we have a 45 at the beginning. We could we we I'm not concerned about that. We'll get it done. Okay. I think it would be appropriate for the council to adopt a motion to direct that. That's the mo direction we'll go. I make that motion to uh buy purchase purchase it for open space and then start the procedure through the board of finance and uh planning and second.

Good. Motion made and seconded. Further discussion on the matter. Hearing none. Those in favor? Opposed? So adopted and carried. Good.

I was exact same thing yesterday. We did exact same thing. Yeah. We just have the uh makeup of the WQCA and citizens appointments. guess because do you want to

I do may not be the popular thing but um so a couple years ago the town council there was some issues going on at the um housing authority and the town council at the time removed every member of the board uh for the housing authority and replace the entire board. And it worked out very well. Um full disclosure, I was one of the ones that went on. I was on for about a year. I don't think it was two years. Uh it is now a full new board, but even from what was put on, they're doing wonderfully and uh they did quite a turnaround. Um the ambulance association

in the last year has I believe every member turned over except for one. Um and they again have turned around uh they have a they have a new chief. they they have turned around seem to be working for the town and in light of everything happened with the meeting with everything happening. I would love to um do the same thing with the WPCA and remove every member for cause and start. Um it has been posted all over Facebook that we have openings. I have been um contacted by many residents that are interested in serving um with variety of backgrounds um and I think it's time to clean house and start over again. It has worked in the past and I think it is time to do it with this board. I do. I do. That's fine. You made some good points. How important handles?

Well, we got we we have a bunch of people here. Should we just hand some applications? That would be fine, too. I I mean, if you'll it's I would make a motion to remove the entire WPCA board uh for clause based on the December meeting. uh and um request applications to refill it. I can second that. I know it's a lot of work, but I think it's what needs to be done. Every people on the board

that's still to come. We we have a meeting regarding employer employee issues in executive session after this. Just for just for transparency, I hate to do this to y'all, but when we go into executive session, we're going to have to have all of you leave. Um we cannot vote in exe executive session. However, if there is anything that needs to be acted on, um then we we do come out of executive session before uh closing the meeting. Uh if you do want if you want to stay, you're more than welcome to. Um but we do have to clear the room or if you move to

or we can go to the conference room and you can stay here, but we do have to separate from you for our executive session. It has every recording has to be off. Uh I don't know how long our our executive session would be. Um, but we but if you don't mind waiting, we could probably use the conference room down the hall. Um, we should do that. I think that would probably be a good idea if we uh allow you guys to hang out for a little while and we will adjourn to the other conference room for our our executive session. Um, but that's when we get to executive session.

All right, we have a motion on the table. A second. Well, I'm sorry. What did We have a motion. We have a motion and a second. Is there a time frame? I will look. Guys, guys, guys, can you give us a second here?

One thing we have to do is we have to make sure of the timing. In other words, uh WPCA business does have to continue. we have to have a proper transition and uh what so I would I would guess in the absence of the WCPCA commission that any emergent business would actually fall to the council. Yes. Is that not true? You would imagine. I think that's a reasonable step because if you assigned the responsibilities to the WPCA and it is empty, you could temporarily take them back. I think that's a reasonable assumption

and and I think that that would be something that is reasonable to do but it adds a little bit more work to each one of our plates if there is an action that needs but I think it is the right thing to do if if we are going to take step I would also like to look at what authority the WPCA has just to make sure that if that we're not giving them more than necessary 100% that there potentially could be some control taken back by and that was stubborn also emailed back to me today so that we don't run into this situation again where the town can't choose because the WPCA was allowed to take the action on their own. Is there anything the town can pull back to have the council approve them fired also or a vote from the public?

So I did receive an email today. I had a very busy day, but that they said we did grant the power to the WPCA. So to your point, we should look at the powers granted to the WPCA and if we need to amend them before appointing more people to it, so be it. And you know what? Again, if it takes us a month that we have to do something, then we have to do something. Obviously, none of us were involved in that original granting. So I'd like to review that. What power do you have? What might be appropriate if if while we do that is we really should have um uh a legal input on that. Yeah. you know to not just to try to figure it out ourselves. Yeah. No, no. Ask the attorney what we you know almost the minimum do what standard what are we allowed to do.

What are they allowed to do? What are they allowed to do facilities and the we have to review the joint facilities agreement and make sure that all of it is cohesive and fits together if yes. So now's the time to do it. Time to clean it. So may I say two things? uh one you you did make the comment about for cause in your one person wasn't there um and that notwithstanding the um there is a provision in that regulation that you that was used to create them that does give them the opportunity for a hearing uh and 10 days notice of that hearing. Um what if we decided to just terminate it for not for cause but just to terminate the board?

That's kind of where I'm going. You could um the as we did with uh housing authority because that had some rules associated with it as well. Uh the council took an action to um revise. That's right. There's a little process there too. Damn. Anyway, they took the board originally.

They did. That was able to be done with a resolution. This is an ordinance, so it's a little bit of a slower process. Nevertheless, um you can adopt an ordinance through the normal process to essentially reassign the responsibilities for WPCAS as outlined in the statutes, which that was my second thing. You all have the copy of those statutes.

Um that you can reassign that back to the council and that sort of eliminates the issue of the WPCA as a separate body. you've taken it back and you've put it back in the council in your hands and then you can go through that process of identifying how you want to move on to an whether it's an advisory body or something else uh that has perhaps some limited uh some limitations or checks or however you want to phrase it uh on their authority.

All right. I think that's probably the cleanest way. Notwithstanding, of course, you could go through the cause hearing if you wanted, but that I think perhaps the cleanest. So, make a motion to just terminate the WPCA board. You already made one. So, I can I can amend my motion to just uh instead of uh removing members for cause to just terminate the board. I was going to say withdraw your All right. Withdraw my motion. Now, put your motion in. What David was saying was that you act we actually terminate the whole organization. That's what that's my next that's my next motion and town council assumes allocations and then you create

correct. So my next motion is to terminate the WPCA board and I second that. what the authority asked with just that. That's the next motion. It's a motion made and seconded. Is there any further discussion on that matter? You all are going to run that moving forward temporarily. I hope it runs by itself for a while. No, I mean the plant. You're right. I'm sorry. Vote on the matter. Those in favor of motion signify by saying I. I. I. I. Opposed. Nay. So adopt. I would like to make another motion.

I would like to make another motion to turn the powers of the WPCA back to the town council at this time. Second. Motion made and seconded. Is there any discussion on that matter? We all clear. Those in favor I I posted n eyes have it.

Um I'd like to make a motion that we go into executive session for possible uh just one thing before we do that. you're you're all pleased with the actions that have taken place. Please don't walk away from this. Fill out an application for participate to participate as a possible member. Otherwise, it's for not. We need a number of good people willing to put in a lot of time behalf of the town. So

it is a seven member board with two alternates. So we need nine people, please. Okay. Uh make a motion to go into executive session concerning the appointment, employment, performance, evaluation, health and or dismissal of a public officer or employee uh parses uh Cox and D Simone and uh concerning the potential lease, sale of purchase of real estate and we will be heading down to the conference room at the end. just add that we may have maybe joined by legal legal counsel be joined by legal council and we can invite in legal counsel

and uh the town manager well we're going to do which first and we will be inviting the town manager at part of it you want to start with the town manager or do you want to start with us first Oh yeah town manager or Now, uh, are we going to invite the town manager in first? Are we going to have our talk first and then we will We'll go ahead our talk first. Brief discussion. Yeah. And then we'll we'll come and get you. You need a second. Wait, you need a second and a vote?

Second. Jackson in favor executive sess which which conference the upstairs is available this one is too I I I don't know if board of fields is in there but I had you booked upstairs but you can go wherever you want.

Okay go I think go upstairs is best. where we could participate in a board of I'll go in my office. Okay. All right. Channel something. pretty

much Everything looks like doesn't make I think everybody

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meeting. black sitting. Another You see that black?

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I understand. on Monday. I think This is not I'm not

Anybody else? Somebody Here we go. All right.

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essentially everybody. Yeah, except I've never really been like How many days? Let's see.

Wait a moment. There we go.

Say like Come on.

They look like sisters. Come on. Come on. Don't play that game. Starting at other people, ask everybody in the station. say, "What do you think of my new head shot?" Like, "What do you think of my new head?" My mustache like this. What did it sound like? for ourselves. We see later

question. Ask Everybody back. I believe you're

Everybody I was going to sit down.

No, we're not going to sit down because we got to go back and we just recessed our executive session. Come out and give you some information. We're in recess from executive session. We wanted to make an announcement. Okay.

Since you all waited around through dinner hour, we thought we'd uh come out and give you some news. As of this afternoon, late this afternoon, Mr. D. Simone was terminated. Well, we know that that's I guess happy news for all of you who have been here and for these sessions, but this needs to become good news for the town as we move ahead. and we will we will be working on that. We've just had some productive discussions in the the few minutes that we've been out of the room, but uh I wanted to let you know that. So, I could have waited till midnight, but I know you some of you want to go to go to bed or get something to eat. Anyways, thank you for coming out tonight. Yeah, we're still attending this session. Want to keep it. has already been discussed. It's already

We have our executive intelligence. I am allow I don't have a advice first action. twice. It's been a You can see the leg.

Let me see. I don't want to They 15 years. Yeah. Yeah.

I hope everybody. Don't say my little across the bridge. Stop. as a person. Okay.

Yeah. one next to the left. I just want to end myself very nicely. smell.

I think PC down this wall all the way to the end and to the right. All right. Let's go. I'm a large enough.

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business. Yeah, first one. And I think it's going to had

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And so Yeah, I taught I

think Yeah. Goes back. school. And so wishes Right. That's what I was curious. school public school outside.

Yeah, just I was already there. So, seems I was trying to get out of sort of Oh, well I always

What would you do? They also I mean, it's my accident. I'm just like

I get tired. Let's skip this. You need

Wednesday Yeah. Yeah. Something hungry. All right. Byebye. Do you know?

I don't know any decisions any other decision sessions. Yeah. Thank you. Be careful. They were coming back to hold another session.

No. So, they're going to come back and basically just close the meeting and then everyone will leave. We're just waiting to see if that want to make comment after they're out of executive session. I don't think they're going to come back in and say anything other than like motions to be done. Of course.

It is in there. Oh, they're going out to see if they can catch out of time. There are some stations that are doing that. I asked these people they were told there aren't going to be any more announcements. Just come back. Yeah, I just thought she was early. Everything's so good.

I know they are. I just want to see. We're just real concerned about getting so We don't know what

Yeah, we don't know if there is right? Of course. just

just after all he's done the level of disrespect. It's just Simple respond, right? Right.

Right.

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still talking about multiple things. Right. Right. something. I don't think that's supposed to be I know it does. I know. I was surprised.

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really And he's from he makes him okay. What's that? I said that makes him better than okay. He uh he's a good person. Yes, he is. Yeah, he is. I just feel bad.