Where We Stand

An Open Letter to the New Town Board

As it appeared in local newspapers, January 2010.

East Hampton Conservators and those who share our views want to offer you our concern regarding issues of importance to the town’s future.

At the same time we offer to work with you on these issues in the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.

Foremost on our minds is the Town Comprehensive Plan. The present updated plan strikes the right balance between development and environmental protection. We encourage you to uphold the plan as presently written and use it as a roadmap to the town’s future.

The Community Preservation Fund also is critical to the town. We encourage you to continue to use the fund to preserve open space, particularly land that impacts the town’s aquifers, our sole source of pure drinking water.

Selling town-owned land is troubling and should only be done as a last resort. Development of former town-owned land could have a negative impact on the environment and our quality of life, and increase school and town taxes.

Every new administration has the right to make its own appointments in town government. However, we do not support replacing high quality, experienced personnel with political partisans. Personnel decisions should be made solely on the basis of qualifications, experience, and performance.

Other major issues of concern to us are the development of Star Island and the impact on Lake Montauk, the protection of the Atlantic Double Dunes, and the cataloguing and enforcement of easements town wide. Work on the new Town Hall should proceed according to the plan of Robert A.M.Stern Architects and preserve the historic buildings.

East Hampton Town has a proud tradition of controlling development, protecting the environment, preserving its historic legacy, and improving the quality of life of its residents.

We offer to work with you in continuing that tradition.

East Hampton Conservators

Dedicated to controlling development, protecting the environment
preserving our historic legacy and promoting good government.