Following the Sept. 15 elections for mayor and two seats on the East Hampton Village Board, Mayor Jerry Larsen and his NewTown Party running mates Chris Minardi and Sandra Melendez, the newly-elected trustees, were sworn in at the village board meeting on Friday.
The board officially accepted the results of the election, and the appointment of Mr. Minardi as deputy mayor.
Mr. Minardi, who is a member of the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad, and has been a lifeguard at Main Beach for 10 years, announced that the village would hire three new lifeguards for the fall, including his brother, Jimmy Minardi, in an effort to keep the village's beaches open "as long as we can weather permitting." (Mr. Minardi abstained from the vote on the hiring.) The number of people still going to the beach has dramatically increased because of the pandemic, he said. "As much as we can provide the public with some access to the beach and safer waters, then that's our objective."
The board appointed Devin McGuinness as a full-time critical care emergency medical technician starting next Thursday.
Three new members of the Fire Department were accepted. Duval Flores is with Engine Company #2, Micah A. Jones with Engine Company #5, and David Cheney with Engine Company #6.
The board approved a notice for bids for the installation of a nitrogren-reducing septic system for the Herrick Park restrooms, and resolved to make temporary adjustments to pension-like incentive programs for volunteer members of the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association and Fire Department. The length of service awards program, known as LOSAP, is a financial benefit provided to volunteers once they reach retirement age. To qualify for the benefit, members must take part in a required number of response calls, training courses, meetings, and other activities per year. Because of the pandemic, many members, for safety reasons, have not been able to meet those requirements, and the adjustments will allow for a new threshold for qualification.
The board scheduled the annual organizational meeting for Oct. 16.