In an attempt to clear up what it has described as “considerable confusion” about its lease agreement with East Hampton Town, the Maidstone Gun Club last Thursday sent a letter to the East Hampton Town Board proposing improved safety features and oversight at the facility.
The club has been closed under a temporary restraining order since late November, when Wainscott homeowners living near the club filed suit against it in State Supreme Court, Riverhead. Justice Christopher Modelewski issued the order after a bullet reportedly originating from the club struck a house on Merchants Path.
In its letter, the club’s board of directors stressed that it followed its previous lease agreement to the letter when it came to exercising the option to renew it. The current lease expires on Oct. 31; the option is to extend it for 30 more years. “According to the terms and conditions of these agreements, exercise by the club of the option to extend requires no activity or vote of the town board,” the board wrote. “The only activity required of the town board is participation in negotiations to agree upon a revised rental fee.” To that end, the board said it has commissioned an appraisal, and a report is expected “in the near future.”
Separately, East Hampton Town Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez told the Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee on Aug. 5 that the town was working on its own appraisal.
The club, which occupies nearly 100 acres of town property north of the airport off Wainscott Northwest Road, also wrote in its letter that it “stands willing to discuss modification” of the area of land involved.
The letter, verified by The Star to have come from the gun club, added that the club “intends to enhance and extend its current policies, protocols, rules, and standards for safety and security at the leasehold when the club reopens.”
Among the proposed upgrades is establishing a range-officer program “by which an individual duly qualified” will be “on duty when the rifle range is in active use.” The club will also create “a special classification of membership” for all persons using the rifle range, “who will be required to attend [a] special instruction course” and “shall be identified by a special identification badge.”
In addition, it wants to install a “structured, swinging gate” with a steel frame and cement base, as well as an “enhanced electronic gate capable of identifying active members in good standing” with “a license plate reader capable of preserving the images for a reasonable time.” Additional cameras would be added, including at least two at the clubhouse; one at each of the skeet, trap, archery, outdoor pistol range, and five-stand shotgun stands, and at least three at the rifle range.
“The club will provide in writing permission for the town, its agents, or employees access to the property for such inspections as the town deems necessary relating to the conditions and operations
on the property at all reasonable times,” the letter continues.
The club continues to assert that the temporary restraining order is unfair, given that it voluntarily closed the rifle range on Aug. 5, 2022, when the bullet in question struck a building on one of the properties owned by someone who is now one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The club has argued that the November 2022 complaint alleging “trespass, nuisance, and negligence” has no footing because the club’s other facilities, such as its indoor pistol range, archery, trap, and skeet fields, and social functions, do not adversely impact the plaintiffs.
Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc has recused himself from all gun club talks because he is a member. Ms. Burke-Gonzalez, the deputy supervisor, declined to comment on the letter this week. She did tell the Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee on Aug. 5 that she supports having a range for local police to train at, but said she does not support “continuing with the existing lease without extensive modifications.”
The town, along with the club, is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and Ms. Burke-Gonzalez clarified to the committee that the town board “has not joined the side of the Maidstone Gun Club.” Rather, she said, the board is cooperating on some aspects “when appropriate.”
The litigation is still in the discovery phase as the club attempts — unsuccessfully so far — to have the temporary restraining order lifted. Hearings before Justice Modelewski began on May 22 and are to continue on Tuesday.
