Ian Calder-Piedmonte, vice chairman of the East Hampton Town Planning Board, liaison to the town’s agricultural advisory committee, and a co-owner of Balsam Farms in East Hampton and Amagansett, has been appointed to fill the seat on the town board that was vacated by Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez when she became supervisor at the start of this year.
Mr. Calder-Piedmonte, who lives in Springs, will be sworn in on Tuesday, when the town board holds its scheduled meeting at 11 a.m. Ms. Burke-Gonzalez made the announcement in an email on Monday afternoon.
During his 12 years as a member of the planning board, Mr. Calder-Piedmonte "demonstrated his ability to be fair, open-minded, well-prepared, and a strong communicator," according to the emailed announcement. "His deep knowledge of the issues facing our town and its residents is inherent in his decision-making process to balance community needs, our fragile environment, and the challenges faced by local businesses." He has also been a board member of Edible School Gardens and LTV.
A Michigan native, Mr. Calder-Piedmonte moved to East Hampton in 2005 and has worked as a farmer since then. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy in 2002.
“I love East Hampton and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the town board," Mr. Calder-Piedmonte said in the announcement. "It has been a great honor to serve on the planning board, and I’m excited to continue serving East Hampton in this new role. I look forward to working with the town board, town staff, and our community, to help ensure East Hampton remains a thriving year-round community, where residents can live, work, raise a family, and enjoy life in this very special place. I will work hard for this town in every way I can, and I’m committed to being fair, open-minded, and considerate of all members of our community as we face the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
“We are honored that so many qualified candidates submitted their resumes and letters of intent in consideration for this position,” Ms. Burke-Gonzalez said in the same announcement. “After a thorough and deliberative process, we are thrilled that Ian will be joining the board. Ian shares our values, and will work collaboratively with his colleagues, town staff, and our residents to address the critical issues that we face as a community. Ian is thoughtful, and always looks to find consensus. We are beyond thrilled that he is willing to step up and join forces to ensure that East Hampton remains a beautiful, healthy and extraordinary place to live, work, and raise a family for generations to come.”
Also in Monday's announcement was word that the town board expects to appoint Jennifer Casper Fowkes to serve the remainder of Mr. Calder-Piedmonte’s term on the planning board, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2026, and Sharon McCobb as vice chairwoman of the planning board for 2024.
