East Hampton Town announced the hiring of two new department heads last week, including a new town attorney, hired from within, Jake Turner, and a new director of code enforcement, Marty Culloton.
The town has lost four department heads since February and is still on the search for a chief building inspector after Joseph Palermo accepted a job in East Hampton Village, and a new director of housing and community development, after Eric Schantz left the area. Mr. Schantz, however, was appointed at last Thursday’s town board meeting to principal planner II in the Planning Department, where he had previously worked. He will be able to perform the job, which pays $92,251 annually, remotely.
Mr. Turner is relatively new to the town attorney’s office, joining just over a year ago. A town press release reports, however, that he has “more than 20 years of legal experience in both public service and private practice.” Early in his career he spent eight years as a senior assistant district attorney in the Suffolk County D.A.’s office and he also once served as assistant town attorney in the Town of Huntington, among other roles. He begins in his new position on Monday.
“Jake has already shown himself to be a steady, collaborative legal voice and a great fit for East Hampton,” Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said in the release.
“The town board and supervisor lead with clarity, purpose, and a deep commitment to the community, which makes this a truly exceptional place to work,” Mr. Turner is quoted as saying. “I have a strong understanding of the legal and operational needs of the town and am ready to take on this new role.”
Mr. Turner’s promotion wasn’t the only change in the department. In addition, Brittany Toledano has been appointed deputy town attorney, leaving her role as principal assistant county attorney and labor relations investigator with the Suffolk County Attorney’s Office. Charles (Charlie) Collins, who has served as an assistant town attorney since early 2024, has been promoted to senior assistant town attorney. (Mr. Collins is also a volunteer firefighter with the East Hampton Fire Department.)
In the release, Ms. Toledano said she is honored “to serve a community so deeply engaged in protecting its natural and built environment. Having advised the Suffolk County Planning Commission and worked extensively on SEQRA matters, I understand how essential careful legal guidance is to land use planning and environmental review.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Culloton has previously served as the town investigator in the Code Enforcement Department for Southampton Town.
“Marty brings strong experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges our community faces when it comes to protecting our neighborhoods and natural resources,” Ms. Burke-Gonzalez said. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team and look forward to the improvements in responsiveness, coordination, and transparency he’ll bring to this vital department.”
“My focus will be on working collaboratively with the community and across departments to ensure that our town’s codes are enforced fairly, consistently, and with respect,” Mr. Culloton said in the press release. “East Hampton is a special place, and I’m committed to doing my part to help preserve it.”
