Government

The stage was set as the East Hampton Village Board prepared to hold a public hearing about proposed legislation to restrict business hours in the historic district, legislation that seemed aimed at discouraging Zero Bond, a private membership club, from leasing or purchasing the Hedges Inn and turning it into a night spot for the ultra-rich.

“I have a big list of thank-yous and acknowledgments, because I stand on the shoulders of giants,” Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker said, reflecting on her first 100 days in office.

A reconstructed baseball diamond for Herrick Park, complete with dugouts, will be playable by "Memorial Day weekend, give or take," Chris Hines, an account manager with the LandTek Group, told the East Hampton Village Board at Friday's meeting. The board determined that the project will have little environmental impact, and approved $535,720.60 for the work, which will come out of the village's general fund.

The East Hampton Town Board is considering prohibiting overnight parking at 31 town lots and road ends and is also weighing new stop signs at a number of busy intersections.

Former United States Representative George Santos, who on March 7 announced his intention to run as an independent for New York's First Congressional District, which includes the South Fork, has dropped out of the race.

Starting June 1, the East Hampton Town Trustees, the stewards of beaches, wetlands, and waterways throughout both East Hampton Town and Village, will charge a new $300 fee for events held at the five village beaches, Main Beach, Egypt Beach, Two Mile Hollow, Wiborg’s Beach, and Georgica.

East Hampton Village is moving forward on a few stormwater-abatement projects, which together could improve the quality of the water in Georgica Pond.

After several months of delays related to manufacturing, Suffolk County's expansion of on-demand bus service to East Hampton Town is set to begin on Sunday.

East Hampton Town’s new community housing fund, voted into law in November 2022 and financed by a half-percent tax on real estate sales paid by the buyer, has brought in $4.2 million in its first year, Eric Schantz, director of the Housing and Community Development Department, reported to the town board on Tuesday. The money is intended chiefly for affordable housing and to help first-time homebuyers.

Proposals to deal with wastewater at Rowdy Hall and two Montauk businesses, a hotel and a restaurant, were greenlighted at a town board work session last week. But the highlight might have been an eelgrass project for Napeague Harbor.

Public officials in search of new revenue streams love paid parking. So now might be a good time to get familiar with ParkMobile, as the number of lots using it here is growing.

On April 10, the federal Environmental Protection Agency issued a final determination on limits for “forever chemicals” in drinking water sources, along with a three-to-five-year timeline by which testing and remediation are to occur and about $1 billion in funding to support states, cities, and other municipalities in carrying out that testing and remediation.