Government

With onshore construction of the South Fork Wind farm's underground cable set to begin this month, survey and construction preparation work are to commence on Thursday.

In his State of the Town address on Tuesday, East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc spoke about the acute shortage of affordable housing here, renewable energy and sustainability, planning, the town’s finances, and building projects. On housing, which he said is “threatening to unravel the fabric of our community,” he announced an “All Hands on Housing” initiative.

East Hampton Town’s purchase of a parcel adjacent to Herrick Park in East Hampton Village using community preservation fund money has hit a snag over the future use of the property.

Continuity was on the agenda when the East Hampton Town Trustees selected officers and staff during their organizational meeting on Monday night.

Tensions ran high last month as the East Hampton Town Planning Board discussed a proposal that would see the 70.4-acre reclaimed sand and gravel mine in Wainscott divided into 50 commercial parcels. Known as the Wainscott Commercial Center, it is the largest development proposal to have come before the planning board for quite some time and one that the board believes could have significant environmental impacts.

Anthony Figliola, a former deputy supervisor of Brookhaven Town, has announced his candidacy for the Republican Party’s nomination to represent New York’s First Congressional District.

East Hampton Airport will transition to a model that would require aircraft operators to obtain permission in advance to “have full operational use of a runway, taxiway, apron, or airport facility/service," Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc announced this week.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Dec. 22 that is intended to clear a path for community choice aggregation programs in the Long Island Power Authority’s service territory. The new law is to go into effect 90 days after the bill’s signing.

Ed Michels, East Hampton Town’s senior harbormaster, will shift to part-time service in 2022.

As Covid-19 cases have risen, demand for testing has too, with long lines reported at East Hampton Town’s test site at its Center for Humanity on Stephen Hand’s Path, run by CareOne Concierge, and the town warning that results may be slower in coming — and that testing materials are in short supply. The facility was closed Thursday to patients seeking tests for that reason.

East Hampton Town’s governing bodies will hold organizational meetings for 2022 next week, and some new elected officials will be sworn in on Friday.

A deteriorating bulkhead on Lake Montauk and lingering questions about a large yoga pavilion are the main sticking points for a proposed “artists’ retreat” that would involve the complete reconstruction of 17 cottages and a large single-family house at 31 East Lake Drive in Montauk.