A discussion prior to the East Hampton Town Board’s unanimous vote last Thursday to authorize a $175,000 bond issue for design plans and specifications for a new shellfish hatchery on Gann Road in Springs quickly became heated when Councilman Jeff Bragman questioned the resolution.

A pair of companion bills passed in the New York State Assembly and Senate last week would allow the five East End towns to add .5 percent to the existing 2-percent real estate transfer tax to set up a pot of money for affordable housing programs. The Town Community Housing Fund legislation awaits a signature by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and would then be subject to a voter referendum.

The John M. Marshall Elementary School in East Hampton and the Amagansett School are the only two South Fork schools to make the New York State Education Department’s list of 562 “high achieving and high progress” schools throughout the state, the department announced last week.