Council adopts voluntary sewer hookup rule

Town Council · Meeting of May 26, 2026

East Hampton's Town Council adopted a voluntary sewer-hookup ordinance and raised permit fees after a contentious appointment vote. The council voted 7-0 to amend Chapter 264 of the town code so existing homeowners on septic no longer must connect to sewer lines, following revisions Town Manager David Cox presented at the meeting. Members voted 6-1, with Ted Hintz Jr. opposed, to raise driveway and zoning permit fees from $25 to $37 starting July 1.

The council also seated nine Agriculture Commission members, but split 6-1 on appointing Mark Barmasse, the former longtime water pollution control authority chair; Hintz said "I just have a concern with just throwing him on the next board." Resident Rebecca Harvey later said she was "kind of shocked" the council saw no ethical conflict. The council approved $1,655.54 in tax refunds and set a June 9 hearing on a $40,000 Epoch Arts tax-credit application.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 967 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of May 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

The Full Article

EAST HAMPTON — May 26, 2026 — The East Hampton Town Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to adopt an ordinance making sewer connections voluntary for most existing homes, then voted 6-1 to raise several permit fees and seated seven new members to the town's Agriculture Commission.

The council acted after a public hearing on amendments to Chapter 264 of the town code, the section governing sewer use. Town Manager David Cox presented revised language at the meeting clarifying that homes built before a public sewer line existed on their street would not be required to connect, while new construction built after sewer becomes available would have to connect.

The Full Story

Five residents spoke during the public hearing on the sewer ordinance. Cristal Chan, of 34 Walnut Avenue, asked why a section addressing failing septic systems, Section 264-8, had been removed and marked "reserved" rather than requiring connection in those cases. Lee Calvocoressi, of Tiffany Court, asked whether homeowners connecting to sewer would still face a $40,000 lien; Cox said that provision had been dropped from the water pollution control authority's policies and was tied to a prior project the council did not fund. Erica Kowsz and Hunter Styles, both of 103 Mott Hill Road, and Rebecca Harvey, of 39 Flanders Road, spoke in favor of the amendment.

Cox walked the council through revised language he drafted after reviewing the originally proposed ordinance, saying the focus should be on whether a house existed before sewer construction rather than before the ordinance's effective date. He said the water pollution control authority would determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether connection costs exceed septic costs enough to exempt a property. Council member Ted Hintz, Jr. made the motion, seconded by Karen Wanat, to approve the ordinance with the changes presented at the meeting. It passed 7-0. The ordinance takes effect 21 days after publication.

"It seems to me that functional and compliant systems should not be forcibly placed without a clear public health necessity."

[00:09:06] — Hunter Styles, resident, 103 Mott Hill Road

"If there was a house that existed prior to the construction of sewer, it is not required to connect. I believe that was your intent."

[00:19:19] — David Cox, Town Manager

The council also approved, 6-1, an update to the town's fee schedule effective July 1. Cox said most fees are unchanged, but several zoning and land-use permits, including driveway permits, will rise from $25 to $37 to cover a $12-per-permit charge the town pays its online permitting vendor. Police private-duty rates will also increase, to $112.25 per hour on weekdays and $166.25 on weekends, plus vehicle costs. Hintz voted against the fee package, saying the town should not pass the processing charge on to residents. Member Richard Knotek made the motion, seconded by Jack Solomon.

Later in the meeting, the appointments subcommittee, chaired by Knotek, nominated nine people to fill the newly seated Agriculture Commission: Stephen Strong, Teesha Grant, George Krivda and Christopher Bitel to three-year terms ending December 31, 2029, each approved 7-0; and Richard Walker, Mark Barmasse and Jackie Reardon to two-year terms ending December 31, 2028, along with alternates Martin Voelker and Ray Nichols. Hintz objected to Barmasse's nomination, noting Barmasse had chaired the water pollution control authority for roughly 20 years before that board was recently eliminated.

"I just have a concern with just throwing him on the next board that came up. I don't know what his farming experience is or isn't, but I do have concerns over that one."

[00:49:13] — Ted Hintz, Jr., council member

Barmasse's appointment passed 6-1, with Hintz opposed; the other eight nominees were each approved 7-0. During later public remarks, Rebecca Harvey said she was "kind of shocked" that council members saw no ethical conflict in moving Barmasse from one board to another. The council also set a public hearing for June 9 on a Neighborhood Assistance Act application from Epoch Arts seeking $40,000 in state tax-credit funding for building upgrades, and approved five tax refunds totaling $1,655.54.

Why It Matters

The sewer ordinance changes mean existing homeowners on septic systems will not be forced to connect to the sewer system, while new construction on streets with available sewer lines will be required to do so. The fee increases raise costs on driveway, zoning and land-use permit applicants starting July 1. The Agriculture Commission appointments, particularly Barmasse's move from the recently dissolved water pollution control authority, drew pointed objections from both a sitting council member and a resident during public comment, a dispute that could resurface at the town's ethics commission. The town's budget referendum follows June 2.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Adoption of Chapter 264 sewer use ordinance amendments Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Set public hearing for Neighborhood Assistance Act application (Epoch Arts) Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Approve FY2027 fee and charges update Tally: For: 6, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Appoint Stephen Strong to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint Teesha Grant to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint George Krivda to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint Christopher Bitel to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint Richard Walker to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint Mark Barmasse to Agriculture Commission Tally: For: 6, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Appoint Jackie Reardon to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint Martin Voelker as alternate to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Appoint Ray Nichols as alternate to Agriculture Commission Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Approve tax refunds totaling $1,655.54 Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Town of East Hampton Connecticut: Town Council meeting, May 26, 2026