Council Elects WPCA Chair, Delays Sewer Vote

Town Council · Meeting of April 28, 2026

EAST HAMPTON — The East Hampton Town Council elected Jack Solomon as the new Water Pollution Control Authority chairman and delayed a vote on a six-month sewer expansion moratorium. Solomon beat Ted Hintz, Jr. 5-2 for the WPCA chairmanship after the council, acting in its separate capacity, voted 7-0 to accept a $250,000 Connecticut DEEP brownfield grant for cleanup at 3 Walnut Avenue and advanced a $355,700 Middle School paving plan, roughly $100,000 cheaper than first estimated. Board of Education Chairwoman Nancy Kohler told the council the district could cut its proposed budget increase to 4.3 percent, "without any staff or programming reductions." Town Attorney Richard Carella said a proposed sewer-avoidance ordinance "is not going to fly" as written and belonged before the WPCA instead.

Developer attorney Tim Fury warned that stalled sewer agreements for two approved projects have already cost his client more than $50,000.

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Source: the Town Council meeting of April 28, 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 — April 28, 2026 — The East Hampton Town Council, now doubling as the town's Water Pollution Control Authority, elected Jack Solomon WPCA chairman by a 5-2 vote over Ted Hintz, Jr. and put off action on a proposed six-month moratorium on sewer expansion during a meeting that ran past 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Earlier in the evening, acting solely as the Town Council, members voted 7-0 to accept a $250,000 state brownfield cleanup grant for town-owned land at 3 Walnut Avenue and advanced a $355,700 plan to repave the Middle School parking lots, about $100,000 less than an earlier estimate. The council also heard more than two hours of public comment on a proposed fiscal 2027 budget but took no vote, with a decision expected May 12.

The Full Story

Board of Education Chairwoman Nancy Kohler told the council the district could lower its proposed budget increase from 4.81 percent to 4.3 percent, a reduction of $198,300, without cutting any staff or programs. Superintendent Tim Van Tasel said roughly $100,000 of this year's surplus would instead be shifted into curriculum and technology spending for next year.

"It would not include any staff or programming reductions at this time." [00:04:17] — Board of Education Chairwoman Nancy Kohler

More than two dozen residents, teachers and parents spoke during the budget hearing, most defending the Smart Start Pre-K program, which supporters said brings the district $75,000 in state grant funding and a state accreditation that would be difficult to recover if lost. Board of Finance Vice President Daniel Finn, speaking in a personal capacity, said his board found no further cuts possible in the education budget beyond the $198,300 already identified. Chairman Markham said the council would weigh the comments before a vote at its May 12 meeting.

The council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution accepting the $250,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, money the town's Brownfields Redevelopment Agency will use to begin cleaning contaminated soil on the western portion of the 3 Walnut Avenue property for future use as a park tied to the Village Center. Town Manager David Cox told the council the agency has also applied for an additional $1 million from the state Department of Economic and Community Development to finish the site.

Public Works Director Matt Walsh told the council the town could use a state vendor-in-place paving program to repave the Middle School's two lots for $355,700, far below an earlier $450,000 estimate that assumed a competitively bid project.

"I have gotten a commitment from our vendor to do this project if we so choose." [02:39:22] — Public Works Director Matt Walsh

The council directed staff to prepare a resolution for the May 12 meeting calling a town meeting vote on the additional appropriation. Separately, Town Attorney Richard Carella told the council a concept ordinance to ban most sewer expansion belonged before the WPCA, not the Town Council, and the item was tabled.

"A simple blanket, we don't want sewers, is not going to fly." [02:57:32] — Town Attorney Richard Carella

Carella also advised the council it cannot waive state-mandated interest on disputed sewer fees under appeal; no action was taken, leaving affected property owners to pay and seek refunds if their appeals succeed.

After adjourning the Town Council meeting 7-0 at 9:50 p.m., members reconvened at 10 p.m. as the WPCA, a role created by an ordinance adopted April 7. Markham nominated Solomon for chairman; Feegel nominated Hintz. Solomon won, 5-2. The WPCA named Solomon chairman and Richard Knotek a member of the three-seat Joint Facilities Board shared with Colchester, leaving a third, Republican-affiliated seat vacant. Attorney Tim Fury, representing developer Belltown30 LLC, told the WPCA that stalled development agreements on two approved projects, known as Alden's Crossing and Long Crossing, have delayed a pending home sale and cost his client more than $50,000 in redesign work. The WPCA did not vote on the proposed moratorium, agreeing to revisit it after reviewing those pending agreements. Members voted 6-0 to keep monthly WPCA meetings on the first Tuesday but move the location to Town Hall.

Why It Matters

The council's May 12 budget vote will determine whether East Hampton taxpayers see a 4.3 percent increase in education spending, with the Smart Start Pre-K program's $75,000 in state funding and accreditation at stake if cuts go deeper. The Middle School paving project, now estimated at $355,700, needs a town meeting vote on an additional appropriation before work can begin this summer. For sewer users and developers, the WPCA's undecided moratorium leaves two approved projects, Alden's Crossing and Long Crossing, in limbo, with the developer's attorney warning of layoffs if agreements aren't finalized soon.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Amend meeting agenda to separate Town Council and WPCA sessions Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Approve minutes of April 7 special meeting Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Accept proclamation honoring the U.S. Navy Northeast Pops Band Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Adopt resolution accepting $250,000 DEEP grant for 3 Walnut Avenue cleanup Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

• Action: FY2026-27 budget — Continued to May 12 meeting for a vote on sending it to referendum
• Action: Middle School paving appropriation — Continued to May 12 meeting for a resolution calling a town meeting vote
• Action: Concept ordinance on sewer avoidance — Tabled; Town Attorney Richard Carella advised it belongs before the WPCA
• Action: Waiver of interest and penalties on appealed sewer fees — No action taken; state statute bars waiving interest

- Vote: Approve tax refunds totaling $1,680.32 Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Election of WPCA chairperson Tally: Solomon: 5, Hintz: 2, Blanks: 0, Total: 7

• Action: Appointment of Joint Facilities Board members — Appointed Jack Solomon as chairman and Richard Knotek as a member; third, Republican-affiliated seat left vacant
• Action: Six-month moratorium on sewer expansion — Continued to a future WPCA meeting pending review of pending development agreements

- Vote: Confirm WPCA meeting schedule, relocated to Town Hall Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

Source

Town of East Hampton Connecticut: Town Council meeting, April 28, 2026