Council Sets Special Meeting on Biosolids Dispute

Town Council · Meeting of March 10, 2026

East Hampton Town Council set a special meeting after residents demanded the firing of Public Utilities Administrator Anthony DeSimone over a proposed biosolids processing facility. More than three dozen residents packed Tuesday's meeting, with Emily Cronin saying DeSimone's "intentions were never to serve the people of East Hampton but to serve his own ambition at our expense." Chairman Dean Markham said "there's nothing that I see that's on the table at the moment that this is going anywhere in East Hampton," regarding a disputed land purchase near the town's water treatment plant. The council voted 7-0 to approve a $50,100 contract with Silver Petrucelli and Associates for fire station assessments and 7-0 to switch library consortiums to Library Connection, Inc.

Tax refunds of $3,252.99 passed 6-0. The special meeting was set for March 12 at 5:15 p.m.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 890 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of March 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.

The Full Article

EAST HAMPTON — March 10, 2026 — Dozens of residents urged the East Hampton Town Council Tuesday to fire the town's Public Utilities Administrator and halt a proposed biosolids processing facility, prompting council members to schedule a special meeting for Thursday, March 12, to take up the matter.

The Town Council also voted 7-0 to approve a not-to-exceed $50,100 contract with Silver Petrucelli and Associates for assessments of the town's three fire stations, and voted 7-0 to switch the library's consortium membership from Lion to Library Connection Inc. beginning in July 2027. Council members separately approved $3,252.99 in tax refunds, 6-0.

The Full Story

More than three dozen residents signed up for public comment at Tuesday's meeting, nearly all of them opposing a proposed biosolids processing facility near the town's existing wastewater treatment plant at 20 Gildersleeve Road and raising conflict-of-interest concerns about Public Utilities Administrator Anthony DeSimone's contacts with developer Tid Griffin of Griffin Residuals LLC. Several speakers, including Frank McLean IV, said DeSimone told them in October that a private facility would connect to the town's existing public plant and could bring 40 to 50 tractor-trailers a day into town.

Resident Mike Piergalini used the town's own figures to argue the proposed facility would be sized to process roughly 127,750 wet tons of waste a year, about 50 times what East Hampton needs and nearly a quarter of all biosolids generated statewide, which he said conflicted with town estimates of $160,000 in annual savings. Emily Cronin told the council DeSimone's "intentions were never to serve the people of East Hampton but to serve his own ambition at our expense."

"Brought daily into East Hampton by an estimated 40 to 50 18-wheeler trucks from across the region to be burned down into biosolids that will be trucked out of this $40 million propane-fired facility 365 days a year." [00:11:04] — Frank McLean IV, resident and farmer

Chairman Dean Markham told residents no formal proposal has reached Planning and Zoning and that the town has not committed to the land purchase. "There's nothing that I see that's on the table at the moment that this is going anywhere in East Hampton," Markham said.

"There's nothing that I see that's on the table at the moment that this is going anywhere in East Hampton." [02:14:47] — Dean Markham, Chairman

Council members voted 7-0 to add discussion of a town attorney opinion letter regarding the 292 West High Street property to the agenda, then moved that discussion, along with the land purchase and Water Pollution Control Authority appointments, to a special meeting set for 5:15 p.m. Thursday. Separately, Markham defended the committee's decision to appoint Liam Dillon to the WPCA board despite his father working as a plant operator, saying Dillon was told to recuse himself from any matter involving his father. Councilman Ted Hintz, Jr. raised concerns about the appearance of a conflict given family ties between board members and WPCA staff; no vote was taken, and the issue was deferred to Thursday's meeting.

On the night's other business, Library Director Christine Cachuela recommended the council approve a move from the Libraries Online consortium to Library Connection Inc., saying LCI offers lower dues, twice the circulating collection and more reliable delivery service. "I really think that the long-term benefits outweigh having to pay that," Cachuela said of a roughly $3,000 termination fee owed to the outgoing consortium.

"I really think that the long-term benefits outweigh having to pay that." [03:06:12] — Christine Cachuela, Library Director

The council also approved the Silver Petrucelli contract for fire station assessments on a motion by Vice Chairman Jack Solomon, seconded by Councilman Richard Knotek, after a committee interviewed three of five firms that responded to a request for qualifications.

Why It Matters

A proposed biosolids facility near Route 66 and Gildersleeve Road could bring dozens of daily truck trips, odor and water-quality concerns to a rural residential area, while residents question whether Public Utilities Administrator Anthony DeSimone had authority to negotiate with developer Griffin Residuals LLC. No application has been filed with Planning and Zoning, but the pending purchase of land near the town's water treatment plant has become a flashpoint. The council's March 12 special meeting will address the land purchase, WPCA board appointments and a legal opinion on whether residents are entitled to a public vote.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Add Town Attorney Opinion Letter discussion to agenda as item 9c Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Adopt agenda as amended Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Approve professional services agreement with Silver Petrucelli and Associates, not to exceed $50,100, for fire station property condition assessments Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Approve change in library consortium membership to Library Connection, Inc. Tally: For: 7, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 7 - Vote: Approve tax refunds totaling $3,252.99 Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6 - Action: Discussion of Town Attorney opinion letter on 292 West High Street property — Continued to March 12, 2026 special meeting - Action: Discussion of WPCA board appointments and family conflict-of-interest concerns — Continued to March 12, 2026 special meeting

Source

Town of East Hampton Connecticut: Town Council meeting, March 10, 2026