Council Votes 5-1-1 To Revoke Barmasse Seat

Town Council · Meeting of June 9, 2026

East Hampton Town Council voted 5-1-1 to revoke Mark Barmasse's Agriculture Commission appointment after residents complained about a video of him laughing at a resident's farm. Council Member Tim Feegel moved the revocation, saying he'd gotten more outreach than he "could even imagine." Council Member Richard Knotek voted against, defending Barmasse's agricultural experience; Vice Chairman Jack Solomon abstained. The council separately set a temporary mill rate of 27.79, up from an originally proposed 27.75, after Board of Assessment Appeals reductions cut the grand list by more than $2 million.

Members also approved a $40,000 Neighborhood Assistance Act grant for Epoch Arts, updated Police General Order 5.23 on body-camera review rights, and revised the Public Utilities Administrator job description to add ratepayer-protection language. A $688.42 tax refund was approved unanimously.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,527 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of June 9, 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

Public Hearing: Neighborhood Assistance Act Application, Epoch Arts

Epoch Arts has used Connecticut's Neighborhood Assistance Act program in prior years to fund building upgrades, and this year's application sought $40,000 to replace exterior doors ($20,000) and aging electrical equipment ($20,000) at its 27 Skinner Street building. The question before the council was whether to approve the application for submission to the state program, which grants participating businesses a tax credit for contributions to approved municipal or nonprofit projects.

Elizabeth Namen, representing Epoch Arts, told the council the organization had used last year's grant to finish installing energy-efficient windows on the building's second floor and now wanted to tackle "those old beat up... steel doors that let critters in" and an outdated electrical system. She said the organization is also courting a new donor beyond its existing backers, Eversource, CNG and Kinetic Care. No one spoke in opposition.

The public hearing closed at 6:35 p.m. Later in the meeting, under continued business, the council formally voted to approve the application, 7-0, on a motion by Council Member Karen Wanat, seconded by Vice Chairman Jack Solomon. Council Member Richard Knotek called the arrangement "a win-win-win," noting the building is an old factory structure Epoch Arts has long occupied and the grant both preserves the building and supports youth programming.

Congressional Record Presentation Honoring Nikki O'Neill

Matthew Reich, District Scheduler and Outreach Liaison for U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, presented the town with a document entered into the Congressional Record honoring Nikki O'Neill, who served as Connecticut's first lady after her husband, Gov. William O'Neill, completed Gov. Ella Grasso's term. Reich, who grew up in East Hampton and knew O'Neill personally, said the record recognizes her decade of civic, cultural and charitable work, including school visits encouraging children to read. He presented the document to Chairman Dean Markham and said it would be displayed at Town Hall before moving to the Chatham Historical Society, where he said a representative named Carol Morris would help preserve it. No council action was required.

Public Remarks: First Round

Several residents used the first public comment period to revisit the Barmasse controversy before the council took it up formally later in the meeting. Robert Baer, of 108 Middletown Avenue, said a disbanded board member, Mark Barmasse, had been caught on video laughing at his farm and object to his subsequent appointment to the Agriculture Commission. Karen Johansmeyer, of Pennycorner Road in Portland, thanked the late Gov. O'Neill and Nikki O'Neill for making "Yankee Doodle" the state song, speaking as a member of the East Hampton 3rd Connecticut Regiment of Fifes and Drums.

Chris Bitel, of Old Clark Hill Road, raised the sale of the Hazen Tree Farm, suggesting the roughly $1.2 million parcel could be worth pursuing as open space given its ecological value to the Lake Pocotopaug watershed, though he acknowledged the price "sounds very daunting to the average taxpayer."

Leonard Johnson, of Long Crossing Road, objected to draft revisions to the Public Utilities Administrator job description scheduled for later discussion, arguing that de-emphasizing technical requirements "put our town at risk" of inheriting substandard water and sewer designs.

Dale Herrick, of Royal Oaks Avenue, pressed Town Manager David Cox on budget accountability, citing Board of Education overspending of $415,000 in fiscal 2023, $802,000 in fiscal 2024 and $550,000 in fiscal 2025. Cox responded that quarterly financial reports go to the council and Board of Finance and that much of the overage traces to state special-education mandates the district cannot control. Rebecca Harvey, of Flanders Road, raised a question about why East Hampton's special-education enrollment appears to run 20 to 25 percent, compared with a roughly 10 to 15 percent state average, and asked whether the discrepancy reflects over-identification of students.

Continued Business: Budget Reconsideration

The FY 2026-27 town and school budgets failed at referendum, triggering a charter-mandated return to the Board of Finance for a revised proposal. The question before the council was procedural: how to structure the reconsideration calendar, since no revised budget had yet been presented.

Markham told the council and public that a Tri-Board meeting involving the council, Board of Finance and Board of Education chairs is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, with a public comment period followed by discussion among the bodies. The Board of Finance will take up revisions June 15 and forward a new recommendation to the council for action June 23. Markham said the referendum is tentatively set for Tuesday, July 14, a date set by statute to allow adequate turnaround time after a council vote. No formal vote was taken on this item; it was discussion only.

New Business: Temporary Mill Rate

Because no budget has passed, state statute and the town charter give the council, rather than the Board of Finance, authority to set an interim mill rate so tax bills can go out this month. Cox's agenda memo proposed 27.75, calculated to produce the same tax levy as fiscal 2026 on the new property valuation. By the meeting, Cox revised the recommendation to 27.79 after the Board of Assessment Appeals reduced the grand list by just over $2 million following March and April hearings.

Hintz challenged the approach at length, arguing the town has historically simply carried the prior year's mill rate forward for interim billing, without recalculating against a changed grand list, and that doing so this year "artificially inflates" the rate before voters have approved anything. Cox and Markham responded that a townwide revaluation this year makes a straight carryover inappropriate, since the tax base itself shifted.

"If we didn't have a reval, I would agree with you... but because we did and everything was thrown askew, I think this is the right way to go," [00:44:59] — Chairman Dean Markham

Knotek moved to set the rate at 27.79; Wanat seconded. The council approved it 7-0. Cox said residents will see a normal tax bill under the interim rate, with the option to pay in full or in installments as usual; once a final budget is adopted, the Board of Finance will decide whether to issue a supplemental bill for any difference.

New Business: Police General Order 5.23

The order governs use of body-worn and dashboard cameras and required updating to match a statewide model policy change adopted by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council under a 2025 state public act that took effect October 1, 2025. Chief Dennis Woessner, appearing by Zoom, said the substantive change allows an officer under disciplinary investigation to review their own camera footage if it is part of that investigation, a right the law previously extended only in use-of-force cases.

Council Member Ted Hintz, Jr. asked whether officers could already access footage under a separate provision allowing review "to assist with the preparation of a report." Woessner said the state likely added the disciplinary-review language after the gap was challenged elsewhere. Members also flagged a punctuation and wording error in a passage governing the 48-hour and 96-hour disclosure windows for footage tied to use-of-force incidents; Woessner agreed to correct it to match the model policy exactly before finalizing. Hintz moved to approve subject to that correction; Solomon seconded. The council approved 7-0.

New Business: Public Utilities Administrator Job Description

The job description, last updated in 2023, governs the position overseeing the Colchester/East Hampton Joint Facilities wastewater operation and East Hampton's water systems. Cox said the rewrite removes a requirement that the administrator personally hold Class II water distribution and treatment licenses, since licensed chief operators, such as Paul Serretta at the wastewater plant, already report to the position and hold those credentials. The stated goal was to widen the hiring pool to management-track candidates, including engineers, while keeping technical licensing as an advantage rather than a requirement.

Knotek raised three specific concerns: whether a disputed 3.9 million-gallon-per-day treatment capacity figure, under "scrutiny," belonged in the description; whether agenda preparation should formally sit with the council chair rather than the administrator, given Robert's Rules; and whether references to the "Water and Sewer Commission" should be updated to "WPCA" throughout, which Cox agreed to fix. Knotek also pressed on who is responsible for protecting ratepayers from rate increases, referencing public comment earlier in the meeting about a disputed $40,000 sewer assessment fee. Hintz argued responsibility rests collectively with the WPCA's seven members and the Joint Facilities Committee, not solely with the administrator, but agreed language should still direct the position to work "in consideration of the duty to protect rate payers."

Hintz moved to accept the changes, with language added reflecting that direction and with Cox instructed to recirculate the final text to members before posting it; Solomon seconded. The council approved 7-0.

Town Manager's Report

Cox highlighted three items beyond the written report. A Department of Energy and Environmental Protection event was scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, at 3 Walnut Street, where state officials, including the DEEP commissioner, were expected to announce grant awards to several municipalities; East Hampton previously received $250,000 toward cleanup of that site for future recreational use. Chip-sealing work is underway, with Waterhole and Sillimanville roads scheduled in the coming days. Separately, Cox said the long-delayed Halesbrook culvert project, first applied for four years ago, has finally received its state grant agreement; the roughly $1.9 million project, with $1.7 million funded by FEMA's natural hazard mitigation program, will replace three culverts carrying Halesbrook under Lake Drive with larger box culverts and remove a small bridge. Cox said design work could begin as early as fiscal 2027, with construction likely in calendar year 2028. Hintz asked for a posted list of upcoming road work and available capital funds; Cox said the list is "fluid" based on annual road-condition surveys but agreed to look at making more information public.

Appointments: Revocation of Mark Barmasse

Barmasse was appointed to the Agriculture Commission on May 26 on a 6-1 vote, with Hintz opposed. By June 9, Feegel said he had received enough calls and street-corner complaints, following Robert Baer's public comments about a video showing Barmasse laughing at Baer's farm, that he moved to revoke the appointment entirely. Hintz seconded.

Knotek argued at length against the motion, saying Barmasse brings valuable hands-on agricultural experience the rest of the commission lacks and that removing him amounts to punishing him twice after he had already lost his WPCA seat when the council disbanded that board. Hintz countered that Barmasse, as former WPCA chairman, bore responsibility for allowing the conduct that triggered the original controversy and should not be "rewarded" with a new appointment so soon afterward. Markham urged the council to "be a better community" and avoid "continuing to kick somebody" who has stumbled, without stating how he would vote; he ultimately voted in favor of revocation.

The motion carried 5-1-1: Feegel, Hintz, Markham, Council Member Joelyn Leon and Council Member Karen Wanat voted in favor; Knotek voted against; Solomon abstained. Later in public comment, Baer returned to argue the WPCA's prior disbandment was not tied to any finding of misconduct, calling Barmasse's removal from that board unrelated to "cause," which he said undercuts the rationale for also revoking the Agriculture Commission seat.

Tax Refunds

Collector of Revenue Kristy Merrifield's office certified one refund totaling $688.42. Council Member Tim Feegel moved approval, Hintz seconded, and it passed 7-0 without discussion.

Public Remarks: Second Round and Superintendent Response

Baer reiterated his concerns about the Barmasse appointment process. Valerie Hill Baker, of Lena Lane, urged the council to cut the school budget further given declining enrollment, remove Chromebooks, and set a proficiency goal "in the high 80s, if not 90," while preserving music and arts funding.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy VanTasel responded directly, telling the council that page 19 of the superintendent's budget book lists special-education prevalence rates that differ from figures cited earlier in the meeting, and that he would follow up with Harvey directly. He said the budget already includes a $160,000 attrition turnover factor and that recent position reductions have largely come through retirements rather than layoffs. He also said the proficiency figures presented to the council exceed state averages, and he corrected an earlier public comment attributing a prior-year budget deficit to his own planning, noting he inherited that year's budget rather than building it. VanTasel said he would take further questions at Thursday's Tri-Board meeting.

Chairman Dean Markham — presided. Vice Chairman Jack Solomon — present, voted, abstained on the Barmasse revocation. Council Member Tim Feegel — present, moved the Barmasse revocation and the tax refund approval. Council Member Ted Hintz, Jr. — present, raised mill rate and job description concerns, seconded the Barmasse motion. Council Member Richard Knotek — present, voted against the Barmasse revocation, raised utilities job description questions. Council Member Joelyn Leon — present, voted. Council Member Karen Wanat — present, voted, moved several motions. Town Manager David Cox — presented budget, mill rate, job description and infrastructure updates. Cathy Sirois, Executive Assistant to the Town Council — recording clerk. Police Chief Dennis Woessner — appeared by Zoom to present General Order 5.23. Juliet Hodge, Town Planner — spoke during public comment about the POCD visioning session. Matthew Reich — District Scheduler and Outreach Liaison, Office of U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, presented congressional record document. Elizabeth Namen — Epoch Arts, applicant for Neighborhood Assistance Act grant. Timothy VanTasel — Superintendent of Schools, responded to budget questions. Public commenters: Robert Baer (108 Middletown Avenue); Karen Johansmeyer (Pennycorner Road, Portland, East Hampton 3rd Connecticut Regiment of Fifes and Drums); Chris Bitel (Old Clark Hill Road); Leonard Johnson (Long Crossing Road); Dale Herrick (Royal Oaks Avenue); Rebecca Harvey (Flanders Road); Valerie Hill Baker (Lena Lane).

Epoch Arts, Inc. — nonprofit arts organization; applicant for the $40,000 Neighborhood Assistance Act grant covering doors and electrical upgrades. Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act program — state tax-credit program administered by the Department of Revenue Services; basis for the Epoch Arts application. Office of U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney — presented the Congressional Record honoring Nikki O'Neill. Chatham Historical Society — to receive the congressional record document for preservation. Police Officer Standards and Training Council — set the statewide model policy underlying General Order 5.23's revision. A 2025 state public act effective October 1, 2025 — cited by Chief Woessner as requiring the camera-review policy change. Colchester/East Hampton Joint Facilities Committee and East Hampton Water Pollution Control Authority — bodies overseeing the Public Utilities Administrator position, discussed in the job description debate. Board of Finance and Board of Education — partners with the council in the Tri-Board FY 2026-27 budget reconsideration process. Board of Assessment Appeals — reduced the town's grand list by just over $2 million, prompting the mill rate recalculation to 27.79. FEMA Natural Hazard Mitigation Grant Program — funding $1.7 million of the $1.9 million Halesbrook culvert replacement project. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) — funding a $250,000 grant for cleanup of 3 Walnut Street, with an announcement event June 10. May 26, 2026 Town Council minutes — prior vote appointing Mark Barmasse to the Agriculture Commission, 6-1, referenced throughout the June 9 debate.