Council Votes to Absorb Water Authority

Town Council · Meeting of April 7, 2026

EAST HAMPTON — The East Hampton Town Council voted 6-0 to dissolve the independent Water Pollution Control Authority and absorb its sewer and water duties, effective April 28. Former WPCA Chairman Mark Barmasse warned the board was built "so that the operation funding" of the system "was not threatened by the whims and fancy of local politics." Council Member Ted Hintz, Jr. reversed course on expanding veterans' tax exemptions, noting 27 veterans, including two full-time state troopers, already draw $178,000 in relief. The council accepted a $61,011,835 fiscal 2027 budget, a 4.19 percent increase, and set an April 28 public hearing.

It took no action on a $450,000 Middle School parking lot paving request, citing high oil prices, and approved $10,536.73 in tax refunds.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 965 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of April 7, 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 7, 2026 — The East Hampton Town Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to adopt an ordinance dissolving the independent Water Pollution Control Authority and folding its powers into the council itself, a change that takes effect April 28.

Town Council Chairman Dean Markham presided over a public hearing on the ordinance before the vote. Council members also tabled a proposed expansion of veterans' property tax relief after Council Member Ted Hintz, Jr. raised concerns about how the current exemption is being applied, and accepted a $61,011,835 fiscal 2027 budget from the Board of Finance, a 4.19 percent increase over the current year.

The Full Story

The ordinance amending Chapter 146 of the town code designates the Town Council as the town's Water Pollution Control Authority, replacing the previously independent board. The council had already voted March 12 to terminate the prior WPCA board, an action attorney Tim Furey, representing Belltown Authority LLC and an affiliated investment company, told the council it did not have authority to take. Furey said two pending sewer-connection projects have stalled because no one has been managing WPCA business for the past month.

Mark Barmasse, a former WPCA chairman who served on the board more than 20 years, urged the council to reconsider, saying the WPCA was established as an independent agency 60 years ago specifically to insulate a multimillion-dollar sewer and water system from the turnover of elected politics. Other speakers, including residents Kyle Dostaler and Chuck Yenkner, echoed concerns that a seven-member elected body lacks the technical expertise and time to run day-to-day utility policy. Town Manager David Cox told the council that plant operations would continue under existing staff, led by plant superintendent Paul Serretta, while the town hires an interim public utilities administrator. Vice Chairman Jack Solomon and Council Member Richard Knotek said the council's role would be limited to policy, not daily operations, and that the restructuring is intended to be temporary until an appointed body can be reestablished.

"All of the responsibilities of the WPCA would be melded into the Town Council in accordance with the way this ordinance is written right now." [00:48:29] — Town staff, describing the ordinance's effect

On tax relief, Hintz said he had reversed his earlier support for expanding veterans' exemptions after learning that 27 veterans in town, including two full-time state police officers, already receive a combined $178,000 in relief under the existing 100 percent disability exemption.

"My idea of a disabled veteran is someone that can't work or has a minimal income and needs assistance. And that's what I thought that this bill was doing. It clearly is not." [01:26:49] — Ted Hintz, Jr., Town Council member

The council tabled that ordinance, a separate discussion of other tax relief options, and a draft Right to Farm ordinance, the latter pending formation of a long-dormant agricultural commission. The council also approved, with Markham recused, a water "will-serve" letter committing the town to sell up to 37,380 gallons of water per day to Connecticut Water Company for the Edgewater Hills development once a connecting system in Hampton Woods is built.

The council accepted the Board of Finance's recommended $61,011,835 budget, which includes a $20,384,159 town operations budget and a $40,627,676 Board of Education budget, and set a public hearing for April 28. It took no action on a Board of Finance recommendation to use $450,000 in town reserves to repave the Middle School parking lot, with several members objecting to spending that money while oil prices remain high.

"So fundamentally, once the Council has decided on a budget and wishes to send to referendum, it's basically three weeks." [01:46:42] — David Cox, Town Manager

Why It Matters

The ordinance shifts control over sewer rates, development hookups and water system policy from an independent technical board to the seven elected council members, who acknowledged during the meeting they have little direct experience with WPCA operations. Pending sewer connections for at least two development projects have been stalled for roughly a month, according to the developers' attorney, and the council says it intends the arrangement to be temporary while it designs a new appointed structure.

On the budget side, residents face a public hearing April 28 on a $61,011,835 spending plan, a 4.19 percent increase, before the council must act by May 12 to meet the town's referendum timeline. A $450,000 paving appropriation remains unresolved amid high oil prices.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Adopt agenda as written Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Approve minutes of March 24, 2026 regular meeting Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Adopt ordinance amending Chapter 146 (Water and Sewer Authority), transferring WPCA powers to Town Council Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

• Action: Right to Farm ordinance — Tabled, pending formation of an agricultural commission
• Action: Tax relief ordinance related to veterans — Tabled, pending further guidance from the state
• Action: Other tax relief options — Tabled, pending a council subgroup meeting with the town assessor

- Vote: Approve Water Will-Serve Letter for Edgewater Hills/Hampton Woods Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Accept Board of Finance's recommended fiscal 2027 budget and set public hearing for April 28, 2026 Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

• Action: Additional appropriation of $450,000 for Middle School parking lot paving — No action taken

- Vote: Approve tax refunds totaling $10,536.73 Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Enter executive session for potential property purchase and attorney consultation Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

Source

Town of East Hampton Connecticut: Town Council meeting, April 7, 2026