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Democratic Committee
Blue-Ribbon Aviation Committee
March 29, 1998
P. O. Box 4188
East Hampton, NY 11937
(516)329-6930
Supervisor Cathy Lester
Town of East Hampton
159 Pantigo Rd.
East Hampton, NY 11937
Dear Cathy,
Firstly, I'd like to thank you for allowing
me to be a part of the "Blue Ribbon" Committee for our Airport. It
was yet another invaluable experience for me in what I hope to be a long
lasting relationship with both you and our Town's government. Unfortunately,
the end result of six weeks of meetings and discussions were so politically
biased, that little bipartisan agreement was derived other than a recommendation
for a financial accounting of aviation operations and the basing of fire
apparatus at the field. Lost in the discussions was the larger issue
of the importance of having our airport conform, both literally and figuratively,
to the character of our Town. Mr. Lavinio was predictably from Mars,
but both Mr. Spencer and Mr. Ryan were big disappointments. Even
so, I was proud you appointed me as part of the panel and will never forget
it. I hope, in the end, that what we worry about, increased larger
traffic, is unjustified, and I hope to be proven wrong in that regard.
There is no less on the line than the future of our Town.
I truly empathize with the difficult
decision you were forced to make last week in regard to signing the contract
for runway construction. It was a bad deal from the start initiated
by a rogue councilman and his cronies and will forever be a blight on our
Town's policy of open government. It should, however, allow you to
ensure, through legislation, that any future projects at the airport undergo
the strictest scrutiny, before the fact, and not at the eleventh hour.
What remains, therefore, is to get that legislation on the books as soon
as possible.
If you need my assistance, for any position
at all, including non-airport-related issues, please don't hesitate to
call. I'd like to remain involved with you and the Town Board to
the degree you deem most appropriate. Thanks again, and I'll see
you around Town.
Warmest regards,
Barry W. Leach
Member, East Hampton Town
Blue-Ribbon Aviation Committee