Dan's Papers - May 16, 2008 - Out of Resources

Larry Penny, the East Hampton Town Natural Resources Department Director since 1985, was many years ahead of his time when it came to recognizing the importance of protecting the environment in this country in general, and the Town of East Hampton in particular.

But recently, the East Hampton Town Board opted to terminate the position of Natural Resources Department Director in a reorganization effort to save money. Yet Penny was, himself, a valuable resource, having accomplished much over the years with the goal of preserving East Hampton's environment. In an interview in his office, a space filled with folders in boxes and things you would see in the backroom of a high school science department, Penny sat behind his desk and, with great humility, spoke of his long journey from activist to director.

When concern about the protection of the wetlands and the environments in East Hampton began back in 1984, Penny brought up the contributions of Malcolm Hare and Richard Cummings. The idea, he said, was to "stop the bulldozers from filling in the wetlands." It was Penny who ended up with the authority to issue stop work orders. There are major park areas including Shadmoor, Hither Woods, the Grace Estate, Camp Hero and Barcelona that might be housing developments today if Penny hadn't stepped in. As a result of his efforts, he estimates that more than 1,000 homes were not built, and 750 acres of wilderness were preserved. In 1987 Penny stopped a condominium development, preserving Camp Hero and creating a State Park. He also was co-author of the long range East Hampton Town comprehensive plan in 1984 that, to this day, is the cornerstone to the way East Hampton has skirted overdevelopment.

On another front, Penny's zeal in protecting the piping plover has turned East Hampton into a place with more plovers per mile of beach than anywhere in the United States. The 1991-1992 dam ditches Open Marsh Water Management project helped tackle a mosquito problem before it became unmanageable. Penny has supervised the awarding of almost $1 million in grants, which has helped create hundreds of acres of sanctuaries. He also helped create the Shellfish Hatchery in 1986, saving that area from overdevelopment by the Rough Riders. Even the lone tower on the Napeague stretch still exists because of Penny. As he tells the story, "In 1985, there were two towers there in Napeague. I went to Montauk one day and on the way back there was only one tower standing with the other about to be taken down. I pulled out my red tape and issued a stop work order. Today the saved tower that so many sailors use as a landmark is in active operation as a State Police radio tower." Penny smiled and said that it was then he acquired the nickname "tape man" for restricting areas with his infamous red tape.

In 2004, Penny spearheaded efforts to use native plants instead of foreign to help control and prevent flooding. As of now, the plan seems to be working and has been a model for other communities. When the conversation turned to the deer situation, Penny predicted that the increase in the turkey population in the Town of East Hampton is now swelling up beyond 500 turkeys, which is beginning to lower the deer population because they both eat the same food and the turkeys are most comprehensive in canvassing an area for sustenance. In fact, he said the department now gets more turkey complaints than deer complaints.

While in his office, Penny fielded calls from longtime friends and supporters, thanking him for caring and knowing how to get results. Penny let it be known that what he did was not his job, but his life. He was so many years ahead of his time. So many things he fought for are taken for granted, perhaps also by the board that just voted for the demise of his director position. "Over the years I have made enemies," said Penny, but he added, "I am proud of what the Town has done. We have done a lot."