Dan's Papers - June 27, 2008 - Natural Resources Dir. On Endangered List

Larry Penny, East Hampton's Director of Natural Resources, has been battling to protect East Hampton's environment his entire life. It's what he was born to do. Now, he is battling to protect his job, which is currently more threatened than piping plovers, as the town debates whether to dissolve the entire Natural Resources Department. Penny plans to ensure that a lifetime's commitment is continued.

In his office, he explained, "I would love to have two years to continue some of the ongoing grants, and I want to have a say in picking my successor." At the next Town Board meeting (July 17), Penny will not be presenting a planned defense of his life's work that consists of accomplishments such as creating parks at Shadmoor, Hither Woods, the Grace Estate, Camp Hero and Barcelona, all of which might have been housing developments if he hadn't personally stepped in. He puts the numbers at about over 1,000 homes that were not built, and 750 acres of wilderness preserved by his work. At Camp Hero, he stopped a condo development in 1987 and instead helped create a State Park. He also was co-author of the long- range town comprehensive plan in 1984 that, to this day, is the cornerstone of East Hampton's position against over- development. On another front, Larry Penny's zeal in protecting the piping plover turned East Hampton into a place with "more piping plovers per mile of beach than anywhere in the United States." In addition, Penny's 1991-1992 dam ditches Open Marsh Water Management project, helped tackle a mosquito problem before it became unmanageable. He also supervised the awarding of almost $1 million in "grants," that helped create hundreds of acres of sanctuaries, and in 1986, he helped start the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery, saving that area from over-development by the "Rough Riders."

The defense of Penny and this body of work will come from those who show up because they care. Penny said he has been overwhelmed by the amount of support from the community. "The kind words, the appreciation of my work, the spirit to see it continue has been terrific."

Amidst the turmoil, Penny is already looking forward. He has plans to tackle the problems East Hampton is going to have moving further into the 21st century, like the surface area water, long-term sewerage and a comprehensive ground water plan. He is in the process of procuring and administering four grants, two for work on Lake Montauk, which he sees as an important watershed issue. He has a Seven Harbor Restoration Grant, and a grant to deal with the long-term health of Fort Pond. These grants total almost $300,000. He's also begun a new battle to save the whippoorwills, of which he believes there are only 10 breeding pairs left of hundreds found in the area just a few years ago.

Penny knows the town. He knows its strengths and its weaknesses when it comes to the environment. He will protect it. He wants to save the town's Department of Natural Resources and keep the Planning Department separate. He insists that this is not about turf. For Penny, the fight is because he believes that the best way to save money long-term for the town is to have sound environmental policy independent from people whose focus is overall planning. He has hired New York City attorney Lew Peckhman to handle the situation, and to be an advocate for Penny the way Penny has been an advocate for the town's environment.

Neither is this about money for Larry Penny. "I have tons of accrued vacation pay - I could sit home and collect money. But I have so much work to do."

The town has complained about Penny's salary, yet none on the board has complained about his commitment, his efforts and his results. With huge budget problems, projects need to be cut, but isn't it ironic that, when the world is following the wisdom of going green, the town is attempting to show the door to the man who has been an advocate for living "green" throughout his career. Larry Penny is a bargain. His expertise, his commitment and his knowledge of the minute within this town are perhaps priceless.