Dan's Papers - August 29, 2008 - Local Pols Weigh In On Foster's Brainchild

Former East Hampton Town Board Member Debra Foster has re-entered the East Hampton political arena in a very surprising and public way. By doing so, she has opened herself to attacks on her qualifications to make public statements about the town's fiscal plight. Former town supervisor and now Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman said, "There wasn't a project she never wanted to fund...I once even heard her say about a roof on a town building, 'I want it done my way. I don't care what it costs.'"

The current East Hampton Town Supervisor Ed McGintee said he has "nothing but respect for Debra. She was a good councilwoman, however never did anyone ever think of her as a fiscal expert. Everyone with any idea is welcome to my office, especially her." McGintee went on to say, with disappointment, that the public way the former town board member has splashed about her feelings on the budget at the time when everyone is trying to come together was not helpful. He, as well as Schneiderman, questioned her motives. Schneiderman called it "ironic behavior, with someone who helped create the problem now coming along to solve the problem and drive the agenda with a shadow government...I never considered her fiscally prudent...she has to be trying to run for something again." Although Foster has reportedly disclaimed this idea, McGintee said he believes she may be entertaining running for his job in the next election. He said his sources confirm this.

On her proposal to privatize the town's refuse collection, Schneiderman was dead against it. Although the town isn't doing the service the way he would do it, Schneiderman said, "There is money in our garbage" - referring to changes he would make in the disposal of cans and other metals. McGintee was more delicate on this issue, saying that of course a town is not as efficient as a private collector. But there is a danger to using a private vendor. "This is a vital service the town should control so that this service is protected," McGintee said - perhaps thinking of protecting the town from overcharging somewhere, somehow down the road.

As for the selling of Town Lands, specifically those around the airport, McGintee called Foster's plans "a quick fix idea," adding that the answer is not a "one time infusion of cash." McGintee also said he wants to "save what's left; not sell what's left." On the same issue Schniederman said this idea of selling land around the airport wasn't new and, in fact, he had proposed it in the past to create another commercial zone for adding tax streams.

McGintee said that he looks forward to working with everybody to get "his plan" through, to put the town back on sure footing for years to come. He wants to supervise the transformation of the town through this challenge. He says the town needs to raise revenues, keeping tax increases minimum but fair. He believes the tax rate has been too low for too long, considering the increase in both services and their costs. He intends to "cut the fluff." However, he added his support for much maligned budget officer Ted Hults, saying Hults has tried to serve every board member and their requests. He was asked to do things beyond his job description and now is being attacked for it. McGintee agreed that Hults has perhaps been like a "good lawyer with a bad brief," adding, "Ted is in a difficult position because at the moment his job is most difficult."

McGintee went on to say that the town is moving forward with creating new controls to monitor all fiscal activities, and is spending money wisely, seeking advice on new ways to manage a place that is no longer a small town. As for his own political future, McGintee's bow shot right at Debra Foster is that he is not going away, or as he put it, "I am not moving to Florida! I have been in public service for 31 years and I am not going anywhere. I have to make a lot of tough decisions and as far as this whole process goes its not always easy to take the medicine when you're sick."

Both McGintee and Schneiderman believe Foster's behavior was out of the ordinary. However, perhaps in this strange political cycle, which includes Schneiderman's decision to declare himself an independent (which he said has him sleeping better), who knows what's next? McGintee expects additional personal attacks, but states that he's strong enough to take it because he knows he's doing the right things to make the town better. "When I am finished, I am going to be proud of my efforts," he said. "I am taking a lot of shots, but I am still standing, working to fix this."