East Hampton CT News | The East Hampton Mercury

East Hampton panel seeks end to $150 farm stand permit

A roadside stand needs a $150 special permit. The Agriculture Commission voted to ask Planning and Zoning to drop it, and accepted a Right to Farm ordinance.

Running a roadside farm stand in East Hampton takes a special permit, which costs $150, according to the town's Agriculture Commission. The commission wants farm stands taken off the special permit list, and on Oct. 21 it voted to send that zoning change to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which would have to approve it.

Dropping the requirement would save farmers the $150 and encourage more people to open stands, according to the minutes.

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East Hampton transfer station, roads get $100,000 each

The council also gave the transfer station a fund of its own, so the budget shows what taxpayers spend on it, and endorsed the town plan.

Next Town Council: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Council Chambers. The public hearing on the new sewer commission ordinance is Tuesday, Nov. 24.

SchoolsStill Open

East Hampton School Cuts From July That Haven't Come Back

A third-grade teacher, a high school English teacher, the math tutor and the rest of the July cut list have not been restored. Smart Start, four middle school sports and the high school's preschool program are back for this school year only.

Next Board of Education, Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. The district's Funding the Future forums, where it says residents' feedback will inform future budget talks, are listed on its calendar for Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the middle school and Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Memorial School, both at 6:30 p.m.

SchoolsStill Open

East Hampton Middle School is down to one working well

One of the middle school's two wells has failed, the facilities director told the school board, and the parking lot he wants to repave has gone from about $350,000 to about $470,000 while it waits.

Town HallThe Date

Needleman, Ferraro split on state housing role, power bills

Sen. Norm Needleman, an Essex Democrat, and Republican Charles Ferraro of Clinton split on the state's role in local housing and the public benefits charge on electric bills.

Town HallThe Date

Open 34th House seat pits Rosenfeld against Ziobron

East Hampton, East Haddam and part of Salem pick a new state representative Nov. 3: Democrat Meghan Rosenfeld of East Hampton or Republican Melissa Ziobron of East Haddam, who held the seat from 2013 to 2019.

Town HallThe Date

East Hampton early voting open to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday

Early voting at East Hampton Town Hall runs until 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The Nov. 3 ballot: Congress, the 33rd Senate and 34th House races, governor and four other statewide offices; one name each for probate judge and registrar.

SchoolsWho

Cristal Chan joins the school board; test rankings rise

Math and science rankings rose, and the Lions Club gave $8,000 to the Belltown Preschool.

Next Board of Education, Monday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. The district's events calendar lists the middle school forum on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m.

Town HallStill Open

East Hampton Power Surge: 41 Homes Inspected, Power Back

Smoke calls Tuesday night, house-by-house wiring checks through Wednesday, power back by 8:30 p.m.

SewerThe Vote

East Hampton wants Joint Facilities to maintain its sewers

Colchester members have raised having each town do its own.

Next The plant superintendent's job is open. Town Manager David Cox said a contract-operations firm is to quote on short-term superintendent help.

Town HallThe Vote

Agriculture Commission no longer must hold three youth seats

The commission asked for the change. The public hearing drew no speakers.

Also This Week

HousingPlain English

East Hampton allows accessory apartments in every zone

That includes R-2, the one residential zone where the town had barred them. How big the units may be is not yet clear.

PoliceStill Open

Driver Accused of Hitting Firefighter Is Arrested

A driver accused of hitting a firefighter at a closed road on Sept. 13 was arrested Oct. 6. Also: five weeks of arrests and tickets.

SewerThe Date

East Hampton sewer ordinance: public hearing Nov. 24

A new board of seven residents would run East Hampton's sewers and set the rate on your bill. Residents can speak at a hearing Nov. 24.

Next Public hearing at the Town Council meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Council Chambers. Cox said a revised draft with the Oct. 27 changes will be at the town clerk's office once the hearing notice is published. The council can adopt the ordinance after the hearing, and would then appoint the commission.

Town Hall

Ziobron Leads Rosenfeld by 69 Votes in 34th District

Republican Melissa Ziobron leads Democrat Meghan Rosenfeld by 69 votes for the 34th House District seat, though East Hampton itself voted for Rosenfeld, in the state's unofficial count.

Town Hall

East Hampton fire board to seek $480,000 for air packs

East Hampton's fire commissioners plan four capital requests for 2027-28, led by new air packs. A proposal to enhance the stipend and LOSAP for volunteer firefighters is up for more discussion.

Town Hall

East Hampton firehouse committee members pick new Company 1

Members would keep Company 2 as it is. The consultant's estimates run from $7.1 million to $25.9 million; the minutes give no price for the option members chose.

Everything in This Edition

Sorted by what it touches. Every item has its date and its source.

Town Hall9 items

Plate-reader rules tabled; camera deal has two fixed readers

The state requires a policy by Jan. 1, 2027. The council wants more information first.

Next The policy is to come back at a future meeting. Woessner offered a presentation from Axon, in person or by Zoom.

Council keeps the $195.50 fee on a records request

The council voted down a waiver for two personnel files kept only on paper.

Next The rest of the two requests, 65,000 or more records by the town manager's count, are with the town attorney's office for review.

The next police chief can live farther from East Hampton

Anywhere in Connecticut within a negotiated distance; over 30 miles comes back to the council.

Police Chief Dennis Woessner is retiring

His last day is Nov. 25

Next Last day: Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Transfer station money runs out around January

Closing it is one of three options on the table

Next Public workshop, date to be set; the town manager suggested early November.

Council strikes paragraph about a resident from its minutes

One member votes no

East Hampton Records Request at 21 Weeks

A resident asks the council how long is too long

Next Update, Oct. 14: The council voted Oct. 13 not to waive $195.50 in copying fees on Harvey's records requests. Council keeps the $195.50 fee on a records request.

Hearing Oct. 13 on agriculture commission's youth seats

The change would drop three required youth members

Next Public hearing, Town Council, Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Paving: Abbey Road and North Cone Road, not Childs Road

Childs Road needs drainage work first

Sewer6 items

No answer yet on a water system for 30 Long Crossing

The town takes over a system serving more than 25 customers; members said it likely wouldn't take a smaller one.

East Hampton Draft Sewer Rules: Commission Would Set Rates

As drafted, the new commission would set your sewer rate. The council would be told, not asked.

Next At a Sept. 29 workshop members leaned toward requiring approval of consulting contracts over $25,000 and other major contracts over $50,000 (more); the land clause is in question. The town attorney reviews the revised draft. No date set for a public hearing on the ordinance.

Residents push for experience on the new sewer board

Council members who spoke did not take up the change.

Next The town attorney reviews the revised draft. No date set for a public hearing.

Council eyes $25,000 and $50,000 limits for new sewer board

Nothing is final. On the budget, the council would comment, not vote.

Next Cox will check whether the construction limit is too low, and the town attorney reviews the revised draft. No date set for a public hearing.

Council wants a veto over the new sewer board

On land purchases, the town attorney's March advice points the other way.

Next No date set for a revised draft or a public hearing.

Sewer bills are due Oct. 1

They go in the mail Sept. 29

Next Payment delinquent after Monday, Nov. 2.

Schools4 items

East Hampton School Board Seat Opens as Barber Resigns

Kenneth Barber has resigned

Next Board of Education, Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Council Chambers.

East Hampton Title I Grant Falls to $68,036

The school district's Title I grant, down from $127,105

East Hampton Schools Hold Four Community Forums

Tuesday evenings from Oct. 20 to Dec. 15

Next First forum: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m., East Hampton High School.

Graduation is Friday, June 11, 2027

Set by the Board of Education on Sept. 14

Money3 items

East Hampton Council Weighs Uses for $300,000 Leftover

Ideas included the transfer station, sidewalk plowing, roads and the Senior Center. No vote yet.

Next Cox said the recommendations go to the Board of Finance, and the council can act on them Oct. 27.

East Hampton Approves Up to $727,850 in Lease Financing

Borrowed over as long as 10 years for six purchases

East Hampton's Worst Roads Would Cost $15M to $20M to Fix

What it would take to fix East Hampton's worst roads

Next The board wants to continue at a Tri-Board meeting before capital budget talks; no date set.

Housing2 items

Hearing on in-law apartments in every zone resumes Oct. 7

The change would open the R-2 zone and raise the size limit to 1,200 square feet.

Next Planning and Zoning Commission, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m.

East Hampton 10-Year Plan Open for Comment Through October

Comments close at the end of October

Next Comment period ends Oct. 31.

The Lot1 item

Council signals it is open to selling unused town land

No parcels were chosen. Any sale would need Planning and Zoning, Finance and a town meeting.

Next No parcel was chosen and no sale is scheduled.

The Standard18 items

“Home” Is Not a Page Title. Here’s How to Write a Real One

The words in your browser tab are one place Google looks when it writes the headline for your page in search results. Here is what Google says a good one holds.

Two Locations? Give Each One a Web Page With Its Address

Every location you run should have its own page on your website, with its street address, phone and hours as text a customer can read.

How to Reply to an Old Bad Review on Google or Yelp

An unhappy review from years back isn’t yours to delete. Your reply is, and Google lets the customer who wrote the review know when you post one.

Answer a bad review calmly. Never pay, threaten or accuse.

A genuine complaint gets a short, calm reply. A sudden pile of one-star reviews followed by a demand for money may be a scam, and Google says not to pay.

Send your Google review link to every customer, or to none

If only your satisfied customers get your Google review link, you're breaking Google's rules. Send it to everyone, and on Yelp, ask no one.

Ask every customer for a Google review. Offer nothing back.

Google tells you to ask for reviews. Ask every customer the same way, and offer nothing for a Google review, not even a drawing entry.

Before You Buy Call Tracking, Keep Your Own Number on Google

The call button on your Google listing should ring a number your business owns. Google's rules don't say whether a call-tracking number meets that test, so keep your own line as the main one.

Listings You Never Made: How to Find and Claim Each One

The hours and phone number customers see for your shop online may not have come from you. Here is how to claim your listings on Google, Yelp, Bing and Apple Maps.

How to Claim Your Shop's Bing Listing for Free

Bing may already show a listing for your shop with your address, phone and hours. Claim it for free, and check your Google listing before you let Bing copy it.

Apple Maps May Already List Your Shop. How to Claim It

Your shop can be on Apple Maps before you ever sign up. Claim it on Apple Business so Apple’s email reaches you when it changes your name or hours.

Google Flags a Suggested Change? You Have 4 Days to Answer

Other people can suggest changes to your Google listing. When Google tells you about one, you have four days to accept or reject it.

Use Your Google Description to Say What You Do

Your Google listing has space for a paragraph in your own words. Google suggests what you offer and how long you’ve been at it, and keeps out links and a focus on sales.

Google May Swap a Low-Quality Cover Photo for Someone Else’s

A low-quality cover photo on your Google listing may be replaced with one someone else posted. Here is what Google asks of your photos, and how to report a customer’s.

The Website Button on Google Should Open Your Own Site

Google says the website button on your listing should lead to your own business. A Facebook page doesn’t count; here is where it goes instead.

Add Each Holiday to Google, Even If Your Hours Stay the Same

Google suggests marking each official holiday on your listing, even a day you keep your usual hours. Closing eight days or more uses a different setting.

How to Choose Your Business Category on Google

Google says the categories on your Google listing affect where you show up when people nearby search. Choose the most specific one first, then add others sparingly.

Your Google Business Name Should Match Your Storefront Sign

Extra words after your business name on Google, like your town, your trade or your hours, could get the listing suspended. Use the name your customers know.

Someone Else Owns Your Google Listing? How to Take Charge

If a past owner, a former employee or the company that built your website owns your shop's Google listing, getting control of it starts with a request through Google. Then keep the top owner seat on an account the business controls.

Coming Up

Mon., Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m.East Hampton Zoning Board of Appeals MeetingTown Hall Council Chambers, East Hampton, CT

Mon., Nov. 9, 6:30 p.m.East Hampton Board of Education MeetingTown Hall Council Chambers + Zoom, East Hampton, CT

Mon., Nov. 9, 7 p.m.East Hampton Board of Fire Commissioners MeetingCompany #1 Firehouse, East Hampton, CT

Tue., Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m.East Hampton Town Council MeetingTown Hall, East Hampton, CT

Thu., Nov. 12, 7 p.m.East Hampton Conservation-Lake Commission MeetingTown Hall, East Hampton, CT

Mon., Nov. 16, 7 p.m.East Hampton Board of Finance MeetingTown Hall, East Hampton, CT

The Monthly Edition

Once a month, every item from East Hampton's meetings, sorted by storyline.