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Residents urge East Hampton board to protect senior center staff and early-education programs
Summary
Multiple residents urged the board to preserve a full-time senior-center position and early-education programs, citing nearly 300 petition signatures and long-term benefits for students and future teachers.
Dozens of residents told the East Hampton board on Tuesday that deep cuts to local services would undermine programs that keep families and seniors connected to the community. Public commenters singled out a proposed senior center full-time position and the Smart Start/Bell Ringer early-education program.
"A budget is not just a number on paper. It's a reflection of our priorities," said Haley Guite, who identified herself as a parent and taxpayer, and noted that nearly 300 people signed a petition backing early-education services. Guite urged the board to consider what the town would lose if programs are cut.
Neil Perrault, another parent, described the Bell Ringer program's long-term effects on student development and the pipeline into education careers: "Out of the graduating class this year, those that were involved with the beginner Bell Ringer program, 10 students in that program are going on to education degrees," he said, urging the board not to cut the program.
Holly Geraldo, the senior center director, thanked residents and officials for their support for the senior-center position and said public engagement has helped sustain the conversation about staffing.
Other speakers framed the choice as one between immediate tax relief and sustaining services: Crystal Chen urged using surplus for one-time capital needs while preserving services that support working families, and Dale Herrick said he had identified roughly $90,000 in potential town-side savings to consider.
The public comments preceded the board's detailed deliberations on the capital plan and operating budgets, where members weighed using surplus, deferring vehicles and projects, and the role of bonding in paying for road reconstruction. Several residents urged turnout at the upcoming referendum so voters can decide whether to restore programs at the ballot.
The board did not adopt a separate decision on the senior-center position at the meeting; the staffing item was part of broader general government budget negotiations that the board amended and ultimately voted to forward to the town council for referendum consideration.
