A judge has levied a $250,000 fine against East Hampton Town for putting new restrictions on flights at the municipal airport in Wainscott as litigation over the facility’s future continues.
The ruling stems from three separate lawsuits aviation interests and Montauk residents filed against the town last year. It is the latest development in an ongoing fight over East Hampton’s effort to close the airport.
The airport long has been a source of aggravation among some East End residents who have complained about constant noise, particularly during summer.
Suffolk County State Supreme Court Justice Paul J. Baisley Jr. found in his decision Friday that the town was in contempt of court for not following his 2022 temporary restraining order barring new restrictions or any steps toward closing East Hampton Town Airport.
The judge said the town’s actions “undisputedly … restrict public access to the airport.” He also ruled that East Hampton would face a $1,000 fine for each day going forward that town officials fail to comply with his order from May 16, 2022.
“Fair and measured,” was how an attorney for the some of the petitioners described the judge’s ruling in their favor.
Court papers identify those parties as East End Hangars, Inc., Hampton Hangars, Inc. and Montauk residents who fear local air traffic will spike if East Hampton’s facility closes.
“Actions have consequences and we are hopeful that the town will immediately cease its new use restrictions and comply with the court’s order,” their attorney James Catterson added in a statement Monday.
Town officials said Monday they were “deeply disappointed” and vowed to appeal the ruling.
“The town board has always held the belief that it had a public policy responsibility to protect local residents from the loud and disturbing effects of aircraft noise, and has sought to provide residents who are impacted with meaningful and deserved relief,” they added in a…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply