HB Beautification Association Monthly Meeting Notes

During their monthly meeting on Monday night, members welcomed the night's guest speaker Thomas Neely, Southampton's Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, and committees shared their updates on upcoming events. Here are the highlights...

SOUTHAMPTON GREEN HOMES

Guest speaker Thomas Neely, Southampton's Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, shared the news that Southampton is going green with a new program to promote more energy efficient homes. Southampton's pilot project offers free energy audits with accredited contractors that perform diagnostic tests and assess how to save the homeowner money.

Home owners eligible for a free energy audit have an annual income of less than $200,000 and own 1-to-4 family homes.  For families making up to $400,000 the audit is partially subsidized.

The audit includes examining the homes' insulation, measuring the amount of air leaking in and out of the home, evaluating the heating and cooling system and a safety inspection. Upon completion of the audit, contractors will then prepare a report with more energy efficient recommendations.

With the Green Homes project financing is available through Green Jobs Green New York loan from NYSERDA for up to $13,000 worth of improvements.

"I own a commercial property that I was renovating,” said Susan von Freddi, HBBA's president, “so I called over to the town to find out about energy saving programs or credits and found out about the Green Homes program." Von Freddi added that her home had drafts and like many homeowners, she is concerned about the rising costs of heating her home. For more information on the Southampton Green Homes pilot project contact Thomas Neely at 631-702-1950.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Looking forward to summer fun-dates have been confirmed for two of HBBA's  annual events.

The HBBA Garden Tour, which showcases spectacular gardens located in the Bays, has been set for July 9.

On August 12, the Concert Under The Stars event will kick off on Ponquogue Beach with The Fabulous Grease Band. This family-fun celebration is a Hampton Bays tradition.

NEW RECRUITS WANTED

During the meeting both the HBBA and the expressed concerns that younger members are needed. Noting that issues like sustainability and future planning directly affect younger residents in the Bays, both groups would like to see younger members get involved with community issues.

"We are in bad shape with membership," said Tony Filorimo, CAC's recording secretary "we need to elect a new president and recording secretary, but that is only part of the problem. We dont have enough younger members." Filorimo went on to explain that the CAC and HBBA are making decisions for the whole community and that the older members would not  be around in the decades to come to handle Hampton Bays' future problems. "We need more young people to get involved, " Filorimo added.

After voting against Rechler developers' proposed 40-condo plan for the old  , the HBBA's president and one other member recently met with Rechler to discuss a new strategy for the property.

According to von Freddi, the new Canoe Place Inn developers have gone back to their resort-style plan for the property, which resembles the original

"We went to the meeting with and they have decided to completely redo the Canoe Place Inn from top to bottom," said von Freddi, adding that she was very pleased with the developer’s new proposal, "the new proposal includes a catering facility, a restaurant grill, a wedding facility, five cottages and restoration of the Inn. It is a beautifully landscaped plan."  Included in the Rechler's updated development proposal, the east side of the canal will feature townhouses, instead of condos, which will be taxed the same as a residential home.

According to HBBA's president, Rechler is scheduled to appear before the association and explain the new plan in detail, including what will be built on the east and west sides of the canal.

There will be one public hearing at Town Hall scheduled for Rechler’s new Canoe Place Inn plan, however the date has not been set.

"The developer invited me to see the new plan after I wrote them a letter," said Marie Mulcahy, founder of the Hampton Bays Beautification Association and Garden Party chairwoman, "Rechler is very interested in the history of the Inn and preserving it. The new plan is really darling!"