East End Report: Water Mill Estate Busted on Code Violations

SOUTHAMPTON

Southampton Town Code Enforcement executed a search warrant Sunday at a Water Mill estate advertised as “The Ultimate Luxury Rental in the Hamptons.”

The single-family home has been operating as a transient rental, "similar to a hotel with concierge service," according to a statement from issued Wednesday. The estate has a certificate of occupancy for 10 bedrooms and a pool house, but the basement had been unlawfully converted into two additional bedrooms and the pool house basement was in the process of being converted without a building permit into a two-bedroom apartment for the concierge staff, the statement reads.

EAST HAMPTON

Wednesday marked the first day of the plastic bag ban in East Hampton Village, making it the second municipality on Long Island to go green when it comes to shopping.

A new law makes it illegal for single-use, non-biodegradable bags plastic shopping and take-out bags, like the ones most often seen at grocery stores, to be given to customers at village stores, markets, and pharmacies. The law included a six-month grace period for compliance.

, the only grocery in the village limits ( is outside the village line), was more than ready for the transition and the store is fully stocked up on colorful reusable bags. The , which was enacted in mid-2011 and took effect in November, was the first of its kind in the state, to follow suit.

RIVERHEAD

As town leaders attempt to get baseball fields in Calverton open by Memorial Day, the town may be paying to the tune of $75,000 for a disagreement that could keep the town from using highway department equipment for in-house work on a 200-stall parking lot at the field.

Twice over the past three weeks, Highway Department Superintendent Gio Woodson has made purchase requests from the town board - one for a $77,000 pole barn under which to house equipment, and another for $12,000 in security cameras - and twice he has received pushback at Town Hall.

Highway Department Superintendent Gio Woodson believes Supervisor Sean Walter is micromanaging his budget, and said that since he’s an elected official as much as the town board members are, deserves more autonomy. As a result, the highway supe is no longer making it a priority to use his equipment at the ballfield, which may force the Buildings and Grounds Department to hire a private contractor to do the work, which would cost an additional $75,000.

NORTH FORK

With a recent move to a new location, the Greenport Tea Company has shifted its business model away from the restaurant end to focus on retail and web sales. The tea company will no longer be serving high tea or other luncheon fare. Now, owner Jan Kirwan and her partner Jenette Holloway are focusing on the retail end of the business and expanding web sales.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

House Fire On Ponquogue Avenue

On Thursday afternoon at about 3:12 p.m. the Hampton Bays Fire Department and the Hampton Bays Ambulance were called to a residential blaze at 33 Ponquogue Avenue in Hampton Bays. All residents evacuated with their pets and one fire fighter, who was complaining of chest pain, was taken to the hospital.