Crime & Safety
Pell Unopposed in Bid for Fire Commissioner
Southampton Town Trustee Bill Pell runs for seat being vacated by Robert Grisnik.
Founding Commissioner Robert Grisnik will not seek re-election, setting the stage for Tuckahoe resident William Pell to run unopposed on Tuesday to fill the seat.
Pell, a Southampton Town Trustee , is a member of the Southampton Fire Department Fire Police Company. He is seeking a five-year term on the five-member board of fire commissioners.
In the fire department, Pell has been a first and second lieutenant and is now head truck driver for a fire police company vehicle that carries air packs. "I’ve been a member for roughly 11 years," he said.
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For a living, Pell manages houses and runs a border collie goose control business.
Pell said he ran against Grisnik five years ago for the same fire district seat and lost by six votes.
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Grisnik was appointed to the board of fire commissioners when it was established by the Southampton Town Board in October 2003. When reached Friday, Grisnik declined the opportunity to comment.
The Southampton Fire District took the place of the Southampton Fire Protection District, which was managed by the town board and not a board of elected fire commissioners. The first Southampton Fire District election was held in December 2004.
The Southampton Fire District does not have a fire department. Rather, the commissioners contract with Southampton Village for fire protection from the . The fire district includes Tuckahoe, Shinnecock Hills, the and parts of Water Mill.
The election is Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the library.
Read about the Bridgehampton Fire District Election:
