Town Notebook: Former DEA Agent Rails Against Police Department

An East Quogue man whose home and car was burglarized in mid-September complained to the town board about how his case was handled last week.

Tom Cregan, a retired special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said that after he told the that a bicycle was stolen from his home, he never heard back on the status of his case, despite repeated phone calls and visits to the Hampton Bays headquarters.

He said that five of his neighbors were also burglarized and questioned why the department did not put publicize increased criminal activity.

“If I’m calling up and I’m not a wackadoo then I think I deserve at least the courtesy of a call back,” Cregan said.

He said that he applied for a police commissioner position the town board considered more than five years ago. At the time the department was having issues with public relations, and still is to this day, Cregan said.

Police Chief William Wilson said Monday that he would follow-up with Cregan’s case and that he believes town detectives have been in contact with him.

Town Targets Roosters

Noisy roosters are a new gripe in Southampton Town.

Last week the Town Board held a public hearing and unanimously changed a part of town code, allowing residents to complain about roosters and other domestic animals, including sheep, cats, camels and rabbits — or any other animal considered “domestic” by the municipality.

The code originally only pertained to dogs, said Assistant Town Attorney Joe Burke during the Tuesday meeting.

The impetus to open the town code to other animals came from residents stating that they had no way to make a formal grievance about crowing roosters, Burke said. Formal complaints made by residents are forwarded to the .

Town Buys $1.2 Million Village Parcel

After a brief discussion, the town board last week unanimously voted to spend $1.2 million in Community Preservation Funds to buy a 1.5-acre vacant parcel on North Sea Road in Southampton Village.

“There are very few open spaces in the village with prime agricultural soil,” said Mary Wilson, the administrator for the Southampton Town Community Preservation Fund.

Wilson added that the swath of land, which also abuts existing open space, will help enhance the agricultural gateway to the village.

The parcel is south of the site previously suggested for use as a hiring hall for day laborers who congregate around the nearby 7-Eleven.

New Permitting Process Proposed

Residents can sound off on a proposed permitting process for demolition, renovation and restoration requests for homes 75 years and older at a town board meeting Dec. 13.

To help preserve Southampton Town’s character, the town board may require homeowners to complete a permit application before significantly modifying any home 75 years old and greater.

The Landmarks and Historic District Board will consider the permits and respond to the applicant within 45 days, according to a copy of the proposed law.

In some cases, applicants may have to provide a structural engineering report on the condition of the home and color photographs of the interior and exterior.

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