The East Hampton Town Board on Tuesday appointed an attorney to oversee a disciplinary hearing for Natural Resources Director Larry Penny, who was suspended two weeks ago and faces possible termination.
The Town Board voted unanimously to hire Eileen Powers, a Riverhead attorney, as the hearing officer. She will be paid $750 per day, according to the resolution, and is charged with issuing a recommendation on punishment.
A starting date for the hearing has not yet been set. The Town Board is seeking to fire Mr. Penny in relation to 16 charges of misconduct and incompetence that were leveled on December 7. The charges related to Mr. Penny’s alleged storage of animal carcasses at his office, his alleged mismanagement of a tree clearing project at a preserve and other allegations related to his oversight of the Natural Resources Department.
Mr. Penny’s attorney, Thomas Horn, said this week he has prepared a response to the charges, but declined to release it.
Will James on Dec 20, 2011