Votes at a glance: Assembly restores Montaukett recognition; Southampton creates vacant-building registry; Springs School Board contracts outside guards

Three formal actions reported on the March 13 East End News broadcast affect the region.

New York State Assembly vote (March 9): The Assembly unanimously approved legislation intended to restore state recognition for the Montaukett Indian Nation. Anchor Christine Samson said Assemblyman Tommy John Scoboni sponsored the measure and that it now moves to the state Senate; the broadcast noted prior gubernatorial vetoes by Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo. The segment did not include the Assembly roll-call or the bill number.

Southampton Town Board (reported March 10): The Town Board voted unanimously to create a vacant-building registry. According to the town announcement quoted on air, the registry requires owners of vacant buildings to register their property, pay a registration fee, maintain liability insurance, submit a long-term plan, and face escalating yearly maintenance fees if they fail to rehabilitate or demolish properties; the registry also calls for annual inspections to protect first responders. Councilwoman Cindy McNamara was identified on the record as the sponsor in a press release.

Springs Union Free School District action (reported this week): The Springs School Board voted to hire additional security guards from an outside company, Pond View Security, to supplement the district's five-person security team. The broadcast said Pond View was the only local respondent to the district's RFP; guards will be paid $55.25 per hour and are expected to be in place by April 1. Superintendent Nancy Carney was quoted saying the increase is tied to building expansion and new outdoor amenities and "is not in response to a specific incident or concern." The broadcast later contains a possible typographical reference to the superintendent as "Kearney." The district identified in station copy appears as SPRINGS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT; the transcript does not give the official board vote tally on-air.

What happens next: the Montaukett bill goes to the state Senate for consideration; the town registry and school security contract details will proceed according to local implementation steps and any contracting rules of the Springs Union Free School District.