Hundreds pack hearing to oppose proposed registry targeting rowdy vacation renters in East Hampton Town

A standing-room-only crowd of close to 300 packed an American Legion hall in Amagansett Thursday night to voice their opposition to East Hampton Town's proposed rental registry law targeting disruptive shared houses.

The measure would require that homeowners provide the town with the number of people leasing and the terms of agreements when they rent out their properties.

Violators would be subject to fines and jail time.

"I do find it disturbing that any violation is a crime," said Michael Jordan, an Amagansett resident. He said homeowners would have "a criminal record for violations."

Because town officials anticipated the large crowd, they held the public hearing at the American Legion hall instead of East Hampton Town Hall. The three-hour meeting ended at 9:30 p.m. and included more than 40 speakers.

Other opponents called the measure intrusive and said it represented "Big Brother" in action.

Tom Steele, a member of the Stop the Rental Registry group, presented the board with an online petition containing 1,325 names.

He said the law was unconstitutional and would subject landlords to "unwarranted searches and inspections," and "bed checks."

But supporters said it will help prevent overcrowding, noise, illegal parking and other problems attributed to rentals, known as share houses, that officials said have been known to attract young, disruptive summertime renters.

A similar law was introduced last year but was scrapped following strong opposition. The town introduced the new version with some modifications in October after a record number of complaints to police during this past summer's particularly rowdy Fourth of July weekend in Montauk.

Assistant Town Attorney Michael Sendlenski has said the new law would help hold owners of the properties responsible for what happens with their tenants and is an effort to ensure renters behave properly.

"It has been overhauled substantially and is more streamlined and specific," Sendlenski said at a board work session before the public hearing was set.

"Our community's crying for relief from those who rent illegally," said Springs resident Frank Riina. "There are noisy parties that go throughout the night."

Fred Weinberg, also of Springs, said opponents have been trying to scare people away from the registry with "a litany of distortions, misrepresentations and untruths."