East Hampton Welcomes New Town Attorney

EAST HAMPTON, NY — East Hampton will soon be welcoming a new town attorney.

On Thursday, the town board voted unanimously to appoint Robert Connelly, of Jamesport, as the new town attorney. Connelly will become the town’s lead attorney and head of the legal department effective May 30,at an annual salary of $175,000, town officials said.

John Jilnicki, current town attorney, who has more than three decades of experience as a municipal lawyer for East Hampton town, will remain on board to assist with the transition, officials said.

Connelly served previously as an East Hampton Town assistant attorney from October, 2010, through March, 2013, officials said.

Following his tenure with the town, he served as counsel in the land use and municipal department of the firm Farrell Fritz, and has been, since 2017, of counsel to the East Hampton law firm Tarbet & Lester, focusing on municipal law, land use, and real estate, officials said.

He received his law degree from Hofstra University in 2005 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science from Fordham University.

Jilnicki has been with East Hampton town since 1987 and was initially appointed as deputy town attorney. Throughout his 36-year tenure, he has served in various roles in the legal department, including several previous stints as town attorney, the lead counsel and head of the department.

Most recently, upon resignation of the previous town attorney in May, 2019, Jilnicki was appointed as acting town attorney. Later that year, he was formally designated as town attorney, the board said.

"John Jilnicki’s extensive experience and the breadth of his knowledge about the legal matters faced by our municipality are remarkable," said East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc. "We are grateful for his many years of service and dedication to the community. Looking forward, we are happy to welcome Mr. Connelly and are confident that, with Mr. Jilnicki’s assistance, there will be a seamless transition."