The East Hampton Town Council faced a chorus of boos on Tuesday night as members moved forward with plans to remove the police chief.
The council voted, 5 to 1, to rescind the town ordinance that requires East Hampton to have a police chief, reports the Middletown Press.
Councilor Susan Weintraub, the only member to vote against the proposal, called it "foolish" and said the council was shattering the public trust, the Press reports.
About 125 people showed up to protest the decision.
Town Manager Jeffrey O'Keefe said he was removing Matt Reimondo from the position to save money, but the town's police union claims it was in retaliation for the department's investigation into claims that O'Keefe sexually harassed three female town employees.
Based on Tuesday night's vote, O'Keefe would be the de facto chief, while Lt. Michael Green would oversee day-to-day operations at the police department. The proposal now goes before a public hearing on Aug. 31.
