East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell has hired a law firm to help in the town's fight to gain back local control of its airport.

East Hampton was told recently by a federal appeals court that it can't control flight curfews or noise restrictions, a problem that many residents have complained about for years. 

The FAA currently sets controls for noise and curfews.  

"We think the airport is an asset to the community, but…the airport needs to be a better neighbor to those who are being regularly impacted," says Cantwell. "In our view, since it's a municipal airport, it should be controlled locally."

The town is planning an appeal to the Supreme Court to allow it to have full local control over the airport.

Some employees at East Hampton Airport say even though the town doesn't want to shut down the facility completely, the curfews and restrictions could mean the loss of some of their jobs. 

In a press release from "Say No to KHTO" spokesman Barry Raebeck says the airport should be closed and converted into an economic zone. He writes, "In terms of jobs per acre, the airport is a bust, a lost opportunity for the community."

KHTO is the code name used for the airport by air traffic controllers.