Letters

In response to Michael Wright’s report on the East Hampton Town Board’s revocation of Peconic Historic Preservation’s license to operate the Brooks-Park property, an East Hampton Town Historic Landmark [“Town Raises Eyebrow At Brooks-Park Restoration Funding,” 27east.com, February 23], I want to correct the record regarding funds raised by the Brooks-Park Heritage Project (BPHP), an ad hoc group of concerned local residents who spearheaded the property’s preservation.

In April 2014, Peconic Historic Preservation agreed to act as the nonprofit fiscal agent for BPHP, allowing donors to make tax-deductible contributions to the project. The total amount raised through 2017, when Peconic Historic Preservation became the site’s licensee, is $84,302.50 (not $73,513, as was stated at the board meeting), specifically for programming at the restored site.

An administrative overhead allowance of 5 percent of the total raised was agreed on, which amounts to $4,215.25. Yet your report says that $30,380 has been spent — on what? There has been no programming, no maintenance, in fact, no restoration of the site, as required by Community Preservation Fund regulations.

The situation reflects a disheartening failure of commitment to this effort, which seeks to preserve an irreplaceable cultural asset and make it available, per CPF guidelines, “for public use and enjoyment.”

Helen A. Harrison

Director

Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center

Springs

Ms. Harrison is a historical consultant for the Brooks-Park Heritage Project — Ed.