Southampton Village Mayor Shakes Up Regulatory Boards

Southampton Village Mayor Michael Irving announced numerous changes to the leadership of village regulatory boards at the Village Board’s annual reorganization meeting on Monday, including the appointment of three new chairperson positions.

Taking the top seat of the Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review is Susan Stevenson, who joined the board in 2015. She will replace Curtis Highsmith, who will remain on the board but no longer serve as chairman.

Mr. Highsmith was appointed to the board by former Mayor Mark Epley 12 years ago, and was appointed chairman when Roger Blaugh stepped down less than a year later.

Mr. Irving also appointed Alan McFarland, who joined the board in 2015, as chairman of the Planning Board, replacing Roy Stevens, who joined the board in 2008. Robert Devinney, who joined the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2007, also was appointed chairman of the ZBA, replacing Kevin Guidera, who joined the board in 2009. Both Mr. Stevens and Mr. Guidera will remain on their respective boards as members.

All three chairs who were appointed will have one-year terms.

Paul Travis, also a Southampton Association member, will remain as chair of the village’s Planning Commission.

The decision to replace the board chairs, who are responsible for running and organizing the meetings, comes less than a month after a controversial application to nearly double the size of a 125-year-old home on Lake Agawam known as Mocomanto was approved by the ARB—although the mayor said the decision didn’t play in to Monday’s leadership changes.

“There were no changes done based on board decisions, in fact, most of the boards remain intact,” Mr. Irving said in a text message over the weekend, adding, “The chairs have held their positions for extended periods.”

Over the past year, attendance at regulatory board meetings has bumped up because of applications that some have claimed push the boundaries of what is permitted by code in the village, especially in the estate section and historic district. Recent applications that have gained notoriety include a proposal converting the usage of the Village Latch Inn from one non-conforming use to another, while building 19 condominiums on the grounds—although the outcome has not yet been decided—and allowing a 15,000-square-foot compound to be constructed at 24 and 28 Gin Lane.

The Southampton Association, a local citizens group, has called for changes within the boards as a result. Ms. Stevenson and Mr. McFarland are both Southampton Association members.

Mr. Irving said he simply wanted to give other board members the opportunity to serve as chairs, and when he asked if they would step up, nobody refused.

“I did not seek out the position, and I was very surprised when he asked me to step up,” Ms. Stevenson said on Tuesday.

Ms. Stevenson said she applied for a seat on the ARB for a number of years when Mr. Epley was the mayor, because she had a “strong desire” to help the village. In 2015, Mayor Epley appointed her to the board to fill a seat vacated by former member Esther Paster.

Most of the changes Mr. Irving made were at the chair level, mainly because he said he wanted to add diversity and balance at the board leadership level. None of the chairs have more power than the other members of the boards. In fact, the mayor noted, the balance of the boards remain intact and should not affect the way members vote in the future.

“I also strongly feel, from public perception, it’s more important to have change,” Mr. Irving said. “There is no influence on the changes. It falls solely on me.”

When asked about the change on Friday, Mr. Highsmith said he was surprised to hear that he was being replaced as chairman, but he refused to let his emotions get in the way of serving the village. “I deal with everything in life with my faith,” he said.

After the changes were announced on Monday, Mr. Highsmith said, “I received a number of calls when the news hit, disappointed by Michael’s ‘sole decision.’ Village residents have the opportunity to respond in the next election.”

Mr. Highsmith was appointed to another three-year term on the board, through 2021. When asked if he had any plans to step down from the board, he said he plans to stay on and looks forward to seeing the direction the board takes.

Ms. Stevenson acknowledged Mr. Highsmith’s 12 years of experience as chairman and said she looks forward to working with her fellow board members as chairwoman.

“I have been a diligent board member over the past few years,” she said. “Being the chairperson will be challenging, but I am looking forward to it.”

Rainer Greeven, chairman of the Southampton Association, declined to comment about the changes, specifically whether the organization had anything to do with them and what the changes mean for the association.

Instead, he said, “We’re never disgruntled. We’ve learned over time that ours is a very diversified populace deserving whatever assistance we can muster in an intelligent and positive framework without favor or prejudice regarding any particular segment nor at anyone’s expense.”

Before the reorganization meeting, Southampton Village Administrator Stephen Funsch swore in two board members on the front steps of Village Hall.

Kimberly Allan, who was appointed to Mr. Irving’s seat to finish his term after he was elected mayor last year, was sworn into her first full term, while Deputy Mayor Richard Yastrzemski was sworn into his fifth, two-year term.