Letters

I understand that Jack Reiser took credit for building the North Haven Village Hall during the mayoral debate. I was North Haven trustee in the early 1980s. The board at that time was Mayor Demler and Trustees Allen, Botto, Kelly and myself (the only member born and raised here).

Remembering that North Haven Village had consisted of a few cardboard boxes in Clerk Charlotte Eaton’s home, and then in offices on the second floor of the First National Bank of East Hampton, I asked why we didn’t have a village hall, and I was made chairperson for the project.

We had looked at renting the top floor of the Sag Harbor Municipal Building, but we would have to build to suit, with a rent of $50,000 annually and no guarantee of a lease for the long term. We looked at renting in the Gristede’s building, but parking would be an issue. We looked at expanding the schoolhouse on Payne Avenue; Vernon Murray looked into moving a couple of the Pallotine cottages; we looked at buying the Barry house on Ferry and Short Beach roads.

We finally searched to see if it would be feasible to build on the land secured by Mayor McNamara from the North Haven Point project. Our decision was made. We were working on plans with an architect.

It was time for a North Haven election, and the present mayor did not want to run again. I was asked by many people to run, but I chose not to. Rather than dividing North Haven, the board at that time allowed Jack Reiser to run on their ticket rather than creating another party.

I spoke at a village meeting in defense of the Village Hall project, which we had put so much time and effort into. I continued with the project; however, Jack Reiser severed ties with our architect and appointed Fred Stelle from their Wednesday night sailing group. I stayed with the project for 10 years, until its completion.

This year, North Haven is facing a contested election for mayor, and none of the candidates was born and raised here. I have decided to vote for Chris Fiore, as his platform and ideas seem to be the most forward-looking for North Haven at this point in time.

Carol Gloninger

North Haven