Letters

At the board meeting on Tuesday, April 25, I drafted a resolution that would end lifetime health care benefits for current and future part-time elected officials. Unfortunately, I could not get a single trustee to second the resolution, and as a result, all four trustees refused to vote on the common sense and fiscally responsible resolution. Benefits for life, which vest after five years of part-time service, currently cost the village more than $100,000 each year. The trustees made a variety of excuses as to why they would not vote on the issue.

First, they stated that this required further study. I disagree. In my opinion, this is a common sense and straightforward issue. Part-time elected officials who serve their community should not be taking anything from the village after our tenure is complete. I serve Southampton Village because I love our community. Lifetime benefits are not appropriate and are fiscally irresponsible, especially for a village of this size.

Second, the trustees stated that eliminating lifetime benefits should be part of a package or a deal in exchange for receiving some other benefit. I disagree again. Trustees should not receive longer terms or higher compensation as a trade for giving up their potential lifetime benefits. I am not asking for more money or a four-year term. While the job of a trustee is truly part-time, a village mayor could work 40 to 60 hours per week doing a rigorous job with limited resources. That said, it is my pleasure to work long hours and give back to our community.

Third, the trustees said that they wanted to see what other municipalities were doing on this same issue first. In 2015, the Village of Westhampton Beach, led by Mayor Maria Moore and her Board of Trustees, voted unanimously to eliminate lifetime benefits. They were applauded for their efforts. In fact, our village attorney even used Westhampton’s exact resolution at the board meeting. I disagree with the trustee’s logic that if they are able to find another municipality that is doing the wrong thing, that we should follow suit. We should lead by example, not resort to the status quo.

It is also worthy to note that the largest union in Southampton Village expressed concern about the lifetime benefits as well. In the most recent contract negotiation, we asked the CSEA Union to increase their contributions for health insurance given the rising cost of health care. It is unfair and hypocritical to ask the village’s working employees to do the exact thing that the trustees will not do themselves.

The only silver lining is that with enough community feedback, the trustees may change their tune and pass this fiscally responsible and fair resolution.

Jesse Warren

Mayor, Southampton Village