Letters

Traffic lawlessness is rampant in Southampton Village. Drivers pay no attention to the “no right turn” restrictions on Corrigan Street, Bishops Lane and Somerset Avenue. They make U-turns on Hill Street, and they ignore stop signs and overweight and speed limits on village residential streets.

The tone for lawlessness is set at the top. The Manger administration routinely violates the Freedom of Information Law, taking up to 120 days to respond to residents, when state law requires a response within 25 business days. FOIL responses rarely provide the full information requested, and in response to my FOIL requesting minutes and copies of grievances submitted at a February full board meeting, they lied to me by giving me a listing of over 250 grievances, when only six grievances were actually filed.

The New York State Committee on Open Government has stated that the administration violated the Open Meetings Law, and they continue to hold closed-door meetings. The mayor flouted the Municipal Home Rule Law by changing the zoning code without the required public hearing. Roy Stevenson, Robin Brown and former Trustee Gina Arresta violated campaign finance laws by accepting $4,400, donations when the legal limit is $1,000. Arresta has received a letter from the State Board of Elections Division of Law Enforcement. The Southampton Press has reported that Robin Brown was building on her property without proper permits.

Mayor Bill Manger misled the public about refusing lifetime benefits, only to maneuver his way into securing them. He lied to the New York State Civil Service Commission, falsely stating that Village Administrator Anthony Carter was the only qualified candidate in Suffolk County.

The village uses a “full market value” number on real estate invoices. This number is actually a backed-into number based on a predetermined assessed value. The mayor told me he would change this, but he lied and continues this deception.

A village trustee uses Coopers Beach chairs and umbrellas without paying for them. And tells select residents they can get the same treatment by using the trustee’s name.

Signs at the north entrance to North Captains Neck Lane say “No Access to Hill Street.” A lie. A trustee lives on North Captains Neck.

Signs indicating restrictions on no right turns say “strictly enforced.” They should say “rarely enforced.”

The Village Court regularly changes moving violation tickets to parking tickets. Another village function that has trouble with the truth.

Lawlessness and lies.

David Rung

Southampton Village