Letters

When I ran for Southampton Village trustee, I did so to represent all residents, including those who felt their voices were not being heard, and to help restore transparency to village government. I promised to ensure that the community would have access to full information before major decisions were made. That commitment guides me every day.

In recent weeks, I requested access to a draft historic preservation survey that the village commissioned using public grant funds. The study, prepared by Preservation Studios, is intended to help evaluate potential expansions of the historic district.

Despite being a sitting trustee, and despite having voted to appropriate the grant funds that paid for the study, I was advised that only the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation could view the draft report. It also bears mentioning that much of the Preservation Studios report consists of factual information, maps, historic descriptions and survey data. Freedom of Information Law expressly states that factual portions of draft documents must be available, even to the public.

Trustees are responsible for oversight of village finances, policy decisions and grant-funded work. A report paid for with taxpayer funds should not be inaccessible to the very board that funded it.

To address the matter, I submitted a resolution requesting that all trustees be permitted to review the survey. Despite timely submission, it was not placed on the meeting agenda this past week.

My goal is simple: to ensure that decisions about historic preservation are based on full information, honest discussion and respect for the public we serve. Transparency should not be treated as an inconvenience. When a study is conducted with public dollars for a public purpose, elected representatives and residents alike should have access.

I will continue advocating for open government, timely access to documents, and a process where every resident can trust that decisions are being made in the light of day.

Edward Simioni

Trustee

Village of Southampton