Letters

At the April 11 Southampton Village Board meeting, the present administration was prepared to severely reduce the gross floor area for smaller village residences. The changes proposed, including counting garages in the gross floor area, could significantly devalue properties by altering their potential development. The responses from owners of smaller properties, architects and builders were vociferously negative.

This administration, in its usual position of ignoring all resident input other than its wealthy benefactors, disingenuously agreed to postpone making their decision for 10 days to “consider written comments.” I will remind this board that their meeting to “consider written comments” should be open to the public in accordance with the Open Meetings Law.

All village voters who will be harmed by this administration’s action in selectively reducing the GFA and all villagers who care about treating residents fairly need to reject candidates Gina Arresta and Len Zinnanti in the June election.

Arresta and Zinnanti were also part of the full board that fully rejected my wife’s and my grievance against our substantially over-assessed property. I presented six comparables of my immediate neighbors as clear evidence of the over-assessment. Neighbors had valuations of $1 million more than our property, yet our property has a higher village assessed value.

The grievance hearing was conducted by the full board, making it a meeting subject to the Open Meetings Law. Yet, in violation of the law, no minutes of the meeting, or the deliberations or decisions, were produced. I have submitted a request for this information via the Freedom of Information Law, but the board also continuously violates FOIL provisions and has not responded.

I invite The Press and all voters who care about the character of these trustee candidates to come and stand with me in front of my house. I will show you the comparables and provide the relevant information.

Based on this, you will see that Arresta and Zinnanti have no concept of treating residents fairly. I invite Arresta and Zinnanti to come and explain their actions. I doubt that they will come, because most bullies are also cowards.

Voters and The Press need Arresta and Zinnanti to answer questions. Why do they force residents of Windward Way to pay disproportionately higher village taxes than residents of Meadow Lane? Why do they continuously violate the Open Meetings Law? Why do they continuously violate FOIL provisions? Why do they only act to support their own greed and self-interest (raises and nonconforming fringe benefits)? Why don’t they treat residents with fairness and respect?

Voters need answers to these questions.

David Rung

Southampton Village