Letters

I write to our community as a concerned resident of Southampton. I have lived through the changing of the mayoral guard in our village and I have witnessed a shift in transparency to the community that I call attention to as it has resulted in disruption in our village.

I take Hill Street to reach my home and drive into and out of town on this main street. Unfortunately, much to my dismay, the traffic patterns have been greatly disrupted by the islands added into the road by the newly restored cinema. This addition of islands has not positively reduced the traffic. It has slowed traffic down and created greater potential harm. The islands are unlit and hazardous during evening driving and they have incurred a “traffic study bill” put on the residents, in excess of $50,000.

In addition to this disruption, we have the further disruption that the traffic cones have created, on Hill Street [“Pilot Program Creates Restrictions on Turns From Lee Avenue and Captains Neck Lane Until September 13,” 27east.com, August 21]. This forbids turning from the estate section to reach residential homes, including mine. I find this hazardous, annoying and unnecessary and I am calling for their removal. Who is imposing these driving restrictions into the already disrupted traffic patterns from the obnoxious flow of summer visitors that were present in our little hamlet? It only creates confusion, slows the flow of cars and creates aggravation in the taxpaying community.

I have found the current administration is making unilateral decisions pertaining to the governing of our village, without the proper consult or transparency that a government of a small community should conduct itself.

I believe there should be a monthly meeting in the community with an agenda to be presented to the village community regarding each and every change or issue or concern that arises so we are informed and have a voice in the administration’s activity. I am proposing the formation of a civic group or association in the Village of Southampton to accomplish such transparency for the village members.

This might look like an organization where all townspeople are invited to meet to discuss any grievances in the town, laud those whom are improving our community, discuss traffic conditions, review proposed tax increases or decreases, ways in which we might visually improve our community and additions to the community and more transparency.

Both the Village of Westhampton and Sag Harbor have a civic group to keep their community abreast of news and activity. Why don’t we employ new ways to properly inform our community members so that we can be more actively involved in decision making and allotment of our taxpayer funds.

Dale Novick

Southampton Village