Letters

On September 30, Anthony Carter resigned from his position as Southampton Village administrator after less than one year on the job. His total compensation package was a record $335,000 per year, comprising a $215,000 salary on top of a $120,000 pension. Worse, the village spent nearly $10,000 in legal fees, paid for by taxpayers, to secure this additional $120,000 per year. This misuse of public funds should raise serious questions about the priorities and judgment of village leadership.

But this was not the first time Anthony Carter abruptly left a position in Southampton Village. Before serving as village administrator, he was appointed chief of police by Bill Manger and others, despite lacking local ties and failing to take or pass the state-mandated civil service exam. Retaining his position would have required scoring in the top three of all qualified candidates across New York State, or he would have been removed by Civil Service. To make matters worse, the New York State Committee on Open Government opined that Manger and others had violated the Open Meetings Law by appointing Carter without properly notifying the public. The appointment was pushed through without a contract or even consulting me or our village attorney on the hiring agreement.

It’s important to remember that Carter’s appointment as chief of police faced opposition from the community. Yet Bill Manger made it a central issue in his 2023 campaign, criticizing my judgment and character for not supporting Carter. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it is evident that my decision was the correct one, not only from a management standpoint, but also financially. Carter’s resignation from two high-ranking positions confirms the validity of my concerns.

This situation raises critical questions: Why did Manger go to such lengths to install this individual, not once but twice, despite his lack of qualifications and community ties? Why spend so much taxpayer money on securing these roles for Carter? The answer, which I know firsthand, is troubling. One of Manger’s primary 2023 campaign donors, who also donated to my 2021 campaign, wanted Carter in these positions. This donor’s influence, rather than the best interest of the village, drove these appointments.

In retrospect, the village made a costly and misguided choice. My stance against Carter’s appointment was based on sound judgment and foresight. As Mark Twain aptly noted, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” This experience underscores that the right decision is not always the popular one, and my stance was clearly in the best interest of Southampton Village.

Jesse Warren

Southampton Village

Warren is a former mayor of Southampton Village. The $120,000 pension was an NYPD pension and not compensation paid for from village coffers. — Ed.