After Debate, Board Adds Off-the-Record Commenting on Budget

Southampton Town Board members debated for more than an hour Tuesday afternoon the logistics of the town’s budget approval process, which the board adopted in July. In the end, they opted for additional public comment during the next six Friday work sessions.

The debate began when Councilwoman Nancy Graboski, R-Bridgehampton, asked for approval of a walk-on resolution that would convert Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst’s, I-Sag Harbor, tentative budget into the town’s preliminary budget immediately, which would trigger a public hearing process and public notices.

Under the July resolution, the conversion is scheduled for the town board’s Oct. 25 meeting.

Graboski said the change in the budget process would allow for additional on-the-record public comment.

Throne-Host and Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, D-Noyac, disagreed with Graboski, saying the change would actually hinder the process.

“I don’t want a repeat of last year,” Throne-Holst said. “I believe I was elected to bring change instead of same old same old.”

Last year, Throne-Holst said, “The budget was hijacked."

"None of you had opportunity to deliberate on last-minute changes,” she said to fellow town board members.

In addition, Throne-Holst said Graboski’s suggestion has more to do with politics because she said it was originally suggested by Marietta Seaman, the Southampton Republican committee vice chair.  The proposed budget schedule change, Throne-Holst said, will not hold any town board member's "feet to the fire."

By holding off on the conversion, Throne-Holst said the public, though their comments won't be on the 'official record,' will have the opportunity to speak on town board changes to the budget as opposed to only commenting on the her tentative budget,

“Politically, I have nothing going on,” Graboski said. “Under the current configuration, the first hearing doesn’t happen until after November 9 — after the election.”

"This is not about politics; it is about people," said , who rose to the podium during the public comment portion of the town board meeting.

Kabot, who is a former town supervisor vying against Throne-Holst in a write-in campaign, said "I support Nancy Graboski. The first hearings should be before election day."

Councilman Jim Malone, R-Hampton Bays, offered a solution — a walk-on resolution that would dedicate a portion of the town’s regularly scheduled Friday work sessions to the budget. Those sessions will rotate between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. beginning on Fri. Oct. 14.

By law, the final budget must be adopted by Nov. 20.