Toughing It Out in the Minority
Sylvia Overby and Peter Van Scoyoc took their seats as minority members of the Town Board a little over four months ago in the organizational meeting of January 12. They’ve had to tough it out in a challenging environment. The Town Board majority has stepped up its efforts to override environmental and quality of life protections. It has tried to stack the planning and zoning boards with members who oppose the boards’ missions, to pressure public employees to make exceptions to basic rules for friends of the administration, and to sell off town assets without considering the public interest. Despite their minority voting position and the majority’s efforts to thwart all objections through secret agendas, walk on resolutions and unpleasant, often hostile interactions, the new councilpersons have had a surprising degree of success in challenging these assaults:
Among the achievements so far:
- Influenced appointment of a respected and unbiased replacement for the long time chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals
- Overcame the majority’s determination to immediately sell or lease the Town’s septic waste processing plant to a sole bidder without exploring the potential for increased costs to citizens and damage to groundwater, and at a price far below its value
- Initiated a full study of septic waste disposal options looking toward a decision on whether to dispose of the plant or upgrade and, if the latter, whether to self-manage or privatize
- Successfully opposed the majority’s sale of potentially valuable condominium offices still in use at the current deflated price
- Induced the majority to reevaluate plans for wholesale repeal of the Town’s “dark skies” law
- Announced and started work on a plan to limit the negative impact of franchise stores on the town’s local business
- With help from Democratic committee members and others who carried petitions for a permissive referendum, forced the reappraisal of sale of a Montauk alleyway for a price the Town Supervisor “plucked out of the air.”
Our councilpersons are getting lots of support from friends and allies, including former running mate Zachary Cohen and members of the Democratic Town Committee. They’re working very hard, and we can count on them for new initiatives. See them in action on LTV. Watch this page and “News and Views” for updates.
