At the Town Board meeting of October 8, 2024, in what was a truly historic moment in the governance of the Town of Southampton, the Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore and Southampton Town Trustee President Scott Horowitz signed a Memorandum of Agreement, taking a giant leap forward in their respective efforts to see the Trustees set up as a distinctly separate governmental entity, including its own Tax Line. As the oldest continually elected board in North America, the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Southampton have been at the forefront of ensuring the pristine quality of the Town’s waterways, a responsibility that has only grown more critical over time.
Set in motion with New York State legislation more than a year ago, and introduced by Senator Anthony Palumbo and Assemblyman Fred Thiele, this Memorandum of Agreement (or the “MOA” as it has been referred to) puts the Trustees on stable footing to continue their efforts for transparency and fiscal responsibility by setting forth in clear terms the agreements for services it has with the Town and the necessary finances to account for them. This agreement not only reinforces the Town’s commitment to clean waterways, but also empowers the Trustees with the ability to independently manage their budget moving forward. This autonomy allows them to meet the growing challenges of protecting and preserving the Town’s water resources.
“This milestone is a testament to the collaboration and shared vision we hold for the future of Southampton Town” noted Supervisor Maria Moore. “Together, we are setting a solid foundation to ensure our waters remain a source of life and beauty for generations to come. Thank you to Senator Palumbo, Assemblyman Thiele, my fellow Town Board members, and Trustee President Scott Horowitz and the Town Trustees.”
Trustee President Scott Horowitz commented, “I am proud that our boards came together with a mutual respect to accomplish this goal. All levels of government working together for the greater good makes for a better future for the public that we serve.”
Councilman Michael Iasilli stated, “This is a historic agreement, giving the Trustees the tools necessary to ensure access to our resources and protect the environmental vitality of our bays and coastal areas. I commend Councilman Bill Pell and Trustee President Scott Horowitz for helping broker a collaborative approach between our two boards, and Supervisor Moore’s leadership in helping us move forward together.
A photo of the two boards, along with Assemblyman Thiele and Senator Palumbo is attached.
