Westhampton Beach candidates focus on adding sewer system
The Westhampton Beach Village Hall, shown on April 16,2012, is located on Mill Road, at the north side of the Six Corners. Credit: Erin Geismar
Three candidates are seeking two seats on the village board of Westhampton Beach, where officials are contemplating sewer improvements that could alter the future of their East End community.
Incumbents Ralph Urban and Charles Palmer Jr. are each seeking a third 2-year term in the Friday election.
Stephen Frano, a member of the village planning board, is seeking to unseat one of them and join the five-member board.
Westhampton Beach officials are studying the feasibility of installing sewers in the village, which sits on Moriches Bay, Moniebogue Bay and Quantuck Bay.
Village officials say a sewer system could help alleviate algae blooms attributed to nitrogen pollution from septic systems and other sources. It could also aid economic revitalization by allowing more restaurants in the village’s downtown.
In February, village officials hired H2M Architects + Engineers of Melville to draft a sewer map and plan for $71,000.
All three candidates said sewers could improve the village’s environment and economy — as long as they prove to be cost-effective and outside funding becomes available.
“I’m a boater and I can see how polluted the bays have become,” said Frano, 65, who is running on the Ocean Party line.
Frano, who led Southampton Town’s code enforcement department before retiring in 2007, said he’s running for office because he’s a lifelong resident and has time to devote to public service.
“I grew up here, went through all the schools, seen many changes,” said Frano, who has also been a volunteer firefighter for 43 years.
Frano said he wants the village board to gather more input from residents before making decisions, and hold more deliberations in public.
Urban, 67, who is running on the Key Party line, said he wants to stay on the board to see projects to completion, including the sewer system.
He also wants to continue pursuing improvements to Main Street, including widening the road, sidewalk upgrades, and possibly burying utility lines, he said.
“Now that I think I have a good handle on some things, I’d like to move forward,” Urban said.
Palmer, 59, is running on the Progress for WHB line along with Mayor Maria Moore, who is uncontested.
Palmer, an accountant for the Suffolk County Police Department for 27 years, said the current board has a good mix of skills.
He said he’d like to help keep the village budget within the state’s tax cap and also wants to help the village’s 14-officer police department achieve state accreditation.
“We all have something to bring to the table and we can come to a pretty good consensus,” he said.
Village Hall will be open for voting from 12 to 9 p.m. Friday.
