Westhampton Free Library Elected Board logoThe Westhampton Library board and citizens engaged in another shouting match at last night’s meeting, the board sticking by its resolve to remain self-appointed and citizens saying it’s about time the community was listened to.

Resident Peter Zegler asked why the board it does not conduct a poll of citizens by mail on whether an elected board should replace the self-appointed board.

When board members did not respond, Zegler then asked each member individually for their opinions on that subject.

Board president Tom Moore, husband of Westhampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore, other board members, and library director Danielle Waskiewicz all said that Zegler was not allowed to question the board in that manner and that the board can only speak “collectively.”

Zegler refused a request to sit down. Waskiewicz got up and threatened to have him forcibly removed from the room. There was yelling by both sides and a brief recess was called.

The meeting was similar to the April 13 meeting which was covered by Southampton Press reporter Erin McKinley under the headline, “Sparks Fly at Library Meeting.”

There is no official audio or video recording of library board meetings. WHB trustee meetings are videotaped, shown on local Channel 22, and archived permanently on the village website.

Parking log$4M for Construction, Parking

Current financial plans of the library call for $3,073,579 on “capital projects” and $1,000,000 for purchase of land for a parking lot.

Some of the 14 attendees at the meeting wanted to know why so much money is being spent on a building that is only six years old and for parking when there is plenty of parking across the street in the Rite Aid parking lot.

The citizens said the library has plenty of funds for intellectual pursuits such as paying for a series of distinguished speakers on important topics and hosting discussion of controversial topics as encouraged by the American Library Assn.

The library has no display of materials documenting the dangers of cellphones, computers, cordless phones, iPads and other sources of electromagnetic radiation, all of which are particularly dangerous to children, babies and fetuses.

Tom Moore on Feb. 27 emailed this website that the Federal Communications Commission has determined that Wi-Fi radiation does not raise the temperature of the body and is therefore not dangerous.

An attempt to learn more about the proposal to spend $1 million on land for a parking lot was rebuffed by Moore. There was also no further explanation of the $3 million in capital projects.

A lot next to the library that was occupied by a gas station was cleared last fall and that appears to be the land that the library board has in mind. However, Waskiewicz would not confirm whether that is land under consideration.

Funds for those purposes are now “committed,” as recommended by the auditor, the board has said.

Citizen Calls for Elected Board

A citizen took the podium to ask that the board consider switching to elected status. Moore said that topic is always being looked at.

The board has created a 14-page report on selection of its members that is backed up by 96 pages of references. Citizens say there is no chance the current board will give up being appointed by itself.

Thirteen of the 19 libraries in the Suffolk County association have elected boards, citizens noted. Port Jefferson unionized in 1987 and changed to an elected board in 1990, they said.

Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton, the biggest library in the Hamptons, has had an elected board since 1996.

One citizen who was speaking last night was ordered to sit down by Moore. She ask, “Why, because you don’t like what I am saying?”

Citizens at the meeting said they will continue to urge residents to vote against the library budget May 17. Rationale for this is provided by the website wflelectedboard.org.