Maria Moore: Southampton Town's New Supervisor

Maria Moore, a seasoned leader with nearly a decade of experience as the Mayor of Westhampton Beach, has taken the helm as the new supervisor of Southampton Town. With awealth of knowledge gained from her tenure as mayor, Moore is poised to address the unique needs and challenges of the town, which encompasses seven villages and 16 hamlets.

During her time as mayor of Westhampton Beach, Moore distinguished herself through her exceptional communication skills and her ability to collaborate effectively with community residents, board members, and government officials at all levels. Drawing on her 35-year careeras an attorney, Moore brings a comprehensive skill set to her new position.

Reflecting on her transition from mayor to supervisor, Moore emphasized the importance of providing individualized attention to each village and hamlet within the town, while also maintaining a holistic perspective. At the same time, Moore feels strongly that a comprehensive plan update is needed.

“Actions have consequences, and what we do in one area of the town impacts other areas,” she says. “We need to take a comprehensive view of the town and bring balance to the process of siting housing and preserving open space.”

Recognizing the significance of traffic congestion as a pervasive issue, Moore and her town board have established a Traffic Mitigation Task Force to explore both short term and long term innovative solutions.

“Some of the thoughts discussed in the first meeting included thepossibility of traffic circles, optimized traffic light synchronization, strategic traffic redirectionand continuation of the cone program,” she says.

Moore advocates for improvements to the South Fork Commuter Connection, emphasizing thenecessity of upgrades to better serve the East End community. Moore said that “having only one track hampers the LIRR’s ability to offer more trains, which unfortunately keeps people fromutilizing the railroad to get to and from work. The potential inclusion of upgrades such asadditional sidings would make a big difference.” Moore said she would use the train to commuteto and from town hall from Westhampton Beach if there were more trains in service.

“The board has been advocating for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to include funding forthese upgrades in its next budget, and I’m hopeful that will happen,” she says.

Despite her successful electoral campaigns, Moore has never been driven by politics but ratherb y a dedication to community service. Her proactive involvement in various community organizations, such as her previous service on the Westhampton Library Board and as a coordinator for Maureen’s Haven, an East End homeless outreach organization, reflects her commitment to effecting positive change.

Having overseen significant infrastructure projects during her tenure as mayor, including theimplementation of a new sewer system, Moore is well-equipped to address the challenges of her expanded role as town supervisor.

“It was a privilege to be in a position to bring about positive change to the village during my time as mayor,” she says. “The Westhampton Beach Main Street reconstruction project along with the installation of sewers were instrumental in improving water quality in the village’s waterbodies and revitalizing its downtown.”

She emphasizedthe importance of collaboration and smart growth strategies in bringing the projects tocompletion.

According to Supervisor Moore, “Trust is earned every day,” and she prioritizes open government and values community engagement. She views the current period as an opportune moment to leverage available grant funding and to foster collaboration among governmental entities to tackle pressing issues.

“It’s remarkable what can be accomplished when governments work together towards a common goal, and I plan to make every day of my term count,” Moore says.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Moore cherishes time spent with her husband Tom and her two daughters Elizabeth and Jacqueline, who is Dan’s Papers’ photo editor.

“I do hope to spend some time this summer enjoying the natural beauty of Southampton’s beaches and trails, and the many other things our town has to offer,” the supervisor says.

Moore’s leadership marks a new chapter for the Town of Southampton, characterized by a commitment to inclusive governance and proactive problem solving. With her experience, vision and dedication to the community, Moore is poised to lead Southampton toward a brighter future.

Todd Shapiro is an award-winning publicist and associate publisher of Dan’s Papers.