Village Appointment

A new member of the East Hampton Village Design Review Board was named last week by the Village Board, with nary a nod to the public.

The decisions of the members of the Design Review Board are among the village's most far-reaching. The Design Review Board is more active than the Planning Board these days, given how little open space is left to be subdivided, and it deals with significant projects. Recent examples are the RECenter, the new building proposed for the Most Holy Trinity congregation, and the conversion of the former Mark R. Buick dealership.

The new appointee, C. Howell Scott, may be eminently suited to judge whether applications are in keeping with "the character and quality of our heritage," to quote from the Village Code. He may have an understanding of design and a talent for deliberation. On the other hand, he may not. He has not been visible in any way in the affairs of village government.

Ted Borsack, who served the village well for about 10 years, is deserving of time off. His intention to leave the board, however, should have been made public to allow other interested residents to be put in nomination and the selection process should have offered the public a chance to assess the board's official candidate.

With no political parties active in the village to take issue with what the board does, it is perhaps to be expected that it would revert to "old-boy" procedures. That doesn't make it right.