With term limits reducing the Bellport Village Board by three-fifths, two candidates have stepped up to replace outgoing Mayor Raymond Fell, while the two open trustee seats will see the contenders unopposed in the June 20 election. A common theme among the candidates is better communication with the residents and a slower, more studious approach to deciding on a caterer for the village’s country club.
Vying for mayor are Kieran Murphy, a New York City fireman and Bellport department volunteer, and Maureen Veitch, a human resources professional and career coach. On the slate for trustee are attorney Michael Young and Lorraine Kuehn, a retired public health sanitarian active in community groups. The election, open to village residents and second home owners who register in advance, will take place June 20. The new members will serve two-year terms and are limited to five terms in office.
With the current board, including outgoing trustees Robert Rosenberg and Michael Ferrigno, deciding to let the new officials resolve the controversial catering issue, the candidates have taken a cautious approach on how to proceed. They agree that appraisals on the value of the lease should be undertaken and that the village’s Budget and Fiscal Policy Committee should review any new proposed agreements. The candidates also cited traffic safety, particularly speeding on Station and South Country roads, as a priority, and pledged to be more accessible to village residents.
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| Lorraine Kuehn |
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| Maureen Veitch |
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| Kieran Murphy |
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| Michael Young |
Murphy, 53, a village resident since 1995, is running under the First Light Party. He served as Bellport Fire Department chief for six years where he said he dealt with the village on many different fronts. Aside from working with the Suffolk police and code enforcement on public safety issues and handling the country club contract in the most responsible manner, he cited the rebuilding of the Bellport Marina as a key issue. Serving on the village’s Waterfront Management Committee, Murphy is involved with the redesign of the facility, which has received $2.8 million in federal grant monies. “I look at things from a different view,” Murphy said. “My experience is in emergency services running a fire department and working with firefighters. I look at problems and find solutions, not create more problems.”
Running on the All Points Party line, Veitch, 64, grew up in Bellport and has many family members in the village. She was elected to serve a one-year unexpired term as a trustee in 2021, but did not seek reelection, she said, since she wanted to run for mayor this year instead. She was a liaison to the Department of Public Works and the waterfront committee.“Bellport still has many of the same challenges that face most small towns in America,” Veitch noted. “We need safe roads, fiscal responsibility, and to protect our environment. Improving the infrastructure while maintaining the vibrancy and spirit of the village is of utmost importance to me." She would also like to see a “transparent, deliberate” process in addressing the country club catering issue.
One of two candidates running for two vacant trustee seats, Kuehn, 68, said, “There’s a lot of fixing that needs to be done in the village. One of my focuses is going to be improved communications and transparency with the village and its residents.” The Common Ground Party candidate is in favor of posting meeting minutes on the village’s website and having “hybrid” meetings that are broadcast on Zoom. She’s in favor of electronic speed signs showing a motorist’s speed to encourage them to slow down, as well as crosswalks by the country club and the eastern part of the village. According to Kuehn, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is a “safety net” in reviewing plans for the marina. “We all want to live and work on common ground,” she said. “We’re all in agreement among the residents, except with dealing with the village board.”
“We are all aware that we face challenges that any number of communities would be thrilled to have,” the Historic Bellport Party candidate for trustee said. Young, 67, continued: “We have a charming and historic village which serves as the vibrant center of a broader community. One demonstration of our village’s popularity is the desire of so many new families to move here. The challenge of our times is to accommodate new families who bring fresh thinking and energy while preserving the village’s essential character.”
The key issues, according to Young, are:
• Respecting the preferences of all families while maintaining the village’s essential character
• Looking for opportunities to improve village communication and approval procedures
• Maintaining fiscal prudence
• Reviewing roadway conditions and use
• Facilitating the success of local merchants and businesses
• Enhancing village governance transparency while reducing unnecessary adversity between village administration and residents
• Keeping the essential attributes of our charm and aesthetic