In the News
Proud Legacy
December 3, 2025
I want to extend my deepest thanks to the voters of Southampton for placing your trust in me once again to serve as a Town Trustee. It is an honor I do not take lightly. Every day, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to help steward our extraordinary bays, beaches and waterways — resources that define who we are as a community and connect us to generations of people who cared for this shoreline long before us.
I am excited to continue the long, proud legacy of the Trustees as we work to protect water quality, support our marine ecosystems, and preserve access to the waterways that mean so much to residents, baymen, boaters and beachgoers alike. The work ahead is significant, but I remain committed to tackling these challenges with transparency, science and collaboration.
I also want to offer heartfelt appreciation to outgoing Trustees Scott Horowitz, Ed Warner and Chip Maran. Their combined decades of service have left a lasting imprint on this board and on the waters that surround us. Scott’s 12 years of dedication, Ed’s remarkable 19 years of leadership, and Chip’s steady commitment reflect a true devotion to the role of Trustee and to the people of Southampton.
The knowledge and passion they brought to this job have helped shape the foundation we are building upon today. I am grateful for their service and for the countless hours they devoted to this important work.
As we look to the future, I am energized by the opportunity to continue serving this community and protecting the natural resources that make Southampton such a special place. Thank you again for your support, your engagement and your belief in the mission of the Trustees.
Matt Parsons
Trustee
Southampton Town
27east.com
Nov. 12, 2025
Meet the New Southampton Town Trustees, Not the Same as the Old Trustees
...Parsons, who said he expects to take over as the Town Trustees’ president when the new board is sworn in, said that the learning curve for the new board members and for himself and McLoughlin taking over as the board’s leadership, will have to be very steep — and even more so because all five members of the board will have to run for reelection again next fall as the town shifts its elections from odd- to even-numbered years.
“We will have three people who are brand new to the Trustees and, I can tell you from experience that campaigning to be on the Trustees and being on the Trustees are very different worlds — so there will be some challenges,” he said.
“But we’ve already had some great meetings, explaining some of the roles, personalities, legal cases and the day-to-day issues and we have an amazing office staff that will still be there on January 3. Joe Lombardo will be initiating the three of them into the legal basis that the Trustees stand on, and we’ll all do our best to teach them the Trustees’ culture, just like was done with me and Joe two years ago.”
“We are cautiously excited,” he said.
Parsons said that longtime legislative secretary Jessica Feldman and the Trustees environmental analyst, James Duryea, will be relied on heavily and that as he takes over the helm of the Trustees he expects to move things forward “much more slowly and deliberately” with day-to-day business like permitting applications for docks and bulkheads, as the new board gets its feet under it.
Several major projects are already in the works and will proceed apace, Parsons said, a testament to the work of the current Trustees, especially Horowitz and Warner....
Michael Wright
Left to right: Matt Parsons, Sara Topping, Jimmy Mack, Joe McLoughlin, Hannah Pell-O’Farrell
photo credit: Michael Wright 27east.com
Southampton Press
Letter to the Editor
Oct 12, 2025
It's Who He Is
As Matt Parsons’s wife, I’ve had the privilege of watching firsthand the dedication, care and hours he’s poured into serving as a Southampton Town Trustee over the past two years. Matt doesn’t approach being a Trustee like a politician; he approaches it like a neighbor, a scientist, and a dad who wants to ensure this beautiful place remains healthy for future generations.
If you know Matt, you know he’s happiest when he’s near the water, whether it’s swimming with our kids, helping with beach cleanups, or working on one of his many projects to protect our waterways, ponds, and bays.
What some people might not see, though, is just how much heart and time he puts into this role. When he comes home from a Trustees meeting or a day on the water, he’s still talking about how to improve water quality, protect access to our beaches, and ensure that our coastal habitats thrive. His passion never turns off — it’s part of who he is.
As both a marine biologist and a bayman, Matt brings a unique and essential perspective to the work of the Trustees. He doesn’t just study the problems; he experiences them firsthand. Whether it’s observing changes in the bay while out on the water or analyzing the data behind those changes, he understands how science and lived experience must work together to find real, lasting solutions. That combination of knowledge and hands-on experience helps him see not only what’s wrong but also how to fix it.
He really believes in collaboration, that government should listen, learn, and lead with balance and respect. Matt doesn’t make decisions from behind a desk — he’s out in the community, talking to people, hearing their concerns and finding practical solutions.
He respects the long history of the Trustees and understands the vital role they play in protecting the natural resources that define our way of life here on the East End.Our family couldn’t be prouder of the work he’s done and the integrity he brings to it.
Matt doesn’t seek credit or attention. He just quietly gets things done and makes a difference.On November 4, I hope you’ll join me in supporting my husband, Matt Parsons, for reelection as Southampton Town Trustee. He’s doing this work because he loves this community — and it shows.
If you want to learn more about what he has been working on, visit mattparsons.info.
Vanessa Parsons
East Quogue
A Life on the Water
September 22, 2025
I am honored to be seeking reelection as your Southampton Town Trustee. Serving in this role for the past two years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me.
Over this time, I have seen firsthand the critical importance of the Trustees in managing and protecting our town’s most valuable natural resources. While some of our upland neighbors may not always know the scope of what the Trustees do, anyone who clams, scallops, fishes, paddles, surfs, hunts, boats, swims or owns a waterfront property quickly understands the role we play.
The Southampton Town Trustees act as advocates for all who depend on our waterways, ensuring that they remain protected, productive and accessible for generations to come.
Every resident of Southampton benefits from the work of the Trustees, whether it’s preserving public beach access, restoring habitats like eelgrass and shellfish beds, protecting water quality, or ensuring the safe enjoyment of our harbors, creeks and bays. These responsibilities are not just about today, but about building a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.
As a marine biologist, a commercial bayman, and someone who has spent my life working in, on and around the water, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to this role.
From my early work with Cornell Cooperative’s eelgrass restoration efforts, to my years as a federal fisheries observer, to running my small business caring for aquatic systems, my life’s work has always been about stewardship of marine environments. That experience, combined with my deep roots in this community, has guided me as Trustee and will continue to guide me if reelected.
I am especially proud of the collaborations we’ve built over the past two years, working with local organizations, residents and fellow Trustees to advance projects that improve water quality and enhance resiliency.
But there is more to do. From restoring shellfish populations to exploring innovative solutions like floating wetlands and living bulkheads, I am committed to bringing both science-based and community-driven approaches to our bays, harbors, and shorelines.
It has been an incredible honor to serve as your Trustee, and I would be humbled to earn your support again. Together, we can continue to protect and enhance the waters that define Southampton, support the traditions of our maritime community, and ensure that these resources are here for all to enjoy — now and in the future.
Matt Parsons
Southampton Town Trustee
Southampton Press
Letter to the Editor
Oct 12, 2025
Reverence and Wisdom
It was the water — specifically, its promise of serenity, adventure and abundance — that brought my Italian grandparents to Long Island in the 1960s, to a house in Tiana Shores, not far from the bay. During the summer nights of my childhood, the sea air lingered in my grandparents’ backyard, a presence everyone felt and welcomed as we gathered around the picnic table. There were nights when that table was filled with fish that my aunt and uncle had caught, clams unearthed by the grandkids’ toes, and crabs lured by the chicken necks on the ends of our lines.
This sea held me, my brother, cousins and friends as we learned to swim. Each new wave shaped and strengthened our relationship with the water.Now, my children swim in this same sea and delight in its astonishing gifts: a shell in the shape of a heart, a shy sand crab. Sunlight glittering the crest of a wave.
My family and I treasure our beaches, which is why we are grateful that Matt Parsons has answered the call to protect them.
Matt, running for reelection as a Southampton Town Trustee, has known these seas since childhood. His lifelong passion for our waterways led him to pursue a marine biology degree and a career as a bayman.In addition to serving as a Trustee for the past two years, Matt is also a husband and father, a Little League coach (go Dodgers!), and the owner of a local business that cares for aquatic life.
Even under pressure, Matt keeps cool and maintains a sense of humor. He is an enthusiastic participant in the life of our community, and a kind, personable, generous human being.Matt’s resume — supporting oyster and eelgrass restoration, strengthening community access to beaches, advocating for clean water and shellfish sustainability — is impressive, as is his vision for the future.
He is committed to improving water quality and ensuring that our waterways, and the various creatures that depend upon them (humans included), remain healthy and viable for generations to come.I trust Matt to fulfill the duties of Trustee with the reverence, wisdom, and humility the job requires. Please join me in voting to reelect Matt Parsons as Southampton Town Trustee.
Jennifer Fiore
East Quogue
Going Backward
Southampton Press
Letter to the Editor
Jun 2, 2025
As a Southampton Town Trustee and a marine biologist, I believe lifting the 20-year ban on CCA-treated wood in our local waters would be a step in the wrong direction.
The Trustees recently have been entertaining discussions about reconsidering a reversal on the ban, which would be a mistake [“Southampton Trustees Question Whether Ban on Treated Wood Is Right Approach,” 27east.com, May 21].
CCA wood is infused with chromium, copper and arsenic, a pesticide cocktail that is both highly toxic and shown to be a carcinogen. It leaches into the water and accumulates in shellfish and sediment.
That’s not speculation. That’s why Southampton, East Hampton, Southold, Riverhead and Shelter Island restricted it in the first place. We did so to protect our bays, our marine ecosystems and the health of our community. In fact, you can’t buy CCA-treated lumber for residential use because of how toxic it is.
When marine life steadily eats away at CCA-treated wood, new layers are exposed and fresh toxins are released. We’ve seen what happens when we ignore that reality: polluted creeks, declining shellfish beds and irreversible damage to our wetlands.
But why is this policy that was passed by the Southampton Trustees in 2004, and upheld by every board since, being questioned now? It’s not to protect the rainforests, as lifting this ban would have zero effect there.
It’s about cost. CCA-treated lumber may be less expensive than the alternatives for the owner, but the environmental impact of the degradation of our bays is passed on to us all.
We live in a region where clean water isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s an economic and cultural one. Our fisheries, our recreation, our very way of life depend on us keeping our bays clean and healthy. That means holding the line when it comes to proven environmental protections, even when doing so is slightly more inconvenient. Besides, there are already alternatives in use that don’t use tropical hardwoods.
We should be pushing forward, seeking more sustainable solutions, advancing the science and protecting our waters for future generations. Reintroducing arsenic-treated wood into our ecosystems is not progress. It’s going backward.
Matt Parsons
Southampton Town Trustee
Read more at 27east.com
In the News Cont....
Jan 3 2024
Southampton Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer swears in Southampton Town Trustees...
Jan 10 2024
Parsons said, "— there’s space for me to become an effective trustee."
Nov 8 2023
ELECTED: Parsons had the third-most reported votes, at 6,924, or 10.49 percent.
Nov 2 2023
Parsons speaks "the language of the bay and the ocean because it is home to me,"
Nov 1 2023
“We could be doing so much more for the bays — there’s so much opportunity that we’re missing,”
October 17, 2023
Letter of Support @ 27east:
Hit the Jackpot
Matt is running for Southampton Town Trustee. Of course, all the candidates want better water quality and better economic viability of our bays.
But having had an up close and personal experience with Matt’s character, work ethic, professional life and passion for the bays, I would like to tell you what makes Matt perfect for this position. He’s never been one to brag about himself, so I am going to do it for him...
September 12, 2023
LTE @ 27east:
Water Quality Matters
As a resident of East Quogue, I have enjoyed the hard work the Southampton Town Trustees have done managing our waterways and beach access...
Now, I would like to use my expertise and experience as a marine biologist and a bayman to help ensure that the Trustees can continue to improve Southampton residents’ lives regarding beach access, water access and habitat management...
June 19, 2023
LTE @ 27east:
Productive Bays
My name is Matt Parsons, and I want to declare that I am strongly pro-shellfish and am running for Southampton Town Trustee.
If given the opportunity to serve you, I will use my marine biology background, experience as a commercial bayman and previous work as a conservationist to bring back the health and productivity of our bays for our future generations to enjoy...Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Committed to Stewardship
Even in his professional life, Matt Parsons has demonstrated a commitment to being a steward of our natural resources through his work in maintaining healthy and thriving aquariums. In an article featuring Matt and his business in The Southampton Press from July 31, 2016, he worried about the interest in blue tangs, also known as palette surgeonfish, following the release of Disney's film "Finding Dory." Blue tangs are unsuitable for inexperienced aquarium owners. ...Continue reading
June 6, 2023
Announcing Candidacy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Matt Parsons Announces Candidacy for Southampton Town Trustee, Pledges to Restore the Productivity of Our Bays
Southampton, NY –June 6, 2023 - Today, Matt Parsons of East Quogue, proudly declares his candidacy for Southampton Town Trustee, focusing on revitalizing the town's bays and preserving their natural resources. ...Continue reading
