Letters to the Editor
A letter to the York selectmen
Dear Independent,As I sat in Monday night's Board of Selectmen meeting and watched the number of people file through the door to attend the meeting, I personally was proud of our community for showing that there was a passionate care for the first topic on the agenda, which was the proposed surfing ordinance.
This passion and care was shown by the non-surfing and the surfing community. Unfortunately, I already knew how the start of the discussion would go, and as Mr. Marshall opened the discussion he stated what most in the room were unaware of, which was because of the strict guidelines of the charter in regard to timing for proposals to be included on the ballet, the vote by the board on Feb. 26 to delete Paragraph C from the proposed surfing ordinance rendered the ability to re-include that paragraph a moot point. Our only choice was to go forward with the proposal as is, or not go forward with a proposal.
Both sides were extremely disappointed in finding this fact to be. We, as laymen, rely on our elected leaders to convey good communication as to how to navigate the process. Everyone that left that Feb. 26 meeting was under the impression that the next meeting would allow more discussion before it was voted on by the board as whether to be allowed to go before a public vote.
It was more than enough of a kick in the pants to find out after the Feb. 26 meeting that the board voted after all had left to delete Paragraph C - and now to come to the next meeting and be told, "Sorry if we didn't communicate effectively at the prior meeting."
You found yourself on a large hot-seat last night and deservedly so. You should understand that as elected leaders of our community polarizing the constituents is probably not a good idea.
I will say that the most positive part of last nights meeting was the ability for both sides to actually meet after the discussion of the ordinance was closed, and we understand that we are in fact more on the same page than most realized.
The proposed ordinance needs to go forward and the surfing and the non-surfing community will now be working together and we will be back before the board with proposals that we feel will even better serve the community as a whole.
Dave Carson
York
Town Hall positives and negatives
Dear Independent,In the interest of trying to be positive, but at the same time negative, let me begin by stating without a doubt that we do need a new Town Hall in York. That is the positive.
Now, the negative.
Do we need a town hall of the proposed 23,000 square feet? The answer, in my opinion, is a resounding no! The people in Town Hall do an excellent job. They not only work for the town, but they care for the town and they do deserve the best we as the voters can give them. At the same time, the voters must control the expenses that we continue to pile on the future residents - both young and old.
We have made many improvements to the existing Town Hall and I do not see any reason why one or two departments cannot remain in the present building. At the same time, I do not know why the Recreation Department cannot remain in its idyllic spot along the river at Grant House. Many volunteers and committee members put many hours of effort and public funding into Grant House and that effort should not be dismissed lightly.
Both these buildings are going to remain on the yearly budget for maintenance and the selectmen have not addressed their continued use or lack of use.
At the projected cost of $200 per square foot, if we can save an estimated 6,000 square feet by continuing to use our existing buildings, we can save more than a million dollars in bonding, not to mention the savings in an operating budget for the new building that the selectmen have not addressed as yet.
As for the larger-than-life meeting room, York voters approved over a million dollars in funding for the library based on the use of the existing meeting room. If we do need one that will hold 200-plus, why not build the auditorium at the high school and at least we have a large multi-use facility?
There are other issues that haven't been addressed, including a traffic study and a turnout lane.
I am all for a new town hall, but a building of 23,000 square feet is not a town hall. It's a city hall.
Howard Koeppel
York
Abbot is clear choice
Dear Independent,John Abbott is the clear choice in this year's Ogunquit election. I have known John and Goldie for many years now and John's dedication to Ogunquit is honorable. I have seen him move the select board toward "decision" on difficult items. I have seen him hold back on matters that require more information or dialogue, keeping board decisions logical and well thought out. Thank you John.
I have served on the Ogunquit Planning Board for a couple of terms now. This is not an easy, and is sometimes a thankless, task. Years ago when I started with the board we were very, what I call, "consumer or resident-unfriendly." People were put through the ringer for a small fence or window replacement.
Soon thereafter, John Abbott became a Planning Board member and then the chair of the Planning Board. John saw the customer unfriendliness of the board. Thanks to John, we created a vision to become more "consumer-friendly." After all, the Planning Board is here to serve the public, aren't we? The board continues with this vision and now has an official mission statement. We continue to strive to be more consumer-friendly. Thanks to Steve Wilkos for having the same philosophy that John started.
John has made a difference in Ogunquit and he would like to continue for another term. Please vote to continue progress in Ogunquit. I hope you will join me and vote for John Abbott on April 7.
Don Wunder
Ogunquit
Town Hall perspective
Dear Independent,Since writing my letter concerning the new town hall's location, I have had an opportunity to get more facts.
I am told the Fazio property on Woodbridge Road is not large enough to accommodate all the features of the proposed town hall. As for the proposed town hall, I understand that the citizens of York mandated the purchase of the property off Long Sands Road for the new building. They also mandated the architectural and landscape design for the area. These have both taken place.
So, please forgive my letter. I was uninformed about the particulars and my inspirational ideas to be practical ran away with me.
Sincerely,
Cynthia H. Raymond
York
Abbott is leader for all seasons
Dear Independent,One year ago on April 4, and by the vote of confidence from many Ogunquit residents, I assumed my responsibilities as selectman for the town of Ogunquit. Needless to say, I have learned a lot in the last year and with this time, I have had an opportunity to observe firsthand the critical processes required to ensure effective and good government. Admittedly speaking, I now have a better and tempered understanding that in municipal government, diversity of intellectual scope and experience are essential toward reaching sound decisions that create a better community for all residents.
In 2006, and during my own campaign, I made a commitment to work hard to address any divisions and to unify our town. To that end goal, one of my most significant achievements over this last year has been the working relationship established with all of my selectman colleagues, especially with John Abbott. I have come to appreciate the unique skills that John brings to his position as vice-chair and to the responsibilities entrusted to him in 2004 when he was elected to his first term as selectman of Ogunquit. No one has worked more diligently to create a spirit of collaboration in the town than John Abbott. History has clearly taught us that effective teams are not made up of similarities but rather differences. In this spirit, John Abbott brings a remarkable and innate ability to address complex and tense situations with a temperament that allows for the best outcome to be realized. His grasp of the issues, his keen sense of listening to each and every person as a means to gather a balanced perspective and his passion around doing the right thing for the residents of Ogunquit are clearly attributes that make John an effective leader.
The leadership guru Warren Bennis once said, "Managers do things right - leaders to the right thing." John Abbott clearly has the right leadership balance necessary to address the critical issues before us. While it is essential to one's effectiveness as a selectman to have intellectual breadth and depth, what makes one even more successful is their sense of character. I have come to admire and appreciate John's commitment to understanding the needs of the people within the Ogunquit community. He clearly understands the value of placing others first and the reality that an elected position is not an entitlement but rather a privilege. Selectman Abbott is clearly a "Man for All Seasons" and I support his candidacy for reelection to a second term as selectman of Ogunquit.
In closing, and while I admit that there are still significant challenges ahead of us, now is not the time to change the leadership of the Ogunquit Board of Selectmen. The last year has brought the board closer in understanding our differences, as well as acknowledging that there is indeed a unity of purpose among all of us. With this past year behind us, I believe that together we can build on our experience and work together to successfully create a better community for all residents.
Respectfully,
Donato J. Tramuto
Ogunquit Selectman
Racing for a cause
Dear Independent,With all the recent press surrounding the need for transportation services in southern Maine, we think this announcement comes at the perfect time!
The Eliot Festival Day 5K Road Race is a great event to be hosted by a wonderful organization, the Boy Scout Troop 340 of Eliot. Best of all, the beneficiary of this year's race, the Eliot Community Service Department's Van/Transportation Fund, is a wonderful cause!
Please feel free to contact the race directors at eliot5k@hotmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Linda Driver
Sue McNamara
Anne Marie Prewitt
Race Co-Directors
Phil Lytle
Boy Scout Troop 340
Eliot
No new excise tax
Dear Independent,The state and local governments of Maine, according to some press reports, collected $4.6 billion in taxes from its citizens in 2004 and now they want more!
I am absolutely shocked at their voracious appetites for our hard earned incomes. Add to that a proposal to increase beer excise taxes from a current state rate of $.35 a gallon to $.60 a gallon. Maybe it doesn't seem like a big deal to you? Consider that we already pay the highest excise taxes in New England. New Hampshire has a lower excise tax rate, no sales tax and no bottle deposits. I can tell you where people will be going to stock up. I can also tell you where they will spend their money at restaurants and retailers.
Proposals like this bring a lot of harm to Maine's businesses. I hope the legislature will re-think an excise tax hike on beer.
Charles E. Gagnon
Chief Financial Officer
National Distributors, Inc.
South Portland
The Independent Letters Policy: The Independent welcomes letters and opinions on any subject. We do not accept anonymous letters. Letters should be 200 words or less. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, accuracy, and/or legal reasons and to reject any material considered unsuitable for publication. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of The Independent or its staff.
Send your letters to the Editor at PO Box 6, York, ME 03909 or via email to editor@yorkindependent.net. Deadline for publication is 12:00 noon on the Monday prior to that week's publication
