I would like to thank the 5 Councilors who voted to sell the property at 946 Mere Point Road and tell them that I am proud of them. Each and every one gave a thoughtful and reasoned approach to the issue at hand. They have demonstrated that the Town actually does have a strategic plan for the future along with key priorities that need to be funded. They demonstrated fiscal responsibility, an understanding of the facts that were presented, and made a responsible decision that will benefit the Town financially far into the future. They chose to recommend using and improving the water assets the Town already owns, pointing out that we have both underused and neglected sites today. As was stated at the meeting, the best use of this small tidal property is to put it back onto the tax rolls. This is where the Town will benefit the most, gathering hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue over the ensuing years. The Town does not have an unlimited budget that can fund everyone’s pet project, but has to make fiscally responsible decisions that often are hard decisions.

I see that Councilor Walker is very disappointed that the majority of councilors did not follow his detailed instructions and that they had the gall to actually weigh the evidence presented and make their own decisions. He apparently now is embarrassed by them because he did not get his way to fulfill his own agenda and is having a public tantrum.

I see Councilor Walker is once again working to have a land trust purchase the property and thus bypass the council’s decision to keep the property on the tax rolls. Most likely the land trusts can see the severe limitations of the property and realize it offers nothing of value to residents that doesn’t already exist at other Town-owned sites. And certainly the land trusts know that invading a small neighborhood would result in adverse publicity and likely loss of donations. I have every confidence that Town Council will be able to focus on all of the Town’s needs and not submit to an agenda that is filled with “wants.”

John McGoldrick,
Brunswick