Letter: 'Southbury Selectman Was Wrong'

Editor,

A recent letter to the Editor from Selectman Landmon drew my attention.  He contested that the bid given to the Town for cleanup was unacceptable and that there were reasonable, and I assume he means less costly, alternatives. We can debate the facts but in this instance I believe Chad was wrong.

More eloquent individuals than I noted at the two Town meetings that the expense in both direct costs and man hours to complete this burdensome task would far outstrip what it would entail to bring in well equipped experts to get the job done quickly and effectively.  Chad offered no well-thought out alternative nor is there any comments in his remarks that he tried to work with the First Selectman to develop an alternative.

The arguments to proceed with the experts made at the first Town meeting and then again at the next meeting were convincing. In both instances our neighbors who were there voted overwhelmingly to proceed. Now I don’t anticipate that the selectmen will always agree but given the evidence that this was the correct (and neighborly) thing to do I begin to suspect what else is at play.

We’re barely into this administration’s tenure and there seems to be the appearance of an effort to be divisive. On a national level the Republican Party, since Mr. Obama became our president, has been the party of “just say no”. Is it possible that what we are seeing in Southbury is a reflection of what’s happing more broadly? I may be wrong but my sixth sense about these things gives me pause.

Signed,

Drew Morten
Chair, Southbury DTC
drumort@aol.com