At the time I wrote this letter, I had only considered Mr. Allen's remarks. I questioned why he had made those comments when his own words seemed to suggest that there was enough money in the surplus to pay for the Turner Road water project. After sending the letter to the Town Clerk, I began thinking more about the issue of the Town surplus and how the Turner Road project was going to impact the Town's bond rating.
And that is when I had a most remarkable revelation! This Town Council has already voted to install the water pipes. Those pipes have already been ordered, delivered, and are lying by the side of the road. The Town will have to pay the contractor full payment upon installation of these pipes. But even if the State legislation is passed, the residents will pay the Town over the course of 20 years. In the first year the residents will pay the Town only $14,000 in principal and that won't even happen until a year after the pipes are installed.
So how does the Turner Road project impact the surplus and the Town's future bond rating. Obviously it does not! So I again ask this Council why are the Turner Road residents being the first taxpayers asked to pay for their water and why are they being asked to do so retroactively? As my letter continues to ask: Could it be that the Council has other plans for this $300,000? If so, what plans are more important that bringing potable water to an area of Town that has been contaminated for over ten years?
On July 16, 1992, then Town Administrator Michael Embury presented distorted statistics to the Council in order to minimize the nitrate pollution problem in the Turner Road/Ward Avenue neighborhood. With those distorted statistics, that Town Council voted not to install water and the issue was dropped from future consideration.
For these long ten years, as a result of the lie perpetrated by Administrator Embury, the residents of Turner Road have been making due with bottled and filtered water. I am tied of the distortions, the lies, and the half truths. If it is true that this Council is not concerned about fairness, then say so. If it is true that this Council does not believe that the Turner Road/Ward Avenue residents deserve compensation for ten years of grief, then say so. If it is true that other areas of the Town are more important than the Turner Road/Ward Avenue neighborhood, then say so.
NOTE: The Council made no comment and took no action but simply moved on to the next agenda item.
