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3/12: Gordon Weil
To the editor:
The Harpswell LNG vote has now been taken. The LNG matter
is closed.
Harpswell people now expect that the town's sense of
community should be restored, and they look to the selectmen to bring that
about. Certainly, town government should treat all townspeople fairly and
provide service to them without taking into account their positions or
conduct in the LNG campaign. The processes of government must be open to
all.
But the major responsibility falls to the people
themselves. Each side showed a good deal of mistrust of the other, so
community can only be restored if each of us begins to treat others with
trust and respect. The time to begin is now.
The LNG issue revealed that Harpswell is a town in
transition.
Proportionately, Harpswell is home to more people born
outside of Maine than is the state as a whole. We have to respect the
values and needs of those who may have a different background. Without
recognizing the changes taking place in town, there can be little hope of
maintaining a sense of community.
Harpswell is worth the effort. In many respects, we are a
fortunate town. We must join in recognizing our obligation to those who do
not fully share in that good fortune and in understanding that the cost of
serving the community will increase as we deal with the town's growing
needs.
Gordon L. Weil,
Harpswell
3/12: Jim Knight,
Lee Theberge
To the editor:
We have elected Gordon Weil as selectman twice before. Both
times Harpswell was at odds with itself over contentious issues. Once over
the "Taxpayer's Revolt," and then in June 2003 following the resignations
of the town's former administrator and a selectman. Mr. Weil's presence is
sure-footed. His leadership and work ethic combined with a vast depth of
knowledge of our town's governmental workings are invaluable.
With those three now-famous capital letters in Harpswell's
history books, we have turned our focus to the many challenges that
running our town entails. For example, we are planning to begin a new
revaluation (Article 47, Saturday's Annual Town Meeting Warrant). Mr. Weil
has considerable experience in this area of municipal government, having
taken assessing courses and holding office during the last revaluation in
1998. As a responsible overseer of public funds, he has never lost sight
of the relationship between local spending and property taxes. With no
immediate property tax relief promised from Augusta, continued local
vigilance is imperative.
Like the cuts on our hands, all things heal, it just takes
time. We urge you to join us in re-electing Gordon for a third time —
another time when Harpswell needs his expertise and involvement.
Jim Knight, Lee Theberge,
Harpswell |