letter to the editor in response to Kevin Cook

In the Middleboro Gazette (still only 50 cents) of January 1, 2009, Kevin Cook's letter to the editor criticized the Community Preservation Act.

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The following is a response to his letter that might have arrived too late for publication:

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Mr. Cook's recent letter seems to have misunderstood the issue of CPA.
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To include a laundry list of budgetary grievances with the Community
Preservation Act is disingenuous and should be treated separately. It's
much like comparing apples and oranges and confuses the issue.
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Under Prop. 2 1/2, the tax levy increases by a required amount annually,
unless voters approve an override. Your real estate taxes will increase
by statute, except for the decrease reflected by the override for the Nichols
Middle School. The failure of the Town to abide by the statutory requirement
risks reduction in state aid. (There are low income abatements and real
estate tax deferrals available.)
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Regarding the Trash Fee, it might be suggested that you contact
the Board of Selectmen and request that the issue be re-visited as
it was promised when initially passed. This is an issue that requires
more space to address, for fear of causing widespread slumber,
I'll decline beyond saying that we need a public discussion of the
surrounding issues and not pot shots, unrelated to CPA.
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Middleboro residents are already paying the matching portion of the
CPA funds through the Registry of Deeds. What is not claimed by Middleboro
is distributed to other municipalities participating in the CPA program.
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When affluent communities rushed to approve and implement the CPA program,
shouldn't we question their reasons for doing so? They recognize that it is
a sensible way to plan for the future and the match can't be gained by even
the most gifted investor. The match is, afterall, up to 100%. This is not a
"Noble" endeavor as Mr. Cook would label it, but rather planning for the
future and preparing the preserve the reasons many of us moved to Middleboro.
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Mr. Cook raised the issue of the contracts that were approved at the most
recent Special Town Meeting. Since Mr. Cook's previous objections at Town
Meeting are memorable, I might be mistaken, but I don't remember
Mr. Cook rising to object at that public meeting. The FinCom
received the information without adequate time to review and respond
with a recommendation. Since the Board of Selectmen scheduled the
date for the Speciall Town Meeting, that might be an issue to address
with them as well. Or perhaps, as others have suggested, it's time for
a Charter change that mandates adequate time to review ALL articles,
without exception.
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Mr. Cook raised the issue of the sorely needed Police Station.
Few residents would disagree, but barring a gross miscalculation
of the financial officials within Town Government, the Town can't pay
cash for the structure. That means, of course, the Town needs
to borrow the funds.
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The last several purchases of property that Town Meeting Voters approved
was accomplished by BONDING - that is by borrowing money.
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If we approve borrowing for land purchases that we determine make sense
for the future of the Town, aren't we, in essence, already paying a 'fee'
for the land purchase and shortchanging other needs? Doesn't it make sense
to establish a small annual 'kitty' that is available when the need arises
that will assure that we aren't forced to borrow each time? And what amount
have we lost by our failure to approve CPA at its initial presentation? How
many millions would it have been? Surely it would have funded the last
several purchases, preventing borrowing.
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Voters should be reminded of the purchase of the Parks Property that
was in the process for a long number of years. It is among the largest
land preservations the Town has embarked upon, involved others and
costs the Town a nominal amount. The purchase was only finalized
shortly before Mr. Parks' passing and fruition was only because of Mr.
Parks' dedication to preserving the land.
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As families move on, members pass away, economic pressures mount,
large parcels will be offered for sale. Shall we pass on to the next generation
"We should have saved that parcel"? Or shall we elect to invest less
than a Dunkin' Donuts' coffee each week to the next generation that will
recognize the importance we placed on the future?
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A review of municipalities that have adopted CPA indicates grant money
those municipalities have applied for and received as a consequence of
adopting the CPA statute. Middleboro continues to miss out on grant funding
available for targeted uses because of our narrow view, much as we
missed the potential of grant funding for a new ladder truck as one of
the candidates for Fire Chief indicated.
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Let's reserve discussion of CPA to only those issues pertaining to CPA and
not create a grab bag of grievances. It's long beyond time to prepare for
the century we live in, with an eye on the future.