(November 14) There has, of late, developed a troubling tone by the Selectmen to stifle public debate by keeping items off Town Meeting Warrants. The absolute irony of the matter is what we are currently experiencing with regard to the upcoming Special Town Meeting.

Over a month ago, we had a Special Town Meeting. Pine DuBois wanted an Open Space Article included. The Selectmen said the wording was deficient and removed it. DuBois does not believe the wording made the Article fatal and felt it could have been cleaned up in time to be acted upon. Needless to say, it wasn’t. DuBois petitioned for another Special and got the necessary signatures to require calling one. The petition signatures were certified by the Town Clerk the same day as the Special Town Meeting it was denied from. The next order of business was to set a date for the new Special. That occurred a few weeks ago, and once again, we bore witness to that exclusionary mindset. Selectmen Mark Beaton asked that a companion article to DuBois’ be placed on the Warrant. In order to understand its significance we will give a brief summation.

DuBois wants the Town to buy a portion of land known as the Carter Cranberry facility off Route 106. Because the property has been used for farming it received tax breaks throughout its existence under Chapter 61-A. The law also gives the Town the right of first refusal if the property should ever be sold. An offer of $475,000 has been accepted by the Carters from local builder. Bob Gosselin of Goscon, Inc. The Town had the right to match the offer and buy it themselves, we opted out. How it happened is the issue.

The property consists of almost 26 acres, much of it wet. Gosselin wants to take the buildable portion and sell the Town what’s left for $200,000. That doesn’t sound like a sound deal to us. That means Gosselin ends up with the six house lots for 275,000 or $45,833 per lot. Even at only five lots that works out to a mere $55,000. Have you seen the price of buildable lots in our fair town? This is beginning to sound like a good deal for the builder.

If the Selectmen feel they have a sound logic, then argue the point from the floor and let the public decide. You remember, us…the public. The same public that is lauded by public officials for making sound decisions in electing them, isn’t smart enough to make this decision; we are denied the opportunity.