A purchase of this magnitude should not be decided by five people

I support the purchase – and town ownership – of the Whalerock property

By Deb Carney

I have three points to make this evening:

1. I support the town’s purchase of this piece of land.
2. I support putting this question to the voters of Charlestown in the form of a referendum and not having an expenditure of this magnitude decided by five individuals this evening.
3. I support the town’s unencumbered ownership of this land.  If the taxpayers are to spend $2.1 million on this property, the town should own it outright, without easements to other parties.

A purchase of this magnitude, over $2.1 million, should go to referendum.  The voters should decide if they want to spend the entire remainder of the open space/ recreation bond money on the purchase of this one piece of land. I too resent the way this was forced down our throats.  The Town Administrator noted the seller wanted to expedite.  How long would it take to hold a referendum?  

One month?  That’s not a lot of time considering how long this has been going on for.

The Council set precedent in 2011 by requiring a vote of the citizens in order to spend $1.19 million on the much needed beach pavilions, instead of using the money that had already been approved through the open space/ recreation bond referenda. 

Voter approval was required by the Council in 2011 to spend $1.19 million.  Precedent has been set.  In the interest of good government, the same process should be followed.  The voters need to be asked if they wish to spend the previously approved $2.1 million open space/ recreation bond money on the purchase of this property.

At the Town Council meeting of May 9, 2011, the Council discussed purchasing this very same piece of land.  The minutes state, “Ms. DiBello asked if the purchase would be put before the voters; Mr. Gentz stated that it would be appropriate.”  I agree.  It would have been appropriate then and it’s appropriate now.

Finally, if the taxpayers of Charlestown are going to spend $2.1 million, the taxpayers of Charlestown should be the owners.  Mr. Gentz was quoted in the paper as saying, “Charlestown does not need to be the ultimate owner.”  

I disagree. For that amount of money, Charlestown does need to be the ultimate owner, and we should not tie our hands with any outside deals or anything else that would inhibit the Town’s use of the land.

In closing, I support the purchase of this piece of land.  I support the taxpayers, the citizens, right to vote on this $2.1 million expenditure. I also support Charlestown’s unencumbered ownership of this property.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Deb Carney served as Charlestown Town Council President and represented Charlestown on the Chariho School Committee. Deb has also served in numerous other public service positions working for the people of Charlestown.