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| YMCA land deal is an eco-mugging |
Cassidy Swanson, the Westerly Sun's new Charlestown reporter (welcome, Cassidy!), posted an article at noon in the Sun's e-paper reporting the Charlestown Land Trust's response to criticism of its plan to use almost $1 million in state and Charlestown taxpayers' money to purchase the busted out, abandoned YMCA Camp on Watchaug Pond.
The article notes public criticism of the deal, especially the Charlestown Conservation Commission's scathing negative Advisory Opinion to the Town Council, recommending that no Charlestown tax money be put into the deal.
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| Pristine open space? |
The statement does not acknowledge the decrepit condition of the property - with more than a dozen old buildings, collapsed roadways, old septic systems, chain link fence, tennis court and playing fields, all of which must be demolished, removed and cleaned up to even begin to restore the land to the wilderness the Land Trust would have people believe it is.
They note there is a difference of opinion between the Planning Commission, which has issued a positive Advisory Opinion and Conservation Commission. [The most remarkable statement in the Planning Commission Advisory Opinion is that the town should consider the excessive sale price as a "donation" to the YMCA].
Land Trust Treasurer Russ Ricci said, "I think, regrettably, that the Conservation Commission's mind was made up even before the members saw the property. It appears no site visit would have made a difference."
However, he does not acknowledge that the Planning Commission contains two Founding Members of the Charlestown Land Trust, Chair Ruth Platner and Gordon Foer. Both voted to support the town funding of this deal, despite apparent and undeclared conflict of interest. Platner wrote the proposal submitted by the Land Trust for $367,000 in state funding. Platner also wrote the Planning Commission Advisory Opinion.
The Land Trust recently reported to the Charlestown Press (January 26, p. 4) that its fund-raiser on January 15 at the Knickerbocker Cafe was a big success.
I'm glad for that because I think the best way for the Charlestown Land Trust to secure the land deal for the nearly exclusive benefit of the non-resident vacationers in the Sonquipaug Association and to pay the YMCA its exorbitant asking price is for them to pay for it themselves.
Meanwhile, we stand by our research and reporting that shows that this YMCA Camp caper is a bad deal for Charlestown taxpayers. Read why. Read the documents:
Ten reasons why the YMCA camp deal is bad for Charlestown taxpayers
Reason #11
Reason #12
