What's that old saying? A new broom sweeps clean!

We have just finished our town elections and seated our new board/commission members and RTM representatives. Let us hope this election will bring fresh perspectives on town issues.

The local turn-out was light and many said it was due to the lack of any impending town issue. How about the Y and its appearance before the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval of their proposed facility? Is this not a town issue of some importance?

The Y has served our community for 85-years and we wish to see it remain in service. However, it can only do so through a public / private partnership. The Westport Weston Family Y must only engage in an open and honest, thoroughly transparent dialogue regarding the issues surrounding its application due shortly in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The town's people need to understand the issues before Planning and Zoning regarding the proposed location: Camp Mahackeno. What are the issues? The septic system, the parking facility, the traffic plan and most likely the redrawing of the controversial "Blue Line" to accommodate a new sewer line to the new facility in lieu of the controversial FAST system, are but some of the main points of contention.

There was a letter to the editor titled, “The Tyranny of the Vocal Minority,” on Sept. 5, 2007, from a gentlemen who felt that once the Conservation Commission and the RTM vote regarding that commission's decision had taken place, it was time for the "small vocal minority" to "stand down" as he said. Can we please remember our history lessons from grammar school? We are a country founded on the rights of minorities. Were it not for vocal minorities, we would not have had the Boston Tea Party, the Suffrage Movement, the Voter Rights legislation, to name a few!! No, vocal minorities should not stand down on the issue of our Y. Whatever the outcome, it should be rendered only after a vigorous debate before a knowledgeable public.

A fair, honest and open debate and voting process indicates we should not allow these votes and debates to take place at midnight meeting, votes on Christmas Day and by conflicted board / commission members. One RTM vote was cast by a member of the Y's board who had resigned the from the Y's board only days before the RTM vote to review the Conservation Commission's decision took place, a blatant conflict of interest in our opinion and misuse of the process that can only stifle an open, honest hearing of the issues.

This process of relocating the Y needs to be an open and transparent process so as to gain wide community support. The Y will need to raise much money to build it new facility wherever it is located and that will take much community support. The Y will need to have community support for its location so as to gain the full support of its members, good rapport with the new neighbors, and on and on.

Community support is the key to the Y's continued service and only through an open and honestly transparent debate will we gain that necessary support.

Thomas Orofino and Winthrop Baum

The Y Rescue Group