Letter: Mayor put Rail Trail project in jeopardy


Friday, October 31, 2003

To the editor: Like many in the community, I am extremely disappointed to learn of Mayor Lavender's decision to write a letter encouraging the sale of the Guilford Transportation property adjacent to the proposed rail trail to a developer WITHOUT first securing a written access agreement. Moreover I am disappointed that this agreement was apparently made without consulting or informing either the Rail Trail advocates or the city's own Planning Department, both of whom have been working diligently on this project for months.

By taking this action, the mayor - either knowingly or unwittingly - has jeopardized or at the very least complicated progress on this important community project that he himself references in his own campaign literature as an "exceptional recreational experience" that is moving ahead because of his "leadership."

This type of behind-closed-doors deal and putting the needs of special interests and friends before those of the city is NOT the type of leadership that the people of Newburyport deserve.

The most important thing now is to save this project. I would strongly urge the mayor to work with Mr. Carey to obtain a written agreement giving the city access rights to this property. If that cannot be done, I would ask the City Council to do what they can at this 11th hour to allocate the necessary funds to purchase this parcel which is critical to the future of the Rail Trail project.

Sincerely,

Mary Anne Clancy

Summit Place

Newburyport

 
 
(This article replicated online with permission of the Merrimack River Current.)
 
 
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