Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 10-5-23

A wrong housing development for North Canaan 

“Hal Borland stands in the first rank of 20th century American nature writers.  In 1957 when he wrote his classic seasonal memoir “THIS HILL, THIS VALLEY,” he was describing the Weatogue valley in Salisbury and North Canaan, with Tom’s Hill and Miles Mountain to the West of the Borland farmhouse, the dark forests of North Canaan to the East, and the Housatonic River in between. This landscape is so special that last December it received federal recognition as part of the newly designed Wild and Scenic Housatonic River. Today, a proposed 20-unit subdivision on the North Canaan side of the river threatens to destroy the very qualities that helped to earn that designation.

The Salisbury side of the river valley has been blessed by forward thinking landowners and residents who have worked to conserve thousands of acres.  Right now, in fact, a multi-partner, two state conservation effort is working to protect over 1,100 acres that came on the market on the west side of the valley all at once.  A model public/private partnership is well on its way to protecting these lands. It relies on the good will and resources of motivated neighbors, a seller who still maintains roots in the community, a realtor who understands the conservation value of the land and the capacity of a community-based effort to make fair offers, and the resources and expertise of local and regional land trusts who will ultimately protect these lands.

Meanwhile on the east bank of the Housatonic, twenty houses — each with septic systems rated for 5 bathrooms — are proposed in a subdivision application now before the North Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission which I happen to chair.  Because I work for the Housatonic Valley Association and we are actively involved in protecting this extraordinary valley, I knew when the developer first surfaced this idea that if it ever came before our commission I would have to recuse.  This I have done, and HVA and our partners are united in opposing the project.

The conservation value of this land would be difficult to overstate.  It contains the largest, intact riverine and interior forest land on the east side of the Housatonic between the Massachusetts border and the Great Falls.  It lies between the confluence of the Blackberry River and the Housatonic to the north and the old hydro dam downstream, with more than 1,354’ of riverfront in between. It is home to numerous rare and endangered species nestled within in a landscape of exceptional cultural and archaeological significance. 

When you drive along Weatogue Road, whenever you are close to the river, you are looking at this land. And soon, if this proposal is successful, you will be looking at clearings and a score of house sites amid the remaining trees.

A public hearing is set for Tuesday, Oct. 10  at 7:00 p.m. at the North Canaan Town Hall.  I urge you to attend, because this project is wrong for our river and our communities.

Tim Abbott

North Canaan

Taking issue with ‘frivolous’ lawsuit, and more

I write in response to a “Letter to the Editor” (“Truth in Journalism? Sometimes” Sept. 28, 2023). The letter criticizes The Lakeville Journal for failing to publish the plaintiffs’ names in the lawsuit challenging the P&Z’s decision approving the Holley Block project and for failing to publicize that the town apparently spent $40,000 defending itself against the lawsuit. 

The letter is 1) wrong in its characterization of the plaintiffs’ suit as “frivolous,” 2) naive in ignoring the town’s own responsibility for exposing itself to suit, and 3) vindictive in its brazen naming and shaming of fellow citizens for merely having the courage to exercise their duly held legal rights.

First, the author’s characterization of the plaintiffs’ lawsuit as “frivolous” and claim that the judge dismissed it for “lack of merit” are specious. In fact, the judge found i) that the plaintiffs were legitimately “aggrieved and therefore ha[d] standing to pursue th[e] appeal,” and ii) that the plaintiffs’ main claim was supported by “persuasive and compelling evidence.” The judge only declined to overturn the P&Z’s decision because he undertook his review under the “substantial evidence” standard, a “highly deferential” standard of review.  In other words, just because their case was dismissed doesn’t mean they were wrong. 

(In the judge’s own language: “[T]his Court cannot conclude that the commission’s finding…was reached without the support of substantial evidence. While persuasive and compelling evidence was presented by citizens and experts with opposing points of view on the underlying issue, it was the duty of the commission to weigh and evaluate the competing testimony in its determination” of whether to approve the project. The parties’ briefs and the judge’s decision can be found at https://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov under Docket Number: “LLI-CV-21-6028337-S.”)

Second, if the town cannot afford to litigate challenges to its P&Z decisions it should either A) take care to conform its decisions more closely to its own zoning regulations and state law, or B) avoid contracts in which it gives away town property for free while retaining the obligation to pay for subsequent land-use litigation.

Third, the author’s call to publish the names of the plaintiffs serves no purpose other than to shame fellow citizens for exercising their lawful right to challenge the P&Z decision. As mentioned, the plaintiffs were found to have legal standing; therefore they had a right to their day in court. Whether the author seeks mere social sanction of the plaintiffs — dirty looks, whispers of “racist”, — or worse, dragging plaintiffs’ names through the mud in an attempt to chill their pursuit of legal due process is flat-out wrong. 

Black’s Law Dictionary defines a “frivolous claim” as “a claim that has no legal basis or merit, esp. one brought for an unreasonable purpose such as harassment.” Many frivolous claims have indeed been made about this project: but the plaintiffs’ suit is not one of them.

Eric Mason

Lakeville

When you need a plumber!

Here is something to think about this town election. When you need a plumber do you first investigate who is running for president of his union? Do you even think to ask him or her who they might vote for or even if they vote at all? Of course not. All you care about is whether this plumber has proven by his work on previous jobs that he can do the job. In fact, what you want is the best man or woman for the job.

In the Town of Salisbury the best man running for Selectman is Don Mayland. Don is your Selectman now and based on his experience he has proven he is the best person for the job.

Don’s record of service spans nearly 50 years. He was a longtime economics teacher at Hotchkiss with the knowledge he not only passed on to his students but also benefited the many volunteer organizations on which he served. Don is a past president of the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Corps, he is chairman of the Water Pollution Control Authority, he is a past president of the Lake Wononscopomuc Association and a board member of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation.

You can meet Don Mayland and discuss his views on the local issues that impact you directly at the Salisbury Republican Town Committee pizza party and picnic at the Town Grove, Sunday, Oct. 15 . What is going to be done with the Pope property? Should restaurant parking be allowed on Community Field? Should we have more affordable housing? What will be done with the Colliers study on parking, traffic and Community Field in Lakeville?

These are the issues that matter to you as a taxpayer in Salisbury and we need to keep Don Mayland as a selectman to deal with them.

Bill Littauer 

Lakeville

Appreciating our veterans

The veterans and first responders — our guardians — who joined us in the circle we call  the Round Pen at The Equus Effect, were amazed at how much support and appreciation they felt from this community.   

We were so focused on introducing them to you, we forgot that they would also feel deeply flattered and honored to be recognized by the folks whose generosity makes it possible for us to continue. 

So thank you for that, from the bottom of our hearts.  It makes us proud to call this place home. 

Jane Strong

The Equus Effect

Sharon

Disappointed in Sharon Hospital

I am disappointed by Nuvance’s continuing effort to close Sharon Hospital’s maternity services (L&D) as well as the Intensive Care Unit. One would think that a not-for-profit hospital company having a 2021 revenue of $105 million in excess of expenses could cheerfully afford to lose $4 million on L&D in order to maintain a hospital’s perfect record of never losing the life of a mother giving birth on her arriving baby. 

We need to keep a full-service hospital in the Northwest Corner just as we need more affordable housing. We need thse in order to attract full-time families to man our local businesses, our fire departments and EMT’s and other volunteer organizations, to provide teachers for our schools and doctors and nurses for our health ser vices, including the hospital. These are challenges, but I believe our wonderful community has the will and the ability to meet them. 

Alice Yoakum

Lakeville

Ticks, Babesiosis and catching it in time

Earlier this summer I had to insist that my Nuvance primary care practice order the necessary tests for medical staff at Sharon Hospital to treat me.  It seems crazy that (a) I had to figure out that such tests existed and were recommended by the CDC, and (b) that an Emergency Department would not opt for the rapid test over the 3-5 day turnaround test when dealing with a patient sick enough to be admitted to ER. 

Some ticks transmit multiple microbes whose incubation before showing causing symptoms can vary from days to weeks.  So, just when I thought I had been successfully treated and cured, from a diagnosis of Lyme, I came down with a new round of fever and chills, fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite that was not Lyme, nor Covid-19, but Babesiosis.   

Babesia microtia is a parasite, and rather like the malaria parasite is not something to be cavalier about. It is on the rise in our part of the world. The CDC and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recommend strongly that one or two rapid tests be done as soon as Babesiosis is suspected. They say that rapid testing is important because it “hastens appropriate antimicrobial therapy, which typically reduces the severity and duration of symptoms…and complications…and death” (https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/babesiosis/#null. I recommend you click on this link and also on www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/babesiosis.html

Janet Graaff

Lakeville

Riva for Salisbury P&Z

I write in support of the candidacy of Bob Riva for membership of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Bob has been a resident of Salisbury for 32 years and has been on the Board of Education for eight years, and was Selectman for one term.

He was also Affordable Housing Commissioner and a was a member of the HVRHS building commission.

Clearly he would be an excellent addition to the Planning and Zoning commission and thus I support his candidacy.

Maureen Bateman

Salisbury

Best federal designation for Sharon Hospital

As Sharon Hospital’s President, I write today to demonstrate our leadership team’s continued commitment to our role as stewards of the hospital’s future, and to correct misinformation that has appeared in recently published letters.

Two years ago, our leadership team announced a plan to best position Sharon Hospital for a strong future for our patients and our region. We were not the first to tackle the issue of the hospital’s long-term viability — these conversations have spanned more than a decade and numerous owners, as the hospital has continuously faced challenges that have been exacerbated by our evolving region and changes to the healthcare system nationwide. And these challenges are only compounding. In 2022, Sharon Hospital reported a $22.9 million loss, as documented in the Office of Health Strategy’s Annual Report on the Financial Status of Connecticut’s Short Term Acute Care Hospitals for Fiscal Year 2022.

Among the options we’ve considered — both in the planning process that culminated in the 2021 announcement of our transformation plan and several times in the years since — was a change in our rural federal designation. While a Critical Access Hospital designation has been presented as a solution to solve Sharon Hospital’s financial challenges, the truth is that our current federal designation of Sole Community Hospital provides more financial support than we would receive under Critical Access Hospital designation.

In addition, if Sharon Hospital were to apply for Critical Access Hospital designation, we would need to limit one of the services in highest demand within our community, inpatient psychiatry, while receiving less financial support from the federal government than we do today.

We thank our community members for realizing the dire financial situation that Sharon Hospital is in, and for bringing this thoughtful suggestion to the table. This and many other options have been considered repeatedly over the years as we’ve worked to ensure Sharon Hospital’s sustainable future.

Christina McCulloch

President, 

Sharon Hospital