Editor, OBSERVER:
During a recent Planning Board meeting in the town of Dunkirk, I fought to remain calm.
A $13.5 million project with a payment in lieu of taxes - or PILOT - to the town was enough to evoke questions from the Town Board and demand of guarantees of high tax income during a meeting in February.
After a lavish presentation by the investors in a first phase and a rush by the state and its release of funds, a blur of non and detailed answers followed with guarantees and details by the board for the town's income. This was a classic case of putting the cart well before the horse per say.
The jest was some quelling a potential threat to the current non-green, old housing, outdated and not-in-demand facilities, with those stating there is plenty of housing in the area. OK, is the 50-year-old uninsulated, undesirable housing I've seen is causing most to look elsewhere for more desirable and attractive homes or apartments?
To add fuel to the fire was the lack of and unwillingness to see if special needs of families would be complying with cost to the town! I found this despicable and was disgusted with the board. Not only do they not want good growth, they want no growth. Shame on the board. If I had the power, they would all be as Donald Trump would say, "fired."
JOHN D. WILBERG,
Dunkirk
