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No to Article 1, Yes to Economic Development
(by Chris Conti, Simply Delicious - November 12, 2008)
Editor:
I am writing to thank Barre City residents who supported business in Barre, and voted NO on Article 1 to change the City Charter. As a strong opponent of this proposal, I want voters to understand my reasons for opposing Article 1.
At the second public hearing the City Council held, the mayor was asked what he intended to do with the funds collected for this fee. He said he would like to see it go towards economic development. When asked what exactly that entailed, in short, he couldn't tell us. This is what concerned me the most about this proposal - the fact that the mayor and the city council did not have a well-thought out plan of what exactly they wanted to do for Barre with regard to economic development.
I believe the one thing we can all agree on is that Barre is in desperate need of economic development. I would rather address this issue through a collective process with all the stakeholders involved, not the mayor and city council deciding that the City Charter needs to be changed in order to raise revenue. Let’s have a well-thought out plan that doesn't pit one stakeholder against another. Letís work together, as a community to make Barre a once again thriving community for everyone involved.
Again, thank you for supporting business in Barre.
Chris Conti, Simply Delicious
Barre
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