To the editor:

One letter by Donna Amaral and another by myself focus on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our community currently and what its implications may be for the future. Donna addresses the emotional and psychological aspects and suggests that to deal with the trauma inflicted by this pandemic, "it will be important to address how we will work together as a community not just to survive, but to recover and thrive.”
My statement focuses on some of the probable economic consequences of the pandemic and suggests that “town officials and particularly the Planning Board will need to consider these changing needs and see if there are ways in which the various parts of town government can help to find the best ways forward and support the infrastructure and policies that will help our community move ahead most effectively and efficiently.”
A third statement by Sherri Mahoney and Sam Mundel in support of the candidacy of Bill Harkins for the position on the Board of Health, focuses on the "amazing powers" of the Board of Health in that it can “pass regulations in our town that have the ability to affect many residents in our community.” They further lament “A Board of Health with board members intent on regulating can make life difficult for residents…” As their primary example, they cite the recently adopted Animal Site Registry which actually only affects a limited group of farmers.

They make no mention of the Board’s critical positive responsibilities to enforce the state’s water, wastewater and stormwater regulations that are essential for the health of our entire community. Nor do they mention the positive role that the Board of Health should play to help implement the recently completed Water Resource Management Plan that recommends measures to assure healthy drinking water and waterways within the Town for everyone.

They either do not understand or acknowledge that it is the responsibility of the Board of Health to “… [protect] public health…control disease, promote…sanitary living conditions, and…protect…the environment from damage and pollution.” Rather, the goals of these candidates seem to be to divide the community rather than unite it, to reduce governmental functions regardless of their benefits and, above all, to undermine the necessary activities of the Board of Health and, through their own candidacies, the Board of Selectmen.
I urge my fellow voters to take note of these divergent agendas when they vote.
David C. Cole

Westport