Robert Damarell's letter about the Community Center



This letter was read at the December 27, 2007, Selectmen’s Meeting

DEC 2 7 2007

To the Selectmen of The town of Moultonborough,

I would like to commend the Recreation Committee for all their work. They've put in a great deal of time and effort in identifying recreational facilities and programs in Town that need attention and have given us a splendid overview on where we stand. However, I think their enthusiasm has generated a plan that needs much reworking. Let's let the new Master Plan review tell us what's really needed not wanted before going further.

It has been suggested that we needn't worry, there's no problem paying for this entire project because we have all this assessed property to pay for it. I'm sorry, but assessed property doesn't pay taxes, people do. All town taxpayers would have to pay; resident taxpayers who are the more likely ones to use these facilities and non-resident taxpayers who are less likely users.

Some 12 to 15 years ago I was at a Town Meeting when a discussion was being held on a proposal we residents needed or wanted that would be significantly paid for by people who probably had no use for it and would have no recourse to object - our non-resident taxpayers. They just have the questionable pleasure of helping to pay for it.

At that meeting a gentleman, Bob foster, spoke to the issue. Bob served the town well in several capacities and also represented us in the legislature in Concord. I can't remember his exact words but their meaning was; hadn't we already taken enough advantage of the non-resident taxpayers, let's give these people a break. These people being taxed without representation. Here, I thought is a man with a conscience. We would probably not have the one town school system/SAU we have today with it's huge budget without this unique taxing situation.

As Bob said, let's give them a break - and me too.

Robert Damarell