Dear Editor:

Five considerations concerning the roundabout proposal:

1) the only accident frequency statistic we have for the current stop sign situation is that there have been fewer accidents there than the state average for similar situations and no indication that there have been any serious accidents.

2) the proposed roundabout has four pedestrian crossings and will have almost every road exiting into from anyplace to the south entering into it: common sense suggests that it probably will not increase traffic flow and may be less safe that the current situation.

3) the DOT is not an impartial evaluator. Though it employs many fine professionals, it is under the direction and influence of the office of the governor. It depends on executive approval for its budget.

4) the prime beneficiary will be Paul Coulombe's new shopping mall and his planned new country club structures. To quote him, "The roundabout is absolutely critical to have the traffic flow smoothly in and out of the new village. Not having the roundabout would make it impossible for traffic to get in and out of the village." So it's clear that his commitment to the roundabout in the location proposed is self-serving. The desirable location for safety improvement, as is now acknowledged, is at the actual main entrance to the country club. The configuration for that should entirely replace the discussion of the proposed roundabout.

(5) the roundabout and the uninspired beautification plan will make the entrance to Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor like every town USA, a cookie cutter repetition of the many thousands of unattractive roundabouts in Maine and all over the country that, when you drive through them, don't let you know where you are. We have the opportunity to use our TIF money to create a distinctive, creative beautification and gateway. My guess is that there are creative urban designers all over the country who would love to show us what they can do. We can create a beautiful gateway without the proposed roundabout. Boothbay can empower itself to gather facts, explore alternatives, and make independent decisions.

Fred Kaplan

Boothbay