Dear Editor:

The Sept. 18, 2014 issue of this newspaper had an article on the Boothbay Region Water District's opposition to using easements that the district had put in place in pursuit of completing a looping project. The BRWD's intent at the time was simply to improve fire protection and water quality by improving what existed, to a completed loop, increasing water pressure and water movement.

When we negotiated the easement, we would allow the contractor to temporarily install a class A road for the purpose of providing access for the work vehicles and equipment to that area and do the work required to complete this project. Land abutters expressed concern that a major road would be put in and become permanent. It was explained that the district would return the area to as close as possible to the condition that then existed.

Upon completion, we would remove all that was unnecessary and replant some trees and vegetation. Also at that time, the then incumbent officials had a chance to pursue their own easement to save and maintain the road and install gates to restrict the access. This was known by all off Boothbay's officers and our district was told by the then town manager that Boothbay would not do that. We then completed our project and our promise!

We are bound by our negotiated easements and promises. We have no problem with the town in their pursuit of emergency access around the community. We just will not allow the town to change the intent of our negotiations and assurances, when they could have done so at that time. Doing so now could lead to a problem obtaining easements for future projects.

It was stated in the article that Jim Chaousis said he had spoken to several trustees and that there was agreement with what our manager Jon Ziegra had conveyed. When we were at our last trustee meeting, no one seemed to know who of the trustees were even approached?

Our trustee meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Please attend if you have any concerns.

Kenneth D. Marston

BRWD trustee

Boothbay