The Line Drawn in the Comeau Fields

July 7, 2009
To the Editor,


It recently became apparent to us that we have finally reached the status of

“Old timer” in the town that we grew up in. We gained that insight when we found ourselves wondering, how on earth did we get to the point in our community where we find townspeople pitted against each other over the use, or non use of 77 acres of town owned land?
Kudos to Supervisor Jeff Moran for articulating the concept many Woodstockers struggle with, how to protect the Comeau property and at the same time utilize small portions of the land to satisfy the needs of the town government and recreational groups. We support his comments made recently indicating his opinion that the details of the draft easement need to be looked at with members of the WLC, from the perspective of the evolution of the towns needs in 2009. We were also pleased to read that the WLC wishes to “make sure that any eventual easement reflects the Town’s current and future activities, uses and conservation goals for the Comeau property.”
Old timers will recall Val Cadden, a Woodstock Supervisor who had the keen ability to bring opposing groups together and build consensus. She managed, among other accomplishments, to convince Woodstockers to purchase 77 acres of land in the center of town for consolidation of municipal services, recreational services and protect the property from purchase by future land developers. As you may have guessed, we were among those many Woodstockers who voted yes, let’s buy the Comeau property, and looked forward to Val’s plans being implemented.

After Val left office, the town government and its townspeople entered into the process of developing two very important advancements in our town government, the municipal sewer system and the 1989 zoning law. There wasn’t much else the elected town boards could concentrate on adequately, therefore, many other important items including the infrastructure needs of our town were put on the sideline, due to lack of time and concentration.

During the following two decades, in our opinion, Woodstock changed. People who were instrumental in supporting Val’s effort, or voted to purchase the Comeau property have moved away, grown too old to care or died. We are a community of new citizens, who bring to the table different experiences, and many may have no first hand knowledge of how Woodstockers used to work together for the common good of all.

In 2002, Jeremy Wilber made a clever suggestion that we study the Comeau as a place to site the Highway garage. We joined 796 Woodstockers who voted against that proposal. We were part of the 838 Woodstockers who voted in 2003 against the proposal to create a conservation easement for the Comeau property. We voted no on this proposal because we were, and still are of the opinion that Woodstockers have the ability to be mindful of the need to preserve and protect the 77 acres at Comeau as well as utilize a small portion of the land to ease the over crowding at the town offices and the remedy the unsafe working conditions of the town court, police and dispatch departments.

Why do we continue to hold the belief that Woodstockers can use a common sense approach to utilizing a small portion of Comeau and also protect this wonderful natural resource? Because we are Woodstocker of the Val Cadden era.
Ok all you old timers out there, now is your chance to voice your opinion.
Yes, tell your elected officials that you want a review the details of the draft easement and you want a few more acres to be designated for town municipal services, an enlarged parking lot and additional soccer fields. Also, let the WLC know that you appreciate their support and understanding in this complicated arrangement.
Erase the line drawn in the fields of Comeau and work toward compromise to help solve the town needs the purchase of the Comeau land was intended to solve.

Sincerely,


Janine Fallon – Mower
John A. Mower