The following is a letter written to the commissioners. I was quite upset after attending a meeting in which the developers were at the trough and the commissioners were filling the feed bags. The rodeo was about to begin and small town living was about to change.
Patrick Wallis
315 East Broadway
4 May 2022
To:
Kevin Bianca
Mary Chance
Paula Etting
Erin Hughes
Donna Kahoe
Commissioners,
Congratulations. As Bel Air Town Commissioners, you have achieved what no other slate of commissioners in the history of Bel Air has been able to do – your names will be part of history as the Commissioners who effectively killed the small town flavor of Bel Air. There have been attempts before, but you win the prize.
I attended the council meeting this week on May 2 and was pleased with the turnout. Involvement in our local civic affairs is a good thing and voicing our opinion provides for constructive dialog, how communities are expected to be.
The hot topic on the agenda for sure was the Klein Project and rezoning to allow for ShopRite expansion. During the time allowed for public comment, practically everyone expressed gratitude to the Klein family and some found part of their expansion plans almost doable.
As well, the Klein family emphasized more than once their commitment to preserving where they can. The sentiments on both sides were well argued and at one point during the meeting, I was hopeful further dialog and compromises could be made.
However, hope and logic were fleeting and I must take issue with what I heard from one of your commissioners, Erin Hughes. Upon hearing her comments, I was taken aback by what I heard. Ms. Hughes opined the slow revenue stream that the town sees, then immediately followed with her moaning that townspeople shouldn’t complain when the commissioners are trying hard to build that revenue stream.
That’s just hogwash and I admonish the board for not correcting Ms. Hughes. Any time townspeople have something to say, listen. Listening can be a great teacher. Critical to mention that you also have a responsibility to consider and give weight to what you hear. As elected officials of those very same townspeople who Ms. Hughes was irritated at, shame on you for your nonchalant dismissal of this town’s most precious commodity, its people.
The revenue stream being dry may be attributed to how the commissioners manage the town’s budget, but those opinions are better expressed at the voting booth. It certainly is mismanagement to think that allowing four stories for projects within the old, small Bel Air will overflow the coffers.
Many of you campaigned for a coveted commissioners’ slot on the distinction of wanting to represent and maintain the small town charm of the County seat. Unfortunately, that era is now being undermined in favor of increased revenue stream first and, of course, the design and etching of your names on the plaque commemorating this achievement.
Some of you will be on the board longer than others, some will want a vote or two and some may not return. Yet, this particular group of Bel Air Town Commissioners has enshrined themselves as egregious perpetrators in the burying of history and the death of small town Bel Air.
And to think, this really is Historic Preservation Month. For most of you on the board, this shouldn’t present any schedule conflicts.
Respectfully,
Patrick Wallis
well stated, Mon Ami…with no small reference to Mrs Marie Brix Ford, who adjacent property to Klein’s ShopRite is now leveled and sodded over…of the article Mr. Wallis composed, one line stuck with me…and it should with anyone else that’s interested in keeping the town’s history..
Any time townspeople have something to say, listen. Listening can be a great teacher.
wise words that need to be heeded…but i doubt they will…are they ever?
Well said and thankee. As we’ll see in the coming posts, isn’t the development that happens, it’s the arrogance, the power trip, the lack of listening.