My New Year's resolution is not to let this slide for quite that long again. I plead the holidays.
In any case, I arrived today to find a message from David Dress in my inbox saying he would not be at this week's Recreation Committee meeting. It was addressed to Chairman Tom DePoy and copied to me and outlined his opposition to the new proposal to expand Giorgetti Park.
I'll let Alderman Dress speak for himself:
On the surface I feel that this is a worthy project that would be of sound value to Rutland and the surrounding area. It would provide some incentive to attract young professionals to the area because this, recreation facilities, is something that is important to them and their lifestyle.
That said there are problems that I perceive with this effort at this time. I was at the City transfer station the day after a recent story appeared in the Herald suggesting that this issue might be placed on the ballot only to be confronted with the comment immediately upon exiting my car that....."why is the City trying to cram this down our throats again?...."
Additionally, I spoke at length with the owner of an existing recreational facility and this owner expressed displeasure that the City was getting into direct competition with his operation. After some discussion I was able to determine that the owner did not have a problem with the proposed center expansion offering facilities that he didn't have but that he felt there was duplication that would hurt his business. I have been on record as opposing projects that would place the City in competition with private business (Rutland Telecom comes to mind) and I do feel this falls at least partially into that arena.
Lastly.....even though this is being sold as "a cent for the center" I strongly believe that the demographics of the Rutland area and the escalating water rates and property taxes (yes I know property tax rates should go down THIS year) would suggest that this question would be best addressed to the voters in better economic times that what currently exist. Should the effort fail this time on the ballot as I most assuredly think it will I believe that the long term effect of it EVER passing will be compromised.
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