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Get a Professional

We notice opposition to the Shoreline Greenway Trail—at a recent meeting reportedly 38 residents spoke against the proposal, 19 for it. Yet, our selectmen refuse to reject the proposal.

A similar situation exists concerning a proposed sidewalk on State Street; 46 residents petitioned the selectmen for a sidewalk from upper State Street to Sachem’s Hollow, and 80 percent of the residents whose property abuts the route of the sidewalk—16 residents—opposed it. Another 81 Guilford residents signed a petition in opposition—total 97 opposed and 46 for. Our selectmen seem determined to proceed even suggesting possibly extending it to the Guilford Lakes Golf Course. Why? The street is a rural road.

Residents are told don’t worry state funding will pay the costs. Who pays for state expenses? We, its residents, do.

Abutting property owners worry about the potential financial and legal ramifications caused by the project. Town officials say by playing with the definition of the project, sidewalk vs. pathway, these issues disappear.

Property owners do not want their trees cut down, people walking past their front windows, and their rural properties defaced with a concrete slab. Property owners do not want to have to clear away snow and ice—we are told, “You do not have to clear pathways,” even though the pathway looks like a sidewalk.

Taxpayers are no longer buying into funding “maybe nice to have but not essential” projects, and their voices are just beginning to be heard. We hope our selectmen are listening. We believe there are simply more important projects in Guilford.

If our selectmen feel additional sidewalks and pathways are important to Guilford, let’s get a professional to fully vet the issue of their development in a transparent manner. An informed citizenry can then decide what they want done.

Julius and Virginia Friese

John and Eileen Wygmans

Guilford

Editor’s note: The Board of Selectmen denied the Shoreline Greenway Trail on Jan. 17, after this letter was submitted.