Letter: Support Sarah Gardner for Planning Board

To the Editor:

Without reservation, I support Sarah Gardner for the five-year term on the embattled Williamstown Planning Board.

Although Sarah has been much maligned in some circles for her stance on the Mike Deep/Waubeeka Zoning change, those of us who have actually attended Planning Board meetings and the hearing (and/or watched the meetings or the hearing on WilliNet) know that the negative comments about Sarah are not based on fact. In addition, she has been the victim of very negative and blatantly biased news coverage, especially from The Berkshire Eagle.

Please, voters, cast your vote Tuesday based on reason and fact. Sarah's planning credentials are exceptional. She is smart, strong, courageous, and completely committed to serving Williamstown's best interests. We need her.

(Wied says she does not live in South Williamstown and is not an abuttor.) For those of you who have been attending meetings or closely watching on WilliNet you will understand that word "abuttor" apparently has a very negative connotation for at least one member of the Planning Board. Are abuttors not at LIBERTY to ask questions and offer viewpoints in self interest? The law in fact gives them special rights. But apparently some view law — state or local, perhaps national as well? — as too restrictive.

Donna Wied
Williamstown, Mass.

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