Letters to the editor

Not sold on fire station

My concerns on the new Fairfield fire station are that we do not have a builder’s price on the new facility, and the three-story training tower when we only have a couple of three-story buildings in the county.

In addition: what happens when we go over budget? Property tax monies? I feel the city has not had enough public education on this with accurate numbers.

We do have the room at the current site with building an addition. I’m just not sold on the idea yet. After this, what’s next?

Ray Griffin

Fairfield

Local leaders undermine democratic process

Some Washington City Council leaders and Washington County Board of Supervisors seem to be opposed to the democratic processes that support local government. Two recent examples seem relevant.

At the Jan. 18 City Council meeting, Danielle Petit-Majewski signaled that she would be stepping down from her Ward 1 Council seat. The Council had the option of appointing a replacement, but in this case, there were two people that expressed interest in the seat.

The Council voted to not hold a special election which is another option. Councilors Stigers, Gualt and Moore voted to not allow the voters a choice. If only one person had expressed interest, then appointment would be appropriate action but since two qualified people expressed interest, why was it that three City Councilors felt their preference should override the will of the people and other City Councilors?

What is even more astounding is at the Jan. 28 meeting after it was revealed that a petition would be filed by one of the candidates to force a special election, two of the councilors still voted to make an appointment, Stigers and Gault. It is beyond belief that elected representatives of the people would thwart the election of another member to the City Council.

Do these councilors believe their position gives them dictatorial power to override the will of the people in Ward 1? Stigers and Gault represent Wards 2 and 4. Why should they get to appoint a city council member for Ward 1? I hope the residents of these Wards will remember the disregard their representatives had for the election system when the next election rolls around.

Example two has to do with the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 8. A group of residents of Washington County, 15 people, attended the meeting to speak in favor of distributing Washington County’s “American Rescue Plan” funds (ARPA), which can be used legally to help excluded and overlooked workers. Many of these workers did not receive relief funds in the earlier distribution, but they continued to work at essential jobs and helped to keep the economy going. Many lost loved ones to COVID because of it.

Conveniently, the Supervisors have a rule that didn’t allow public comment on items that aren’t on the agenda, although the ARPA funds were on the agenda for a working session after the meeting. One wonders why that technicality would thwart the voices of the people they are elected to serve. Not one resident was allowed to express their opinion. Who do the Supervisors serve? Apparently, themselves and their rules.

Residents were promised public comment at a later public hearing, but then were informed they could only have one representative speak for them. The squelching of residents’ right to verbally petition for redress has been thwarted. This is not how democracy works.

Residents of Washington County deserve better representation than this. The right to elect leaders and free speech are fundamental rights that are being ignored. Remember this at election time.

Dan Henderson

Washington