Meter opt-out program ?waste of time?

To the editor:

Has it already been decided to go ahead with putting in more radio-read meters? Otherwise it seems a waste of time to be creating an opt-out program. And if it has been decide to continue putting in meters then that should be made clear to all citizens.

I remember Ed Malloy saying that if in fact there was a health issue with these meters then he would have them pulled out. Also, he seemed to indicate that the council wanted to move slowly on this; get research done by local people, etc. So, I am confused ? are you going ahead and continue putting in meters or waiting for more research? Also, I have seen no precedents for removing something after it has been put in place. (Even pulling drugs off the shelf seems problematic.)

I understand from Daryn Hamiton?s comment about the advance of technology and the need to ?stay current?. However, if these products have the potential to be harmful; then (like drugs) they should be required to have more research and stronger ?controls? before being presented to the public and we can assist in their motivation to do more research by ?resisting? the move toward that technology. Similar to Europe banning GMO products; we don?t have to ?buy into? the latest technology ? especially when there are some many concerns. Even with the what drugs have to go through with getting approval of the FDA we still see many drugs promoted which have huge side effects which often don?t come to light until years after the drugs have been on the market.

Bottom-line: if you have not decided whether to move forward with radio-read meters; why are we wasting time and getting all concerned about an opt-out program? And if you have decided to continue installing these meters then that should be made clear to us ? the public; and from the various forms of feedback you are getting ? it would appear that now is the time to reconsider that decision; change your minds and look for another direction or option to accomplish what the radio-read meters were to accomplish.

? Kerry Bell, Fairfield