WESTMINSTER — I have read Jan Ameen's letter [The Commons, June 2] about the Special Town Meeting to consider pay-as-you-throw trash disposal in Westminster, and I must respond to its startling tone and clarify who voted that night.
As an intelligent, hard working, thoughtful resident of Westminster for nearly 30 years who voted against PAYT at the special town meeting, I object to being categorized as “limited,” “self-limiting,” “the worst of a town resident” and “uninformed.”
And having attended the same town meeting she did on May 4, who were these people who set an “ugly tone”? One individual was loud and fussing and stood up often without being recognized. Other than that, intelligent, informed - though strongly dissenting - opinions were expressed only after the moderator recognized the person.
As to some of the other points, why should businesses not be allowed to put out trash? Don't they pay taxes? And the part about out-of-town guests? When my family comes to visit from out of state, you can be certain I do not ask them to take their garbage home with them. That point does get me laughing.
If Jan's peers who were in favor of PAYT cared as much as those of us against it, where were they May 4?
I will tell you why I'm against it - and not because I'm ignorant and don't believe in recycling or whatever illusion Jan is under.
PAYT just isn't enough of an improvement to warrant the expense and inconvenience to the taxpayers. We won't dwell on the piece about how the plan was buried in the original town budget. We have an excellent system in place, and because of curbside pick-up, little if any unauthorized garbage burning or disposal is ever found in Westminster.
Now, if the town wants to make some real progress, have recycling bins at the Town Hall that are readily accessible to everyone, and at other locations in all parts of the town. Require newspaper, bottle and can recycling and pick it up curbside at the same time the trash is picked up. Encourage and educate about composting.
Jan says she is an adherent of the democratic process, but perhaps only if it goes her way?