Dear Editor:

Bill Sutter and I have disagreed about important local issues lately. Our latest, He says, She says, pertains to the April 17 referendum asking voters’ decision on continuing or discontinuing the lawsuit against Maine Department of Transportation(MDOT) and its Main Street Project.

He says in his, “Here we go again” letter to the editor:

“This return to the polls ... comes about only through concern for paying for the lawsuit.”

She says: While spending the town’s money on the lawsuit is a significant concern, continuing the lawsuit puts the entire project at risk and this is an extremely significant concern.

The attorneys representing our town have stated the MDOT has the right of way through our village and it may remove Main Street parking, put up traffic and pedestrian lights and not construct any replacement parking lots or parking spaces.

He says: “This time the decision is to defend the town’s ordinances, or not. MDOT flatly refused to abide by town ordinances. The town ... filed suit to compel compliance. That, in a nutshell, is what the lawsuit is about.”

She says: MDOT and the town negotiated a consent agreement that the MDOT would follow the ordinance requiring it to apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historical Preservation Commission and if denied could appeal. The Select Board reneged on signing that consent agreement by a 3-2 vote.

He says, about paying for the lawsuit: “That concern has been put to rest by the offer of private citizens to pay the cost of litigation.”

She says: Town attorneys stated that accepting private money for the lawsuit, while legal, is not appropriate. In other words, unethical. Much of this money is being offered by the party that has also filed a lawsuit against the MDOT and named the town as an interested party to that suit. To date that has cost the town $32,000. To accept private money may further involve us in that particular suit by making the town a party of greater interest.

Bill Sutter and I were both raised and attended schools in Wiscasset, raised our children here, and both are involved in civic organizations. We have different views. Another example of He Says, She Says.

Judy Shea Flanagan

Wiscasset