Dear Editor:

I had such a good experience collecting signatures at the Edgecomb polls to put an article on next year’s warrant to put boat excise tax into the Woodend fund for future public access to the rivers and pond.

Last year’s proposal to use the money for other things made me think, maybe there is not support to find public access to allow residents without private access the ability to enjoy the shore and water. I certainly do not need access as my wife has shore property and a deeded right-of-way to the stone pier and launching rights on the ledge next to the pier. God bless her father and his family who used this pier for over 100 years.

Getting 90 signatures in three hours reinforced my thoughts that there is voter support for public access.

Adding funds to the account shows support and should make finding a suitable spot a high priority on the selectmen’s list. When a resident offers to sell a piece, our selectmen should welcome the offer and move swiftly rather than giving it to a committee to “study and evaluate it,” which effectively stalled the offers before residents even new the offers were made

I would like to be appointed to the waterfront committee which seems reluctant to support public access.

I truly love going out and hauling my traps after work all summer. Sadly, I hauled out the boat last week but not without catching four “keepers” in that last trap. Next spring I will be back in. I feel strongly others should have access to this wonderful natural resource. Shore property continues to go up in price and be gobbled up privately. Gone is the day when residents shared access and use of the shore.

The late Phil Chaney and other forefathers realized the need for public access when they started the Woodend fund decades ago and added the boat excise tax to it for many years, in an effort to have money enough to buy and improve a piece when it comes available.

Thank you to everyone who signed my petition and have voiced support for public access.

Tom Boudin

Edgecomb