4/14/15 Letter to Selectman Mike VInskey

 Hi Mike,

    Thanks for getting back to me and sorry to bother you on your vacation. With town meeting around the corner I'm grateful for long distance communication and it was helpful chatting with you. I hope your search for a retirement community is fruitful. 

   It was reassuring to hear you support the broadband initiative. I agree there are only a small number of people who are happy with their DSL or don't use the internet and don't care about those of us who don't have it. As we discussed, that seems to be true for the schools as well. People with children and those who value public education view it as an investment while others think only of themselves.

   As you know, I care deeply about Shutesbury and my experience on town boards gives me confidence in the process that allows all sides to be heard.  Voters elect town officials as their representatives. Allowing town departments to do their job without micro-managing or questioning their judgement is not the same as handing over a blank check.    The story of the little red hen could have been written about town government; volunteers grow the wheat and bake the bread and others who benefit, criticize, question, or veto the way the bread was made. Three cheers for your jumping in to help bake the bread with no previous experience. The fact that anyone willing to serve can get elected is the very embodiment of Lincoln's "Government of the people, by the people, for the people."  While I appreciate the efforts of a citizen group to improve communication, it is unfortunate that the democratic process of town government that has worked for over 200 years isn't working for you. I believe Shutesbury would be better served saving the taxpayers $10,000 and inviting friendly conversation as the selectboard did at the recent community dinner.

   While you and I differ in our perspectives on the future, for example I envision a 21st century library of adequate size while you are envisioning a retirement community in Florida,  we share concern for resale value and taxes. I am confident that there is room for all perspectives and the best we can do is to make the most of our democratic process rather than try to reinvent it.

Thanks again for keeping communication open. 

Yours in community,

Karen Traub

Letter to Mike Vinskey 3/31/15

Dear Mike,

Since you didn't return my phone call, I'll assume you are away or prefer to hear from your constituents via email.

I am writing to express my support for Shutesbury joining Wired West and my concern that it not become as contentious as the vote to fund the new library. As with the library which enjoyed 89% support at the 2010 town meeting vote and was approved by 2/3 majority at town meeting, Shutesbury residents are demonstrating their support for bringing high speed internet in overwhelming numbers. As of today we are 92% to the goal of 40% signups and are the leader of the 32 towns. 

It was disheartening as a volunteer to see years of work by many turn into a wasted effort due to a last minute campaign to bring out the "no's". For the sake of the hardworking broadband committee I do not want to see this happen again. People who are not invested in the town come out to vote against a capital project even when it improves the quality of life.  As the library did, the broadband committee has held public forums and is reaching out in multiple ways. The committee is welcoming questions and concerns and yet there are residents who are not accessing the available information. I can only hope there is not a quiet opposition waiting to mobilize. 

High speed internet, like a library, is not an extravagance in a small rural town. I am concerned about the resale value of my home in a town that lacks basic services. You probably have heard about the Dawson's house purchased for $253,000 in 2007, sold after two and half years on the market for only $152,000. Local realtors are stating a 20% loss of value currently and people don't even want to look at homes that don't have internet access. Like many people in Shutesbury I am self-employed. It is detrimental to my business to not have internet access. It is expensive and inconvenient having to drive somewhere to conduct the simplest transaction let alone stay current in my field with continuing education available to my competitors. The Shutesbury Athletic club is the nearest high speed access (DSL- which is no longer considered broadband) and was where my son took his college pre- exams.

Mike- I'd like to know where you stand on bringing broadband internet to Shutesbury. I hope townspeople can work together the way we did during the ice storm of 2008 and the anniversary events of 2011. It's time to stop arguing, opposing and burning out volunteers. Let's move this town forward together.

In the spirit of hope and a reminder of how it is possible to work through differences to find our common goals, I am attaching the letter that Sharon Raymond and I wrote in 2013 after our mediation sessions.

In Community,

Karen Traub

413 367-9826

248 Locks Pond Rd

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Dear Shutesbury Friends and Neighbors,

In light of the extraordinary course of events surrounding the proposal for a new Shutesbury Library, we- Karen Traub-New Library Enthusiast, and Sharon Raymond-a resident who was opposed to the construction of the proposed library - have met twice with Greenfield mediator Karen Fogliatti as part of our commitment to rebuild connections, to understand each other's perspectives and to try to be the peace we want to see in the world. We agree that our 6 hours of discussion brought us an increase in our understanding and compassion. This letter is a summary of points of agreement and an invitation to others who may also benefit from a mediated discussion.

We agree that:

1.     Both sides experienced passion and intense emotions around the proposed library; we acknowledge the deep feelings of hurt on both sides.

2.     We hold a shared vision of Shutesbury as a “21st century community with some ‘old fashioned small town warmth” and acknowledge a sense of “us vs them” that we would like to see replaced by the kind of cooperation demonstrated during our 250th anniversary celebration.

3.     For the future of our town we share the values of

·       frugality and simplicity

·       concern for the well-being of the environment including making full use of existing resources and using local labor and materials when possible

·       inclusiveness in the decision-making process with continued outreach

·       preservation of our common heritage

·       events that nurture community such as gatherings and celebrations spiritual, intellectual, recreational and educational pursuits

4.     We acknowledge the volunteer hours that went into planning for a new library and we agree that the knowledge gained through the preparation of the grant proposal and the Library Building Program will be a valued contribution to discussions of a future library.

5.     We are willing to work for a shared vision of a future library.

If you are interested in participating in a future mediated discussion or making a donation toward mediation please contact Sharon or Karen. 

Respectfully and with hope,

Karen Traub karentraub@hotmail.com 367-9826

Sharon Raymond- sharon@simpleshoemaking.com 259-1748