Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I want to commend The Smithfield Times for its weekly question-and-answer series for the candidates for Town Council and for superb reporting about proposed residential and commercial development, requests for zoning changes and special use permits and the Planning Commission and Town Council.

Recently, I attended a meet-and-greet with Town Council candidates Mike Smith, Darren Cutler and William Harris. This was very informative.

I am not opposed to development, but we need transparent due diligence, especially in regard to traffic studies, effects on our schools and use of taxpayer funds for private development. I hope development in Smithfield does not lead to it becoming like recently developed areas of Suffolk. This would markedly change the character of our town. There are other options. Hopefully, current proposals can be modified.

I believe Mike Smith, Darren Cutler, William Harris and Mary Ellen Bebermeyer, candidates for Town Council, would add a measured and thoughtful approach to evaluating and voting on proposed developments.

 

Caroline Gatewood-Battenfeld

Smithfield