Correcting a Mistake
To the editor:
I am writing to respond to Wellfleet Select Board member Kathleen Bacon’s letter regarding the town seal (Dec. 1, page A2). Along with many others, I find the seal offensive and embarrassing. I question Ms. Bacon’s statement that her decisions are “always carefully considered,” as this decision — not to support an effort to create a new town seal — was not well considered and was very disturbing.
As voters we have stepped up to override Proposition 2½ and raised taxes to correct many of the town’s past mistakes and mismanagements. Although this has perhaps created a busy agenda for Selectperson Bacon, it does not negate other important mistakes that Wellfleet needs to correct.
Are we to allow the town to send a message to Wellfleet’s youth and future generations that we (still) got it wrong? I vote, and I say yes, we can deal with changing the town seal on uniforms, vehicles, and everywhere else it appears (excepting perhaps the purple trash bags). We can bury some of our past mistakes in the trash bags but must step up to correct the rest.
I would rather deal with the inconvenience of correcting this mistake than continue to be embarrassed by our town’s seal and outraged by our town officials’ priorities and perspectives.
Walter Buckingham
Wellfleet
The Cost of Charm
To the editor:
Gary Kersteen asks “Why is everything always about money?” in last week’s letter about paid parking. Wellfleet is still — and hopefully always will be — characterized by its charm and character. Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining that charm and character and the infrastructure supporting it increases every year.
Attracting qualified and competent town staff becomes more costly with every cost-of-living increase, led by the issue of affordable housing. Wellfleet possesses one of the largest and most attractive natural harbors in New England. The harbormaster is faced with budget constraints, an aging infrastructure, and critical staffing issues. The challenges are truly daunting. Having recently lost his full-time assistant, he must face these issues with two part-time staff members. Maintaining a functioning marina requires considerably more staff than that, even under the best of circumstances.
The marina supplies free parking not only for water-borne tourism but also for at least five restaurants and a wedding venue. This year, OysterFest parking fees added $23,500 to the Marina Enterprise Fund. No one is suggesting charging as much as the OysterFest parking fees, but a great deal could be accomplished by an expanded marina staff on what could be taken in during our tourist season.
Provincetown is also characterized by charm and character. It has been charging for parking at MacMillan Pier for as long as I can remember, and it doesn’t seem to have compromised Provincetown’s character. If we wish to continue to provide enjoyable local experiences for our visitors and residents, it is going to take money and lots of it. Taxpayers are heavily burdened as it is, and user fees are a time-honored means of raising revenue, particularly for services used extensively by visitors. Wouldn’t it be better to find a way to raise revenue that doesn’t require yet another override?
John A. Wolf
Wellfleet
Out to Launch
To the editor:
I agree with Steve Wood’s suggestion, in his Dec. 8 letter to the editor [page A2], to encourage parking in the designated parking area for people launching kayaks in the marsh at Lieutenant Island.
The current “No Launching” signs, however, remain a problem. A “15 Minute Parking” sign would allow people to load or unload their boats and then move their cars to the preferred location.
Dick Elkin
South Wellfleet
Wellfleet: The Lyric
To the editor:
As an opera lover living in New York (and Wellfleet), I was fortunate to have had a ticket to attend a performance of The Hours last week at the Metropolitan Opera [“Michael Cunningham’s The Hours Unfolds on the Stage,” Dec. 8, page C3].
Imagine my delight when in the second act Lou sings to Clarissa and Richard how he remembers them so happy on the beach in Wellfleet. And he sings it twice.
Wellfleet in an opera at the Met! A first.
And yes, I enjoyed all of it.
Judy Wood
Wellfleet and New York City
