NB: Response from Mark Sideris re tonight's meeting

[barbara R]

DPTF Planning Group, 

I wrote to Mark Sideris, Council President, about writing a letter to be read tonight in my absence. I know he does not like surprises and tries to run a tight meeting, though he respects the public input part. He replied that tonight is a report only to the Town Council and will be discussed at the Rec Dept Open Forum October 6, 7-8PM, Lower Meeting Room, Town Hall. 

Mark suggests that all efforts of our group be put into that meeting. I personally am shocked that Peter Centola was allowed to run with these (preliminary) plans, given the hundreds of residents who challenged both the process and outcome of his last venture into planning without community input for Victory Field. 

Our letters to the Council (via jh...@watertown-ma.gov), PCentola, and CHayward (Conservation commission staff) should keep going in all week I think. The elected branch of the town will always be the most responsive, and that means they have to be informed of our opinions--and in advance so they can think it through. I'll send my letter to the Council instead of having it read tonight.

Mark would like a letter from the group outlining our "concerns for the park and process that played out." Deb, do you want to organize that? You are welcome to take any of my letter and attachments that you can use. Josh's characterizations are great. Perhaps signatures of the planning committee to show how broad the committee is and that it is made up of concerned citizens, some of whom have already written letters. They have to know already how large the constituency of the DPTF is in an election year and that the Sustainable Watertown members are generally supporters and the large mailing list available to you. 

He said "I also want to stress that you know I will make sure the public has input and the design will reflect the need of the users, or I will not allow it to come before the council."

I believe him on this. I have walked the Grove Street site with him as well as the Arsenal one. He could make this happen in the right way, or at least prevent the short-sighted kind of thing sent out now.

When do you want to inform the entire google group so they can write and attend and let me know what the Sustainable Watertown paragraph, or links should look like.
Any other thoughts?

Barbara