To the editor:

Arrogance and single-mindedness cost the taxpayers of Portsmouth $800,000 this week. 

Approximately five years ago the Portsmouth Town Council was considering a request from a local farmer to abandon a town road so as to avoid upsetting a few dozen Alpacas who made their home on that farm. The “farmers” rolled up to Town Hall in their $60,000 Mercedes Benz and proceeded to tell the Town Council their tale of woe and certain financial devastation, complete with tears, if the town permitted R.I. Nurseries — an actual farm operation on this island for five generations — use of that road for access to their nearby development. 

After numerous hearings and many expert and citizen testimony, the day of reckoning had come. 

With the Town Hall parking lot full of Connecticut plates and the room packed with “Save the Alpaca” buttons, a motion was made by Town Council member Liz Pedro to abandon the road in favor of the alpaca farmer. That motion was quickly seconded by Town Council member Paul Kesson. 

Intense and emotional discussion ensued from both sides of the issue. In my opinion, the most important input came from the town solicitor, Donato D’Andrea, who warned the Town Council that under the circumstances, a vote to abandon the road would most definitely open the town up to a significant liability as this action would result in certain damages to R.I. Nurseries.

This is where the epitome of arrogance and single-mindedness kicked in. To my absolute dismay, four of the five Republican town councilors for whom I had personally voted, Liz Pedro, Joe Robicheau, Paul Kesson and Judi Staven, voted to abandon the road despite vehement warnings and a desperate attempt by the town solicitor to assure them they were making a very costly error in judgement on behalf of the taxpayers of Portsmouth.

Last week the Town Council unanimously voted to settle out of court with R.I. Nurseries for the very damages Mr. D’Andrea warned of on that cold night, five years ago. It is worth mentioning that the number would have and could have been as much as double the settlement amount had it not been for the gracious agreement by R.I. Nurseries to offer a settlement amount to put this ugly matter to rest.

The timing of my letter is wedged between the settlement date and a Nov. 8 election where Mr. Kesson, Ms. Staven and Ms. Pedro, all Republicans, will ask for the votes of the Portsmouth taxpayers to again serve on the Town Council. Please hear my voice as a registered and lifelong Republican: Say no! Say no! Say 800,000 times, no!

James O. Banks, II

26 West Passage Drive

Portsmouth