To the editor,

A few points regarding Kevin Sinclair's letter about Selectmen Vieira and Spirlet:

1. I have seldom known a "politician" who has served more than one term who didn't want to be re-elected.

2. The Select Board can not by itself abandon any portion of a public road. This requires the approval of the voters at Town Meeting.

3. Democracy is what we live under fortunately.  People, including Mr Sinclair, have a right to express their view on any subject; they have a right to put up signs and urge people to vote one way or another. Again, it is democracy.

4. It is unfortunate to have issues that are divisive but it would appear there are some who are divisive on both sides of many issues, including this one.

5. If the abandonment had come to a vote on December 1, the debate would have been even more divisive. With Mr. Vieira's motion to pass over Beach Avenue, there was in fact no rancor and the motion passed handily. I doubt the outcome would have been so peaceful if a selectman on the other side of the Beach Avenue abandonment had made the motion. The Select Board had voted unanimously to pass over Beach Avenue.

6. The headline for Mr. Sinclair's letter seems more inflammatory than necessary.

7. Full disclosure. I have lunch with a group that includes Mr. Vieira and occasionally Mr. Spirlet and others who have been active in town affairs. I don't agree with them on every issue by a long shot. I am a member of WLCT, serve on its board and am chair of its Stewardship Committee. This letter does not represent the views of the Land Trust, which takes no position on the Beach Avenue controversy to my knowledge, although it does seek to protect the integrity of the property it owns abutting Beach Avenue and elsewhere in Westport.  It has not been reviewed by any member of the Land Trust Board or the executive director

Henry Swan

Westport