The article titled “Town moderator targets possible conflicts of interest” mischaracterizes the issue it seeks to address making it sound personal despite the best efforts of all concerned to make clear that it is not. You draw quotes from an email I sent to Finance Committee members. In it, Christopher Thrasher’s name is mentioned to explain what aroused my concern about the propriety of FinCom members simultaneously holding elected offices. Mr. Thrasher has done nothing wrong and has served ably and conscientiously on FinCom. Absent context the highlighted quote on the front page “If I could remove him, I would, but I cannot….” sounds judgmental of Mr. Thrasher, but in context was a simple statement of fact about the options available for addressing the situation. Likewise the quote “a useless member” of FinCom does not characterize Mr. Thrasher’s performance on FinCom as its placement in your article suggests, it was a statement of fact that if a member must recuse him/herself from all budget votes, he or she would become a useless member of Fincom.

In the October 8 FinCom meeting, from which you also draw quotes, it was repeated multiple times that it was a discussion of policy, not about any individual. Mr. Thrasher’s name was not mentioned until 8 minutes into the discussion and then only to say the discussion was not about him. The only other mention was to say he has served well on the committee. Mr. Thrasher, the FinCom and the town are all disserved by making a policy discussion look like an attack on an individual. Honest people of good intent can disagree on policy without either having to be wrong.

Steven Fors

Westport

Fors is the Westport Town Moderator.