On Saturday, June 18th, it was time once again for the annual Town of Kennebunkport budget hearing. This year, like last, the lawsuit against the Town to potentially privatize the vast majority of the beach was the big draw. There were 50 plus articles that preceded the one that the large crowd had gathered to discuss. Would there be emotional debate? Would there be anyone for the plaintiff side that would address the crowd, and attempt to validate an expensive lawsuit that would dramatically change a community?
Somewhat anti-climatically, there was NO discussion, no objections to the Article that proposed funding for the Town to continue defending the right of the public to use Goose Rocks Beach recreationally, and quickly, the vote was over. Best estimates had the vote around 250 to 5, in favor of the Town’s request for funds to continue the legal fight, and the crowd errupted into loud and sustained applause as the article passed.
In less than 90 minutes, the meeting was over, no histronics, no impassioned pleas for or against, just a very loud and obvious show of support for the Town as it fights this intrusive, disruptive and costly lawsuit brought about by a few.
It is our hope that the show of support with yard signs, shirts and buttons makes the plaintiffs realize that this is wildly unpopular action that is percieved as a selfish action often aimed at punishing the Town of Kennebunkport for other issues. The citizens and friends of Goose Rocks that attended the meeting yesterday made it clear that the Town was entrenched in the concept of this wonderful beach remaining available to all, and legally defending the historic deed language that entrusted the stewardship of this treasure to the Town for the use of all.
We leave you all with illogical reality of this suit. You are a home owner on the beach. You have two small children. You are in the suit for whatever your motivation, spending money both as a plaintiff and funding the defense of your suit with your taxes. At stake, if you win, is the right for your children to play in front of your house, and only others that you, or they allow, to be in front of that house. You may want signs or fences, or you may not.
But here is the irony. If you win the lawsuit against the Town and the vast majority of citizens, your children have only the front of your house in which to play, or they have to ask permission and cross signs or fences. Lose the suit, and your children, and their kids, can play up and down the entire beach, free to explore and run like countless others before them.
Drop out of the suit and send a message to this misguided attempt to increase property values or turn Goose Rocks Beach into a giant condominium or country club for the privileged few. You knew what this community was like when you bought your house, in fact, you likely bought your house for the very freedoms you now threaten. But you got yours, and now you want to deny others. Please, drop the lawsuit, and enlist all of us to address any issues you feel your location causes you, and we’ll work with you, instead of fighting you and the other plaintiffs for as long as it takes, and we’ve got the numbers, the moral high ground, and in our view, the legal rights as well.