To the Editor,

I am writing this to clarify my position on the vote to have a consultant analyze the recent MEPA filing made by the AD Makepeace Company.

The AD Makepeace Company has been in business in excess of one-hundred-fifty (150) years and is currently in the process of developing land at the intersection of Route 28 and Interstate 195 known as the BDOD (business overlay district development) project.  This project will bring jobs and revenue desperately needed in our community. As part of this project, a new healthcare facility is being built that will not only create decent jobs for our citizens, but will provide state of the art medical services to not just our community but surrounding communities as well.  The project also will include a hotel and conference center that is sure to attract both business and pleasure travelers who will spend money right here in Wareham.

The recent MEPA filing that was made is over 1,000 pages long, and on Tuesday we were all led to believe that the filing claimed the Board of Selectmen had previously approved 700,000 gallons per day of sewer. In fact, the filing says nothing of the sort. However, even if it had, there exists a legally binding contract that states the AD Makepeace Company can have unlimited capacity on our sewer system. We all know that our system is quickly reaching capacity and the President of AD Makepeace, Michael Hogan, publicly stated during a BOS meeting in June that he was willing to discuss that with us.

However, rather than have a conversation with AD Makepeace, the BOS voted (4-1 with myself being the negative vote) to spend tax dollars hiring a consultant to review the MEPA filing and respond on our behalf. I am absolutely astounded that any of my colleagues would want to stand in the way of a project that has been voted favorably by Town Meeting three times, adds desperately needed revenues to the town, brings decent paying jobs, state of the art medical services, and a hotel to attract more tourists along with business travelers.

I hope that the community will stand along with me in supporting the build-out of the BDOD project. I will continue to support clean, responsible economic growth that adds value to our community. I remain eager to work with the AD Makepeace Company to create a better community. Finally, I believe the community should know that Jim Kane, who is the Senior Vice President of Operations at AD Makepeace, sat at the BOS meeting until 9:30 pm, at which time he asked if there were any further questions he could address. The Board remained silent. It wasn't until after he had left that this issue was broached. I said on Tuesday night and I will repeat, if there is a problem we should talk about it before we resort to consultants and lawyers.

The AD Makepeace Company works well in our neighboring communities of Carver and Plymouth. I have to ask myself what logical reason there would be that we here in Wareham can't have the same positive relationship.

Cara A Winslow

Selectman, Town of Wareham