People should leave Oak Hill alone. We have few enough natural areas for people to enjoy, without destroying to ones we have.

The amount of usable conservation land we have is less than you'd think. Many of the parcels Town Meeting turns over to conservation are swampy scraps the size of a few parking spaces. This is a rare opportunity to make a real contribution that can be enjoyed for generations.

The majority of you voted (and advocated against the ousting) of officials who clearly put true conservation at the bottom of their priority list.

You cannot continue to elect these people while simultaneously complaining about the lack of open space in the community.

John as someone who is committed to open space in the town and spend almost all free time working on open space I can tell you for a fact you are wrong. Wotton St Farm and Community Garden, Sunny Meadow and both beaches would not be possible without the current and past board. More times than I can count I see these people not only working with in the town goverment but with a hammer in hand working on these sites. I find town goverment, Town Meeting, BOS and residents huge supporters of open space. Each year I see the movement growing. Some in town distort facts for politicla gain.. its easy to sort the ones out just ask a new simple questions. 1) When was the last time you walked on an open space? 2) With open spaces events almost every weekend have you been to one? 3) Does the person who complains use a real name?. The answer is allways No No No. Taking a breath and looking at one of the largest open spaces and coming up with a plan that works is not putting conservation at the bottom of the list but the at the top. Come to the next meeting and ask questions.. any questions and get the facts for yourself.. it will open your eyes. Before I get a bunch of nasty replys. YES COSS did NOT support moving Oak Hill to Conservation without addressing major issues. The plan presented last week addressed all those issues and COSS 100% suports the new Conservation Plan.

Phil, those who complain must use fake names, or they get attacked. I am not van liew, tossing bombs around, but regular voters who's opinions on town issues differ from that of town officials are very often criticized on here by a handful of people in who's eyes the town can do NOTHING wrong.

As has been pointed out, Chelmsford gives less to conservation than its neighbors while it continues to allow office building and Reccomend fire stations to be built on existing open land. I am not sure how you can pat yourselves on the back for "protecting open space" while you have been silent on the office building in the center, openly supported putting the fire station on the softball fields and never opposed building those 40b monstrosities all over town.

You run to support conserving wooded wetlands that no one could ever build on anyway, but you seem mute when it comes to preserving actual parcels of open space that have value.

John, I guess you miss the facts. The fire station is NOT being build on open space I know of no no building project underway on any open space. I was NOT silent on the building in the center in fact I made a public statement in the paper. I do support a new fire station and have said that I like the new ocation because it DOES NOT use open space. As for 40B projects depends on the project some are good some are bad I take them case by case I do not agree with everything town hall does and that is the way it sould be but a comment like "The majority of you voted (and advocated against the ousting) of officials who clearly put true conservation at the bottom of their priority list." is goundless. note: I am not being mute and do not mind being attacked and have the backbone to use my real name.

I'm sure (hope), the right people, in the right possitions, will do the right thing, LEAVE THE LAND ALONE!!!

Conserved space is a gift to all of our Chelmsford children.

Phil, the price of using my real name is being dragged into legal proceedings by Philip Eliopoulos. Not long ago if you used your real name then Fran McDougal would look up your home address and threaten to have people come talk to you about your position. Not everyone is willing to go through that.

Yes Mike I 100 % agree Phil Eliopouls is responceable for all your troubles, the national debt, eastern standard time, the tides going in and out, the seasons changing. Everyday we must think of a new way to warn the world thank you I almost forgot to do that today.

There is a small, but very vocal, bunch in this town and if you disagree with them, they are all over you. They are nothing short of bullies! Phil, your last comment to Mike is ridiculous! With all the vacant office buildings in town, why did Phil E. need to build that "in your face" monstrocity? He has single handedly caused a major division in town, but brought out the true colors of many.

Phil,

I have to agree, and your last comment in response to Mike only proves the point. Disagree with our town manager or various people on the BOS and the "usual suspects" come out in droves to look at town directories annd shout you down. Mike has a point and your response was silly. As far as the building, I do not blame Phil E as much a I blame the town manager and the rest for allowing a perception of inside dealing to occur. Phil just took advantage of the situation.

Again I would invite anyone interested to open space to come to an Oak Hill Meetin . as the turn out has been very low. Ask any questions. Send a letter be part of the process.

JT-Although I understand your frustration, please don't think every single committee or town group is an "insider or bully". There are a lot of unsung people that no one ever hears about doing volunteer work that benefits the town-as you get to know people, they are not as imposing as they may seem at first. I would still encourage anyone who wants to get their toes wet to consider working with groups like various energy conservation/recycling groups, the Middlesex Canal Commission or the Cultural Council. Or even groups like Table of Plenty or something through the library. I do work with the Holiday Decorating Committee, and I can say we'd love to get more help and input from anyone who looking for ways to get involved with Town activities.

Vivian,

I do get involved and have volunteered many times in the past. I have, at times, thought about doing more. The problem is people like Mr. Stanway who think they have all the answers bully people with snide comments. This board is well populated with this type of person. He is not alone, the type who because they are involved think that they have a monopoly on what is right. When someone disagrees they run to the voter records and attack. This keeps me as well as others, I would guess, from getting even more involved. I will provide my community service in other ways.

I have to agree with townie and JT. This town is full of a bunch of bullies and frankly a bunch of dullards. It is time for others to step up and push out this rif raff. This is a town not a bingo club. Serious business needs to be handled by working professionals. The problem is that many who are involved are ones that do not work and have too much time on their hands.

Stupid people are powerful in numbers. Time to disband the ole gang.

Hi Mike -

How would a paid professional be directly accountable to the taxpayers? Elections? What would their mission statement and goals be? Should they be town residents? What would we pay them? What is their profession? Zoning law? Open space law? Construction planning?

Since they are professionals, it's possible that their decisions at times would be counter to the wishes of a majority of taxpayers - would that be okay?

Sue yet you still struggle to connect the dots on a regular basis.

Please keep conversations here on topic. Thanks.

A realtor and lawyer who developed land? Sounds like lots of opportunity for plenty of "conflict of interest" issues i.e. 9 North Road for instance! All you have to do is drive through town at certain hours of the day and experience the gridlock to know some very poor decisions were made. I'm not psychic, but I predict it gets worse with the location of the new firestation! You can have all the civil engineer training in the world, but you can't teach common sense! That's what seems to be lacking here!

I agree with Mike, Phil E. has gotten away with some of the same things that when RVL does them, he gets slammed. Guys like Phil S. and others like him forget one thing, just because we are not buddies with Paul and the rest of the "cool gang" that we as tax payers and voters somehow have no rights.

That's because RVL is not in "THE CHELMSFORD CLICK"

I've got find out how to sign up for this click (or is it "clique", I always forget).

Why can't normal election cycles be used to solve RVL's concerns about 9 North, Oak Hill, or whatever? If the Oak Hill study and outcomes are going the way the voters want, let's unelect the bastards, right?

Why disenfranchise voters like me who just want to be able to vote during normal election cycles and not have the legitimate outcomes questions by an off-cycle recall that games the system by playing the odds about petition sentiment and low turnout for off-cycle voting dates?

If the land use in chelmsford isn't fitting the needs of the voters, let's get the right people into office and change things.

With actual regular elections, campaigning.

Not recalls and lawsuits.

Because regular elections should just work.

Right?

There is definitely a "clique" in town and if you disagree with them publicly, you get slammed and ridiculed. Elections should work, but only about 1/3 of the town comes out to vote. RVL didn't do so bad in the last election. I hope he runs again and I wish we had more like him. He's not afraid to take the "clique" or "crony's" on!