By Michael Ryan
WINDHAM - This past spring, controversy was beginning to boil over about the possible creation of little league fields at the Windham Path, growing steadily more heated during twice-monthly town council meetings.
An observation was made herein that Windham town supervisor Thomas Hoyt was becoming the verbal target of a group of residents and others opposed to the plan, collectively called Preserve the Windham Path.
It was written that it was odd, seeing Hoyt do the talking at the meetings while the remaining four council members sat mostly in silence.
“All five have voted in favor of moving forward,” it was written, asking the logical question…”would the talks be going differently if the full council made it known this wasn’t one guy trying to mob-boss everybody?”
More than one resident said, “this is getting ugly.” As the months passed, it got increasingly uglier with volatile and, as it turns out, baseless accusations being uttered against the council, primarily Hoyt.
On one hand it goes with the territory. Supervisors do most of the talking in most towns and Preserve the Windham Path members were just offering passionate, persistent resistance to the little league plan, a sure sign of community and democracy in action.
On the other hand, things were stuck in the mud and becoming mucky as autumn approached. That date was significant since Hoyt had said, this summer, a yes or no decision would be coming on the fields in the fall.
Meanwhile, the Mountaintop Progressives political organization started a fundraising campaign aimed at hiring, in their words, a “high-powered attorney” to apparently fight the plan if the town decided yes.
A number of the same people from Preserve the Windham Path were also recognizable from their activities with the Mountaintop Progressives and the Windham Area Recreation Foundation, a non-profit entity that envisioned and brought to fruition the Windham Path.
Once again, democracy in action. In the midst of all that, councilman Ian Peters did speak up, responding to requests by Preserve the Windham Path that a special committee be formed, including them, to be directly involved in the town board’s planning and decision-making.
The council said “no” to that request which was rooted in the group wanting the fields anywhere but the Path, telling council members if the fields went there, it meant they weren’t listening to the People of Windham.
The fact is, many residents spoke in favor of the fields being at the Path, disagreeing with the group they would wreck the place, saying it made perfect sense to use land the town already owned for the project.
Council members, while rejecting the committee, did open their twice-monthly meetings to hours-long public comment on the matter.
Nobody was denied a chance to speak unless things got unruly which occurred once, causing the meeting to be abruptly adjourned.
Some in the opposition pressed the issue, alleging the town wasn’t actually open to searching for an alternate site, as they claimed, even as the opposition wasn’t finding anything financially viable either.
Peters tossed the gauntlet to Preserve the Windham Path, saying, “there has not been another spot brought to our attention.
“If there is something that is a better idea, I will vote for the better idea. Come to us with a better idea,” Peters said.
It has now been revealed that Hoyt, during that time, was working behind the scenes to find a different location, even while being accused publicly and on social media of pursuing political and personal interests.
Hoyt was able to find 34 acres of land, almost literally in the back yard of town government, that will serve the little league purposes and more.
Sworn to confidentiality by the seller and buyer until now, Hoyt announced, last week, that the land, outside the hamlet of Hensonville, has been purchased through the graciousness of the Windham Foundation.
It will be set up for multiple uses, including the little league fields and future ownership by the town, with a $500,000 Foundation upfront investment (please see related story in this week’s publication).
After the details were shared by Hoyt, councilman Peters had more to say, reading from a prepared statement, as follows:
“First a big thank you to the Windham Foundation,” Peters said. “They have been steadfast partners with town government and have done so much to improve this town.
“This partnership goes back to the relationship [the late town Supervisor T. Patrick Meehan] had with [Windham Foundation founder Peter Kellogg] and many of the other original donors to the Foundation over the years.
“I am encouraged that the new faces at the Windham Foundation continue to have a productive and meaningful relationship with the town and Supervisor Hoyt. It is a credit to both [Meehan and Hoyt].
“The second thing I would like to say is that this is the moment for us to look forward, turn the corner and move on from the past 6 months.
“These meetings have been marked by disrespect, false accusations and un-neighborly behavior,” Peters said.
“This board has borne the brunt of this disrespect and, despite that, has been steadfast in its commitment to keep working towards a solution.
“While others went out and grandstanded and fundraised and stirred the pot, we did what was best for the town and put our heads down and tried to find a way forward.
“We have delivered on the commitment we made to the public. We found partners, real partners, who put politics and grandstanding aside, willing to work with us and do something great.
“Those who were the fiercest critics of this board and of the initial proposal, all made sure to point out that they certainly don't oppose little league and would do anything to support the league outside of the Path.
“Now is the time for that promise to be delivered on,” Peters said. “I hope that all those who dedicated their time to telling us they oppose the preliminary plan, now spend just as much time and effort helping the town build something great.
“In particular, I would call on any person, organization, or non-profits who solicited donations to oppose the initial plan, donations to hire a high-priced attorney to bully this board,” Peters said.
Peters called upon them to agree, “that all the money raised should be granted in its entirety to the town, to the Little League or to the Windham Foundation so that it supports the development of recreation opportunities at this new property.” (Please see elated “More Better than Hearsay” story).
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