Editor,

It has become the talk of the town, Standish councilors being conned into paying $375,000 for a piece of land not suitable for building its community center on.

It appears someone wasn’t thinking far ahead. The land was cleared to make it appealing for the site. The denial of the vernal pools was no excuse, and it is inexcusable that no inspection was made. It was presented as eight clear acres with public water access, and it was my understanding that the real estate broker took an option on the land in some foreseen hope he could sell it to the town, otherwise he would have lost the money he put down for the option.

The sale was handled so poorly that even a soils test for a septic tank and leech field was not done.

A councilor said that the community center committee had looked at every possible site in town and had exhausted those options. “Exhausted All Possible Options?” How about the Standish Kiwanis Club who had offered the town about seven acres on their property free of charge. Yes, free. But the council refused the offer. The clearing of the wood alone would have brought in a tidy profit. And the $375,000 spent on the Route 35 property would have reduced the cost of the building. But the Council refused. Why?

I understand that the Kiwanis Club will once more – one last time – offer the town the land. What excuse will you have this time Town Council. I would prefer your resignations as incompetents.

Peter Hassapelis

Sebago Lake Village