During the Windham Town Council meeting on July 14, there was a discussion item on the Windham tax assessor’s use of Google Earth to ensure Windham property owners were honestly reporting what is on their property and did they report any construction that required permits and/or an increase of property taxes. The tax assessor did admit to using Google Earth to look for something on properties that may have required a permit from code enforcement and thus an increased property tax. What gets me about that is that means someone in town hall is spying us at random and more than likely with no probable cause. That bothers me tremendously.

I really hate to think that the town where my wife and I purchased our first house has a town hall that seems to have a continuing problem against its very own citizens. And my life experiences tell me a problem like that starts from the very people that run this town, and it’s time for that to stop. That’s not to say that everyone who works in Windham’s town hall is that way because they’re not. Our municipal workers for the most part are some of best that I have seen anywhere and go out of their way to ensure just that. I have never had a problem with registering a vehicle or anything to do with the duties of the town clerk. Yes, I have heard some complaints but most of them are because a resident doesn’t have a clue.

Lately I have received far too many complaints about Windham’s tax assessor and code enforcement offices. I know that a lot of people complain but will never complain to elected officials but we do have some on the Windham Town Council that will help solve problems if people are willing to come forward. The problem is some Windham residents still fear retribution if they speak out against town officials. That fear is justified as far as I am concerned and should immediately cease by action of the Windham town councilors.

The Constitution of the United States and the State of Maine Constitution both state pretty much the same thing that people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions from unreasonable searches. They both go on to state that no warrant shall be issued unless it states by special designation of the place to be searched and that there is probable cause.

For me, and some others as well, the use of any photographs or searching properties in Windham by the Tax Assessor or his staff looking for violations by citizens of Windham on a random basis is nothing less than an invasion of privacy by a town employee. Now I sit in my house and wonder how many times officials in the very town I live in are spying on me and wonder what’s coming next. I already know that the National Security Agency is tracking my phone calls; cable and satellite companies are tracking my television habits and more than likely every grocery chain is tracking how much toilet paper my wife and use. Just kidding on the last one but they do track our shopping habits in order to improve their profits.

As the town councilors were discussing the use of Google Earth, the tax assessor did make a remark about the councilors telling him how to do his job. I believe that the councilors have the right to set policy and the use of Google Earth is certainly that.

Lane Hiltunen of Windham believes that a telephone call and a knock on the door would do wonders for the relationship between Windham citizens and town employees.