Editor,

“There is an elephant in the room.” Most people have heard that saying, especially when there is something that no one wants to admit is sitting right there in front of them.

Well, we have an “elephant” that has been sitting in front of us for more than six months, and it is the proposed Busque quarry on Nash Road/Route 302 along with Auburn Concrete, who intends to set up operation at the Busque Quarry on Nash Road/Route 302 if Busque is issued the permit to begin the quarry operation.

Back in April, the planning board held two public hearings for Peter Busque’s application for a mineral extraction quarry, on Nash Road/Route 302. At that time of the hearing, the public was not allowed to ask questions or utter any words about Auburn Concrete and Busque’s plans with that business. Ironically, Auburn Concrete was a part of Busque’s application for the quarry, and the traffic study done for the quarry was based on additional traffic due to Auburn Concrete being in operation at that site.

On the evening of the Planning Board’s decision to give Busque approval for his permit, a board member spoke about Auburn Concrete openly and without hesitation when discussing potential traffic issues. Yet, the public was not allowed to speak about those same issues during this process.

The same week of this hearing process, there was a notice of intent to comply from Auburn Concrete. They are by DEP regulations required to notify the public in the municipality it plans on doing business in.

Mr. Busque’s application indicates that he plans on bringing Auburn Concrete to his site upon his approval from the town. At the site walk on Sept. 24, Busque and the engineer from Sebago Technics spoke of the areas where there would be two leased sites. At that time, according to Mr. Busque, he did not know what those businesses would be.

At the first public hearing on Sept. 26, the town council was respectful to the public who has many concerns and questions about this entire operation. A citizen brought up the subject of Auburn Concrete again and we were told that that would be discussed at a later time during the hearings when appropriate. Again, Busque stood up to the podium and basically said that there are no businesses currently signed on for that site. Yet, a Web site for Auburn Concrete indicates that they were coming to Windham in the summer of 2006!

Where is the proposed site if not at Busque’s site? Who in the town has been discussing this with them? Does the town have an application for an accessory use at Busque’s site? If so, why is this all so secretive?

Mr. Busque has over the past few months denied information that has proven to be true and once again, this is the case.

I hope that the citizens of this town realize the magnitude of this issue before us.

This should not be a NIMBY (NotInMyBackYard) issue, as this could happen to any neighborhood, anywhere in this town under the current mineral extraction ordinance. We need to fight for the quality of life that we all cherish and have worked hard to achieve. How can the town officials believe that these businesses that are commercial/industrial are a good fit for a farm/residential area with small businesses, dozens of homes and farm animals?

The elephant is in the room citizens of Windham, and we are now going to talk about it and insist on the truth and facts and no more deception.

Becky Hagar

Windham