In reference to your report about the sale of land in Standish (“He donated land for soccer fields in Standish. Now the town is selling it.” May 14):

Walter Butler stands on the edge of a 22.42-acre parcel he donated in 2014 to the town of Standish, which was intended to become a six-field soccer complex. Nine years later, the town has different plans and is in the process of auctioning off the property. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

For town government to slap a generous gift-giver in the face – a gift to benefit the youth of Standish and Maine – by putting the land out to bid is unconscionable. A gift such as this does not come often, and a prior administration agreed to the terms. The present administration should as well.

To have lawyers finagling to support such an egregious breach of faith is also unconscionable.

Have America’s values slipped so low?

Priscilla Miller
Concord, Mass.

Correction (May 19, 2023): A previous version of this letter mistakenly referred to school district involvement. The school district is not involved in this dispute.