Dear Editor:

The town of Alna is facing a crisis of governance. That is, can one angry citizen with, it seems, unlimited funds to pay lawyers to sue the town, override the decisions of the town's Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Selectboard? The cost to the town to defend its ordinances and its elected and appointed boards from the attacks of this one person may be approaching $100,000 and at a recent public meeting he threatened, "It's only going to get worse, I can assure you." To date the court decisions on substantive issues have favored the town. Only one decision, on an procedural question, has gone against the town.

I think it important for the town to support its ordinances, otherwise they have no force or meaning and I think it equally important for the town to support its elected and appointed boards and committees as they carry out their responsibilities in good faith and consistent with town ordinances, otherwise good citizens will not be found to serve on them. Unfortunately, in the present circumstances, this defense will cost the town money.

Brett Donham

Alna