To the Editor:
(Brookfield, NY – Aug. 2013) After countless hours of effort by citizen volunteers, the Brookfield Comprehensive Planning Committee (BCPC) has completed the first Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Brookfield. This process involved a town wide survey in 2010, the results of which indicated that planning was important or very important to the majority of respondents.
Thus, the plan was initiated.
The respondents were primarily long-term or lifelong residents who named the natural environment/open spaces and rural atmosphere as top reasons to live in Brookfield. They identified farmland and open space preservation, as well as building a sustainable local economy, as top priorities for the town.
The Comprehensive Plan focuses on these priorities.
In the process of drawing up the plan, we have held many BCPC meetings, which consisted of open community participation and public comment. I started attending as an observer and later submitted my letter of interest in joining the BCPC to the Town Board.
We have had joint meetings with the town Planning Board along the way. We have invited Jim Petreszyn from the Madison County Planning Department to join us at some meetings.
We just held our joint meeting with the Town Board to receive their input on the plan.
Unfortunately, two Town Board members, DeWitt Head and Joe Walker, declared the plan “a law” and refused to consider any of its content.
They are part of a small group of fear-mongers in the town who have decided that, rather than respond to any of the content of the plan, they will try to scare Brookfield residents into believing that it is not a plan, but “a law.”
Fortunately, Brookfield residents are far too savvy to fall prey to a campaign of fear. They understand that it is called a plan because it is a plan. They will read the Comprehensive Plan and decide for themselves. The Comprehensive Plan will be available for review at the Brookfield Town Hall and on the town website (brookfieldny.us) by Aug. 3.
The Comprehensive Plan represents an exciting opportunity for the Town of Brookfield to define its resources, needs and goals, rather than having this imposed on us by some outside force, be it the state or federal government or a corporation.
It is truly government by the people, for the people and of the people. The next step in the democratic process consists of two public hearings. One is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m., and another for Saturday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. Both will be held at the Brookfield Town Hall.
We encourage your participation. See you there.
Kristin Wiles, Brookfield Comprehensive Plan Committee