From: Howard Smith <thebluehole@shoreham.net>
Date: 03/01/2016 12:33 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: ttaylor@killington.com, boss@bossofficeworks.com, msolimano@killington.com, chrisk@karrgroup.net, lookoutvt@gmail.com, hkarass@karrpd.com, kyle@killingtonpicorealty.com,
nancypkoch@gmail.com, mountainmeadowsvt@hotmail.com,
jason@mountaintimes.info, sashap@karrgroup.net, phatitalianvt@aol.com, tsmith@killingtonmountainschool.org,
christine@basinski.com, beth@bethweinberg.com, Vermont Sushi
<howard@vermontsushi.com>,
bianchi Chris <bianchijc@gmail.com>
Subject: Follow up on my Friday letter to Board members
Dear
Board Members
After
reading Vito’s Blog, It has come to my attention that my email to you was
disseminated outside the organization, and while there is no expectation of
privacy regarding emails, it was disheartening to realize that at least one
member here has a position that is not supportive of the work that the KPAA does
for the community. Although I would have appreciated this board member speaking
to the board directly about their concerns so we could discuss it together, I
stand by my letter. As President of the KPAA, I should be and am passionate
about the work we do. It is no secret that a candidate for the Killington select
board is vehemently opposed to our organization and the work we have
accomplished. We need to be just as committed to safeguarding it as they are
bent on destroying it. KPAA is comprised of volunteers both in the town
community, Killington Resort and the business community. It was developed with
the sole purpose of improving our local economy by working together on projects
and not duplicating expenses, NOT lining the pockets of its members, which is
the unspoken tact taken by people who support this candidate. We have a
responsibility to ourselves and to the community to correct any misinformation
and untruths about who we are and what we do. The fact is that the KPAA has had
a positive impact on the town of Killington and to reverse what has been
accomplished would be a travesty. We hired a Consultant to come to our Town 5
years ago and we have followed his advice on establishing the KPAA as other
resort towns such as Vail and Lake Tahoe had successfully done. Other resort
towns in Vermont now speak about following our lead. Again we should be proud of
our accomplishments and not hide from them by being too politically correct. I
would like the board member who decided to pass this email on to get in touch
with me and I would gladly accept their resignation if they do not support our
actions and accomplishments.
Howard Smith 802 236 7900
Comment: There is nothing unspoken about about me stating that the KPAA is lining the pockets of a few businessmen. I stated that outright in my comments when I posted the original email Howard is referring to. While there is a little hyperbole there, the KPAA is an organization dedicated to improving the local economy which translates into more profit for businesses. Whose businesses profit the most is certainly debatable but not that KPAA promotes the profitability of them.
I'm not sure if it was the KPAA or its prior iteration the Killington Chamber, who hired the "Consultant" whose advice Howard is touting but my clearest memory is that he wrote, while sitting in Bill's Country Store's parking lot across from the 10 foot "Killington" sign he did not know where he was.
Howard's desire to out the transgressor who he deems to be part of his organization smacks of gestapo tactics in running his organization. Why does he think it's one of his own? Like he says, "there is no expectation of privacy."
I'm glad Howard is standing by his statements - that's as it should be - he is standing up for what he thinks is best for his organization. I in turn respond because I don't think supporting his organization with direct subsidies is best for the town of Killington. But Howard should be making these statements in a public forum, not trying to hide them, so everyone knows where he and the KPAA stand.
The businesses comprising the KPAA should be financing the organization. We've had enough quixotic economic development schemes in this town i.e. the golf course, which have plunged the town into deep debt.
We have significant upcoming financial needs in the town, library roof, new fire station, pool replacement, golf course irrigation system, not to mention the regular road maintenance and reconstruction. The town needs to maintain its assets and the KPAA needs to finance itself.
I applaud Howard's and the KPAA's efforts to improve their member's profitability, I just don't agree with publicly financing a private organization when the town has limited resources to meet other needs.
Vito
No comments:
Post a Comment