Letters

I was extremely frustrated and disappointed at the lack of anything constructive occurring at the Water Mill Citizens Advisory Committee meeting on August 14. Everyone seems to agree that 319 Upper Seven Ponds Road is not a good site for the proposed fire station for the many reasons previously documented.

David Price, chief of the fire district, was quite unmoved in his stance and did not seem very interested in considering alternative sites. The only possible site he gave us was the north side of the highway between Old Mill Road and the railroad bridge, where there is no property for sale.

The insistence on being in the exact middle of the district, which is where the pond is actually located, is inflexible and leaves us with little or no alternatives.

We still believe that Willow Road is a viable alternative. The property is smaller but providing parking for 40 cars seems excessive, and there is nearby parking in case of a call-out. It can be exited from both Deerfield Road and the highway, and it is in an industrial zone rather than a quiet residential neighborhood.

We were also told that we have in excess of $9 million in funds; site purchase is limited to $2 million. If we can move some of that, it would increase our choice of site possibilities.

At the moment, we have no Water Mill volunteer fire department and no trucks or equipment. It seems to me that we are paying too much attention to politics and not enough to practicality. Why don’t we step back and find a solution that works for everyone? Isn’t that what a community is for?

Joel Perlman

Water Mill