Reinstate Horse Regulation Task Force

To the Editor:

Kudos to Planning and Zoning Commission member Meg Maurer for her forthright, informed and intelligent discussion of the merits of the equine amendment at the recent August 2 P&Z meeting. P&Z Chairman Daniel Fogliano tolerated her objections, at best. Since the commission passed the equine amendment the horse community and The Bee have crucified Ms Maurer analogous to a Salem Witch-Hunt.

Having listened to the tape recording of the first public hearing and having attended the second, and final, public hearing regarding the equine amendment I feel qualified and informed to pose the following questions:

Why is Andrew Gorosko’s reporting for The Bee so one-sided favoring the equine amendment when I know firsthand there is much more information that has been left out of his reporting? This information would shed a great deal of light as to why Ms Maurer has formed the opinions she has.

By his own admission Mr Fogliano personally initiated and brought this amendment before P&Z for the benefit of one horse property. Yet, the amendment was presented as being sponsored by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Besides Ms Maurer, is this a commission of one?

Given the obvious bias of Mr Fogliano, should he have recused himself from the voting?

This P&Z commission has worked very hard to protect Newtown’s water quality and its environment by forming special zoning regulations for the Pootatuck Aquifer area and by increasing building lot sizes. Doesn’t it seem hypocritical that the equine amendment now gives permission for an unknown number of commercial horse farms, with potential health and environmental risks, to come forward and be granted zoning approval without so much as a review process? Not all horse farms are operated by the standards accepted in their industry.

I love Newtown and I love horses but I and others pointed out at the public meetings that the equine amendment’s intent is noble and just but as written is vague and has potential health, environmental and liability risks for Newtown. These risks were soon forgotten by all except Ms Maurer.

I respectfully request Mr Rosenthal and Mr Fogliano reverse their decision to dissolve the Horse Regulation Task Force. It is as vital to the future of the horse community as it is to the rest of Newtown’s residents. Besides Mr Klabonski and Ms Maurer you should add a bipartisan cross section of people from the community. There are many qualified people out there waiting to volunteer, just ask.

Thank you again Meg Maurer for forming an educated opinion and standing up for what you believe instead of being a “yes” person to the more popular point of view.

Sincerely,

James B. Morris

92 Huntingtown Road, Newtown      August 20, 2001