Carolee’s Constituents

To the Editor

I read about the firing of Carolee Mason in The Newtown Bee yesterday. I began composing a letter in my mind even before reading her son Anthony’s letter to the editor encouraging people to express their support for his mother.

I had a very positive experience with Carolee last summer. A skunk was curled up in the middle of the day under a butterfly bush in my yard, apparently injured. I called animal control and left a message on voicemail. Then I called the police and they said they would send someone out. They were able to contact Carolee, who made the call. She gently pulled the skunk out with a loop of wire on a pole, and encouraged it into a pet carrier, which it seemed to find a comforting refuge. She said it appeared injured but could possibly be cared for and released, which she planned to do at home. She observed that she was glad she was able to make the call, because the police would likely have shot the animal. We spoke a few more minutes and she left.

In that short time, Carolee made a very positive impression on me. She was professional, informed, and concerned for the welfare of the skunk and with public safety. I obviously know nothing about why she was fired from her animal control job. However, from my perspective as a citizen of Newtown, she was exceptional in her work with both people — me — and animals — the skunk. It would seem that these are her constituents, and that comments from her constituents should be held in the highest regard when evaluating whether Carolee was appropriately fired, or should instead be reinstated.

Consider this, and similar letters, to count as two letters of support, one from men, and one from the animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Sincerely

Jim Greenwood

10 Elm Drive, Newtown                                                     April 4, 2009