ROB ANDERSON DISAPPOINTS STEWART’S CREEK

 

 

Barnstablesewers.com confirms that the emails posted today on capecog.com were authored by defeated Precinct 2 council candidate and current member of the Citizens Advisory Committee, Rob Anderson of Centerville.

Anderson organized the November 21, 2009 meeting at a local church for “Concerned residents affected by the Stewart’s Creek SEWER EXPANSION PROJECT”, and ran his campaign for a town council seat primarily on the issue of town sewers. 

The e-mails are dated one week after Anderson lost the election to incumbent Tom Rugo.   Lopez ommitted some particularly disturbing statements that specifically named residents of Stewart’s Creek intended to be “test subjects”, and that he would “fully intend on charging” them.

At first glance the missives seem to be a business proposition that could slow the movement for big sewer in Barnstable.  However statements like “I have two smoke screens in mind,”  “I am not going to be up front with them”, and his intention to “cause some serious commotion while we slip in for the waivers” demonstrate that Anderson’s scheme to  “pull about $100K to make it worthwhile” , included deceiving town officials, blogger Eric “Bugsy” Schwaab, Gary Lopez of capecog.com, Stewart’s Creek residents who thought his intentions were altruistic, and countless other potential “customers”.

After careful consideration, SCRUBS President Ernie Doody, and Treasurer Louise DiCecca have annouced their resignation from the PAC.   We respect and fully understand their reasons to do so. 

In the absence of financial support to sue the town in hopes of obtaining an injunction to stop the sewering project, there does not seem to be much purpose to maintaining the political action committee.  SCRUBS can regroup or dissolve with little or no consequences to the actions of the group, provided that no campaign finance laws will be broken in their future endeavors. 

Mrs. Dorothy Hughes of Centerville delivered the Petition for Moratorium to the Town Clerk’s office this morning with a cover letter directing her to section 8-7 (b) of the town charter.  Mrs. Hughes also advised Clerk Linda Hutchenrider that per her suggestion, Hughes had contacted a town councilor to sponsor the petition, and that he is giving the matter “serious consideration”.

While the more villagecentric folks will argue that Hughes and others outside the affected area are interfering with a neighborhood issue, Stewart’s Creek residents feel strongly that more people from other parts of town should be thinking about the cost of what may become a town-wide issue.  A Phase II resident wrote that “The perceived base of opposition has to go beyond the few Stewart’s Creek residents – like me – whom the council has already identified and marginalized….Better a new face and a new name from another part of town.”

While we whole-heartedly agree with these assertions, the problem is that our town “leaders” consistently give us mixed messages about our image as a community.  Several councilors weighed in on the battle at Stewart’s Creek by saying that it is a neighborhood problem that should be worked out among the targeted homeowners.  A few months later, the CAC was formed, supposedly to help with the issue, but included only one resident from the affected area. 

4th generation Centervillian Rob Anderson was also appointed to the CAC.  The e-mails clearly demonstrate that he has a personal financial interest in the outcome of the recommendations of the committee.  Looking at several other members of the CAC however, it appears that Anderson is hardly alone in having financial motivation for seeking appointment.

In closing we would like to clairfy that this website was re-opened temporarily to report the progress that the people of Stewart’s Creek have made in fighting for their homes by staying involved.  We have no role in leading the group, as only the homeowners can decide what is the best course of action in their own best interests.   

“Creekers” will continue to appear at council and committee meetings, support petitions, defy the town’s attempt to take easement on their private roads, look for and accept help from anyone interested in volunteering to find a solution to the mess created by the Barnstable Town Council.

Barnstable is full of good people who find happiness in service of others.  Every bushel has a few bad apples, and not everyone wants to make a buck off the backs of the sewer victims in Barnstable.

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

Dalai Lama quote

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