Dear Editor:
Re: Clarifying concerns, April 2.
Rather than clarifying her concerns, letter writer Sandra Solomon points to her background in municipal government and then proceeds to further obfuscate the issues surrounding Nestlé Waters and their acquisition of the Middlebrook well property.
Solomon states that when Nestlé learned of Centre Wellington’s bid for the well they offered to work with the township. No they didn’t. Nestlé outbid the township and acquired the well property. Any offer by Nestlé to work with the township was based on Nestlé having the upper hand of ownership. In business that is called making a play.
Solomon presents herself as a concerned taxpayer worried that the township is in need of water resources to meet future expansion in the not to distant future. She is worried that the township will have to purchase property with her tax money to meet those needs. She is not concerned that a corporation outbid the taxpayers for access to that water and wants the township to negotiate for the needs of the taxpayer.
The township was looking out for the needs of the inhabitants of this area (or as long-term civil servants refer to us as, taxpayers). A corporation outbid us and our needs and now, in your bureaucratic folly, you think that negotiating with the profiteers will save you tax money?
I too am a senior and have spent many years in government. I recognise the bafflegab and doublespeak that is generated from many years of civil service.
Ray Trafford,
Elora
*Editor’s note: Nestlé Waters did not “outbid” the township for the Middlebrook well. Nestlé had a conditional offer on the land for 18 months and activated a clause to proceed with the purchase when another party (later revealed to be the township) made a firm offer.