Sounds Like a Chess Politician to Me...

(Background: This is a story of the aftermath of what is called an 'eminent domain' proceeding, where a governmental authority condemns land for a public use, paying just compensation based on market value to the property owner. You'll see once you start reading the article that Mr. Biddy - I'm not making that name up - sounds an awful lot like one or more chess politicians we all know and don't love...) It was all a chess game Letters Article Launched: 07/05/2007 03:01:43 AM EDT Thursday, July 5 for Mr. Biddy My wife will look at me and ask how you can be so naive. A perfect example would be: Early on in the TAM transfer station debate, to use a Select Board member's strategy, I was told by someone. Mr. Biddy had stated to TAM that for a million dollars he would go away, I thought, how ridiculous. The town of Shaftsbury embarked upon the single biggest issue since the mining of Hale Mountain. The Select Board, Zoning Board, Planning Board and Solid Waste Committee spent thousands of hours looking at this project. Not really sure how many hours were spent by the Shaftsbury Committee for Responsible Growth. Right in the middle of the debate was Mr. Biddy. After all, Mr. Biddy had his entire life on the line. His home was going to have this impact. A building that Mr. Biddy himself wrote to the listers was falling down around him. People on the boards were very professional in not asking Mr. Biddy where he really was living. Mr. Biddy was more often than not a very sarcastic participant. I was included among those who were insulted by Mr. Biddy. I am amazed to this day that Mr. Trevor Mance didn't file a defamation of character (suit) against him. As a result of Mr. Biddy's actions, our own Select Board (some members) questioned the integrity of our own DRB. People who were trying to do the best they could under the law. I should also mention the time spent by the Act 250 Committee and state people who were called upon. In the meantime Shaftsbury taxpayers continued to pour money into the legal fray brought on by Mr. Biddy. Why am I bringing this all up now? The transfer station is up and running. The Selectman and TAM have been working out some of the kinks of the transfer station. It bothers me that this was all a method for Mr. Biddy to end up with $290,000. As Mr. Biddy stated, "It's all a chess game." I must say that I have spent a week vacillating between anger and sadness for lack of a better word. I started the process by having a townwide meeting. I stood before everyone and said there would be a process. Even if you didn't like the process or agree with the outcome, everyone had the opportunity to speak. In the meantime Mr. Biddy was expounding on moral issues, environmental issues and our world's future. In reality it was all about $290,000. Mr. Biddy did win the chess game. Unfortunately, the losers in the game are our friends and family here in Shaftsbury. If Mr. Biddy has any integrity left, let's see if he pays back the taxpayers of Shaftsbury. WYNN METCALFE