I am somewhat dismayed by the slant of the article by Paul Sylvain in the Maine Weekend of Aug. 28-29, on the dispute between a landowner and the fishermen.

There is something weird about designating Ken Monk as somebody from out of state telling the local fishermen where they can fish; fishing rights are not in dispute.

Before Coffins Neck was developed as a private subdivision, there was no road. The developers put in the common road and buyers of the lots put in their own driveways; Monk is an original owner and he cut the trees and brush for his road with his own hands, while another man dumped rock and gravel. He posted the road as “private property” and allowed its use only by invitation as, indeed, we all allow use of our homes and yards only by invitation.

The sale of the Coffins Neck lots was not a secret deal and, in fact, a large number of them are for sale now, so if anybody feels he needs this access to Cobscook Bay, he can put his money where his mouth is. The idea that Monk would donate the land is ludicrous.

As you may have surmised, I am also an out-of-state owner, a Californian, to be exact. I spend three months of the year in Lubec and pay property taxes for the full year. I have no intention of telling other people how to live their lives, but I do expect my property rights to be respected. If Monk is supposed to “compromise,” are the rest of us expected to let strangers use our bathrooms or kitchens? To the best of my knowledge, it is the sheriff’s duty to remove unwanted “guests” from private property, when asked to do so, and not to work out a compromise. Mirjam van Gelderen Lubec, and Angwin Calif.