We write to express our objection to Gov. Baldacci’s comments regarding the proposed development in Lily Bay as a small portion of the proposed Moosehead Lake Resource Plan under consideration by the Land Use Regulation Commission.

The selectmen of Greenville feel the governor’s comments will inevitably have an influence on the members of LURC, who are appointed by the governor. If the selectmen publicly commented against a land development proposal in Greenville, would the planning board remain objective in its review of the proposal? Hopefully they would, but if they did decline a project that the selectmen opposed, would it not appear that political bias weighed in their decision? Certainly the governor has, through his chosen comments, created a similar situation.

Our greatest objection is that our governor, who has previously touted the need for more tourism and development of resort capacity within interior Maine, has now spoken against such development. Our question to the governor is, if not this planned development, then what? Greenville’s schools and hospital already are at risk from changes in our economy and demographics. We need economic development in this region. The governor’s objection to this development appears to be another example of this administration’s abandonment of the people of rural Maine.

Board of Selectmen

Greenville