To our Noank area neighbors…. 5/21/15 at 7:00 PM EDT

1) We missed the annual Noank Fire District meeting because of our trip to visit family but we did submit absentee ballots which were accepted by the district. I have no problem in telling you that we voted in favor of the entire agenda, including the budget as proposed, the officers, the park commission and most especially for Lynne Marshall to remain on the Zoning Commission. We think she has done an excellent, very thorough job and hoped to see her remain.

2) However, as it turned out, Lynne’s candidacy was unexpectedly challenged by one Beth Steele, who received majority support from a large contingent of voters, some of whom had apparently not attended annual meetings previously. It appears that they were well organized and, perhaps, their agenda may have been to place a representative on the Zoning Commission who would be more sympathetic to both commercial interests as well as more relaxed enforcement of zoning regulations. Regardless….this large group of people wanted to make a change on the Zoning Commission….and they did.

3) I will not go into negatives or positives on the specific issues of some recent Zoning decisions, much less any personalities involved. There will probably always be differences of opinions between homeowners and commercial businesses operating in close proximity to each other in village areas such as Noank. Obviously, money and power play a major role in such relationships. And there may sometimes be homeowners who will want to “push the envelope” with the Zoning Commission in terms of what they feel they can do with their own properties. These things go with the territory, it seems.

4) The above activity should certainly be considered a “wake-up” call for many Noank residents who have been comfortable with the operation and management of this District for many years. Times have obviously changed and more active participation in local government is needed for those who wish to continue living here happily. We allso need to be more active in our participation with zoning issues.

5) Gone are the days when a small group of local Noank citizens could attend a District meeting years ago and vote for a large sum of money to be spent on converting the existing Noank Firehouse building into a combination Firehouse, Meeting Hall and District Offices. We did made the right decision and the money was properly spent, but where were all the OTHER Noank citizens to vote on such an important project? Why could they not be bothered to even show up? Why would they leave it to a small group to make such an important decision?

6) Presently, the Noank District Clerk sends out E-mail notices of Zoning and District meetings and agendas. The first step is to request being placed on that list by contacting the clerk at NFDClerk@tvcconnect.net so that you know what is going on. For example, does everyone know there is a public meeting of the Zoning Commission next Tuesday? Do they know what is on the agenda? Do they know if any of the topics might affect them directly or indirectly?

6) Because, otherwise, the above activity at the annual meeting was NOT a “wake-up call”……it was actually what we call “the Canary in the Coal Mine” and we will all eventually have to live with the resulting changes.

Ed Johnson, at the Old Noank Jail