Opinion: Do Right Lynnfield and Vote Yes At Special Town Meeting

A letter to the editor from Vince Inglese:

In order for Lynnfield to continue to be the town we want it to be in the future, we need to invest in it now.

This funding vote is by simple majority.

- No borrowing, No new tax. Just a small fraction of the cash accounts designated by the Finance
Committee and Town Administrator Rob Dolan as appropriate.
- It does not use funds from the Stabilization account or Free Cash account.
- One warrant article only, anonymous voting by electronic clickers , expected duration of the
meeting 1 hour.

It is an investment of $348,000 to finish the Final Design to gain the $10 million from Fed/State to build the Rail Trail for all ages and abilities. A 3% investment to get 100% funded construction, along with very low annual cost to maintain at $8,000 per year (per Rec. Path Com. Report) it equates to one of the best value-added opportunities Lynnfield has had in decades!

 The $10 million in construction funding that has been allocated includes important screening and fencing for our abutters. This money can only be used to construct a rail trail and cannot be used to fund any other town projects.
 Enhance property values - This Rail Trail will foster desirability for our town and in turn enhance our property values - especially for those closest to the rail trail as the Selectmen-appointed Recreational Path Committee (RPC) report notes.

Know that our Selectman appointed Recreational Path Committee (RPC), composed of a talented group of professionals with diverse backgrounds, has carefully researched the key facts of the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail project for the past two years. They have collaborated with our town departments - Town Counsel, Police, Fire, DPW, and Engineering - to create their report.

RPC unanimously voted to recommend the town of Lynnfield proceed and complete the Final Design phase. Know that the Finance Committee voted 8-2 to endorse this rail trail warrant article.

Key Elements of why YES:

1. Safety, Health and Wellness - will help improve physical, mental , social health – and one day, this rail trail may very well save a citizen's life by providing a safer place to walk and bike, especially for our youth and elderly. Recall that as recently as January 2018, a Lynnfield pedestrian was hit and killed by an automobile on one of our roads.

2. Family - We all want what is best for our families and our community. In times like this with a new town initiative, there is often uncertainty in determining the right course of action and especially how it will affect our loved ones. Know that there are over 100 Rail Trails/ Recreational Paths and Greenways in Massachusetts. This includes the top 10 most fiscally rated towns, others with the most pristine open space and conservation areas, and communities with the most historically significant properties. They know these public recreational facilities are good for overall property values, beneficial to their family's well-being and their community, and provide a safer place to walk and bike.

3. Community - Making a contribution for the greater good of our community. We know the community cannot satisfy everyone because we are diverse and our needs are diverse. This Rail Trail project exemplifies civic responsibility and civic betterment. It is in the very best interests of our community.

4. Environment -Enjoy our natural environment, four seasons, on a safe path, one that will help
protect, preserve and allow access in daylight hours only. You will love having this, right here.
Use it or Lose It: If we fail to move forward now, we stand the real possibility of losing the $10 million in funding. In time, as more new residents move into our town, they will demand a recreational path. By then the funding will have gone to another town and the far greater cost to construct the demanded rail trail will come out of our town budget -and our pockets. Keep in mind that these increasingly popular rail trails are voted as the #1 recreational amenity in other Massachusetts towns and across the country!

The True Cost of Delay: Consider the Town of Danvers rail trail: Their early votes failed and years later, when the YES vote was secured, Danvers did not want to wait many more years for State and Federal funding, they built a lower cost rail trail – that did not include abutter screening and other desirable features.

Think wisely Lynnfield and vote YES while this critical and valuable funding is still available. A No vote will hurt us all, result in higher town costs later and, worse, possibly contribute to another pedestrian death.

Vote Yes on 9/26/19 , 7 p.m. @ LMS for the Rail Trail warrant article at Special Town Meeting. You will be proud you did. Once built this Rail Trail /Recreational Path/ Greenway will be a treasured asset for our community, as it has for all others that have them.

Respectfully,
Vince Inglese