Letter: Orono City Councilman Lacks 'Fiscal Responsibility'

To the editor:

Watching the Orono candidate's forum, Councilman Franchot called the Orono Public Golf Course a money-losing sacred cow. He wants it closed and has no interest in history, preservation or protection.

Perhaps he wants another low-income housing development dropped on an unsuspecting neighborhood. Two years ago, Franchot wrote that he was concerned that (now Mayor) McMillan displayed “a troubling lack of fiscal responsibility and financial acumen.” 

Yet Franchot backed the school board's $3.2 million Old Crystal Bay Road project. The new road was successfully completed for $93,000!  

Candidate Kristi Anderson also tips her hand in support of the $3.2 million boondoggle and champions the phenomenal Orono Schools.  

What about the other 50 percent of families whose kids live outside the Orono district? 

And what about the separation of taxing authorities?

Franchot’s lack of fiscal restraint also extended to his calling the need for a new engineering contract as "a complete waste of time." Recently, Franchot was quoted in the local paper as having been "baffled" when council voted on a Flat Levy so early. 

I’d say Franchot is the elected official who lacks “fiscal responsibility and financial acumen.”

Chelsey Traub

Navarre