To the Editor:
Let’s start telling the truth in regard to the Grafton playground equipment. Yes, I, a private citizen, contacted the Berlin School Board to see if they would be willing to give the pieces to the Town of Grafton. They requested an official letter from the Town requesting the equipment. At the March Town Board meeting I brought this up to the Board, and they were in agreement. Councilman Crandall called it “a wonderful idea.” The Supervisor turned it over to the Park Committee to handle. Councilwoman Barb Messenger offered to write the letter to the School Board. Prior to the April Town Board meeting I checked with the Town’s insurance agent to see if this would raise the Town’s premium. He informed me that the State has strict rules on playground equipment, how to install it, proper footing around it, the need to inspect and maintain it, etc. The Town most likely would need an engineer to draw up plans for the installation. He also informed me that the insurance company would send a safety inspector to look at the equipment first at NO COST to the Town to give us their opinion. Owning the equipment itself does not raise the premium.
Following up with the School Board I found out Barb never sent the letter. At the April Town Board meeting there was no mention of the playground equipment. I asked for an update and the response by the Supervisor was, “After what I learned from the insurance company, I’m not touching it.”
I did not contact the School Board after that statement. At this point I’m not sure what to even say to them. So where the statement or idea came from that I went around the Town Board and the red tape is TOTALLY FALSE.
Back to the Grafton Town Board, analyze the Supervisor’s statement for yourself and the actions of certain members of the Board. Two councilmen support having the insurance company send its safety inspector to look at the equipment. From there we can put a plan together depending upon his or her findings and whether or not the School Board is willing to allow us to have a few of the pieces.
Please contact your Board members and inform them you want them to start working for the people of this Town instead of working against them!
Cathy Goyer
38 Goyer Way, Petersburgh