I not only wonder where this country is going, I also wonder which direction Windham is heading. Hopefully we are moving into a better financial future as many in government proclaim, although I often doubt any government numbers because those in government often ensure those figures are favorable for them and are not necessarily the truth.

I believe government leaders at all levels have forgotten that they are the servants and the people are their masters. What I find really disgusting is the billions of dollars spent on election and reelection campaigns while those very politicians claim they will help the less fortunate citizens of our country. I also believe that some kind of very strict limits should be placed on campaign spending and for me spending more than $500 for a Windham Town Council seat would be too much.

Speaking of the Windham Town Council, especially since there is a vacant seat, I have serious doubts that the vacant seat will be filled by appointment. Many readers might be shocked that I support Carol Waig to fill that seat because she defeated my run for the council. That’s politics and if someone holds bitterness for losing, I will tell the readers who the loser is. Kaile Warren, who has since withdrawn, and Peter Anania also filed forms to fill the vacant seat. I support Waig because I know her commitment to the citizens of Windham, not to herself or something worse like personal gain. I sense that there is a good possiblility that exists on the present council and it seems impossible to solve unless one uses their own funds to hire a lawyer and fight in court. For the time being, I will state that it is quite obvious some state statutes may have been broken but we lack a state government willing to enforce those laws at the present time.

I believe that Peter Anania did a reasonable job in the council seat he was appointed to fill. However, I don’t see a precedent in appointing the same person a second time to fill another council seat, especially since he has not received one vote via election. My thoughts are reinforced by his statement that he would not seek reelection for the seat that he held and part of that decision was because of a lack to time to devote to council business. I must add that if there were no other citizens coming forward, then he should be appointed to the council.

What scares me the most for the future of Windham is our present town government. All I have seen town government do since moving here in 1999 is fumble forward and stumble backwards. For a town of 17,000 residents, I am shocked at the lack of involvement by the vast majority of people. I must label them sheeple. The definition of sheeple is people who follow the crowd, like sheep. I also wonder why smaller towns have a town office that is open five days a week while the Windham town office is open three days this week. Leadership eliminated town positions out of the budget and somehow the town manager filled them anyways.

Now Windham has a chance to secure a business called Sebago Farms, which could hire as many as 170 workers in the Quarry Ridge Business Park. Although I have problems with only one business receiving the so-called fast track for construction, I hope it is successful if no shortcuts are taken. This company would produce both fresh produce and fish on a large scale. For me, that makes business sense in today’s economy unless it places more of a tax burden on local taxpayers for things such as water and sewerage. All of Windham property owners are paying for the $2 million extension of the sewer pipe in South Windham, which was caused by the proposed development of Keddy Mill and we know that development never happened.

Is Windham in trouble? I would bet on it. Our council chairman, Scott Hayman, publicly indicated he had a personal agenda and stated such when he was reelected to that position. The only problem is that he demonstrates a lack of knowledge of the Windham Town Charter and Code of Conduct, to say nothing about Robert’s Rule of Order.

Lane Hiltunen, of Windham, believes Windham will have a problem bringing back the Poor Farm because it just might be completely covered in asphalt if some on the council get their way.

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