Why Ninigret Park Needs to Be Protected For All To Use

The Charlestown Citizens Alliances applauds the unanimous vote by the Town Council (Tom Gentz, Dan Slattery, Lisa DiBello, Marge Frank and Gregg Avedesian) to accept the resignation of the Town Administrator. The action emphasizes the need for open, transparent government. The council negotiated a resolution that protects the town and sets a high standard for accountability. To fully understand why the Town Council needed to accept the resignation, it’s important to realize the following:

1. The Town of Charlestown was given a tremendous gift by the Feds in the land transfer agreement of 1979, which was named Ninigret Park.

2. There was a legal obligation with Charlestown agreeing that proposed changes to Ninigret Park must be consistent with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge, which is located next to land transferred to Charlestown.

3. If this is not followed, the Feds reserve the right to reclaim the land at will. The Charlestown Solicitor has stated publicly that Charlestown not only has a legal obligation to the National Wildlife Refuge, but a moral and ethical obligation based on the land that was transferred (172 acres) and the 55 acres we own next to wildlife refuge.

4. US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US National Park Service reps have voiced disappointment on how they were being treated by Charlestown over the past two years. Those two federal organizations believe the Town of Charlestown has created an adversarial environment that failed to include them in the planning and decision process, outlined in the law associated with the Land Transfer Agreement.

5. Charlestown does NOT want to create or foster an adversarial situation with the Feds. Charlestown should formally require that the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US National Park Service participate in the planning process for changes in Ninigret Park. And abutters to Ninigret Park and the Frosty Drew Observatory should participate in the planning process.

We can’t afford to lose Ninigret Park. The Feds have stated they do not want to pursue litigation against the Town. But if Charlestown continues on its current path and continues to ignore these agencies and our legal obligations, they have the option to litigate and take the land back if they so choose.

There is a need to foster a work environment that encourages inclusion instead of exclusion and that supports the legal, moral and ethical approach to conflict resolution. Is it worth being so aggressive, pugilistic, and one-sided as to jeopardize the very essence of Ninigret Park? Absolutely not.