Sherry Krupka: A Vote For Accomplished CCA Candidates

The following letter was published in local newspapers and is reprinted here with permission of the author Sherry Krupka. Sherry is a member of the Charlestown Planning Commission.

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As a resident of Charlestown, I will cast my vote for candidates who have impressive records of accomplishment. Town Council candidates Susan Cooper, Peter Gardner, Ann Owen, Joshua Vallee, and David Wilkinson; Planning Commission candidates Walter Mahony, Carol Mossa, and Lisa St. Godard; and School Committee candidates Donna Chambers, Craig Louzon, and Linda Lyall are the most accomplished candidates. Some of their accomplishments follow.

• Keeping our taxes among the lowest in the state.
• Maintaining our strong financial rating.
• Keeping our town running smoothly during the pandemic.
• Stopping the federal railroad plan to bisect our town from west to east with two new high-speed tracks running through homes, farms, tribal land, wetlands, historic villages, and the Carter Preserve and other protected open space.
• Safeguarding our ground water and wetland habitats by blocking Invenergy from withdrawing water from our sole source aquifer and transporting it by tanker truck caravan to cool the turbines of a power plant in northern Rhode Island.
• Making Charlestown greener by sponsoring rooftop solar instead of clearing our forests.
• Expanding recreational opportunities for all town residents through the many offerings of the Parks and Recreation Department throughout town.
• Acquiring open space for hiking trails; access to the Pawcatuck River; protection of drinking water, ponds, and other wetlands; and preservation of wildlife habitat and our star filled skies, all of which support our rural lifestyle and our economy.
• Improving the management of the salt ponds.
• Acquiring millions of dollars in state and federal grants.
• Safeguarding access to potable water.
• Supporting the Chariho School District.
• Reducing vulnerability to natural hazards and lowering insurance costs.
• Promoting and budgeting the much-needed addition to the Charlestown Animal Shelter.
• Supporting Charlestown’s small businesses by reducing the annual fee for registering for business licenses and by revising the taxes to be paid on tangible personal business property.
• Protecting Charlestown’s local businesses by denying the application of a Box store that wanted to build in Cross’ Mills and would have put local stores out of business..
• Creating a new Comprehensive Plan to guide the town for the next 20 years.
• Continuing to protect the Scenic Highway status of Route 1.
• Protecting the north shore of Watchaug Pond from overuse.
• Positioning Charlestown to receive state and federal funds for bike path construction.
• Saving money, reducing CO2 emissions, and protecting our view of the stars when lighting streets.
• Supporting and promoting the successful “Wild and Scenic” designation for the Pawcatuck River.
• Working to empower RIDEM to monitor and regulate fugitive dust.
• Engaging the entire community in protecting our beautiful town.