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.
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.
