COMPARE, Inc.

Greetings,
This letter is primarily directed to those of you on our list who are 
Rockland residents. Those from other towns might have an opinion on the 
following matter, but the majority of the Rockland Board of Selectmen has in 
the past exhibited unwillingness to listen to, if not downright hostility 
against, input from non-Rockland-residents. No insult is intended as we ask 
non-Rockland members (unless you have some position of authority that the 
Rockland Selectmen might acknowledge) not to act on this issue other than to 
forward this letter to your Rockland friends. 

John Ward and Charlie Kimball, formerly affiliated with the Naval Air Station 
Planning Committee, have applied to replace Judy Killinger as one of 
Rockland's representatives on the South Shore Tri Town Development 
Corporation. 

The appointment of Rockland rep to the SSTTDC is going to be discussed at the 
Rockland Selectmen's meeting THIS COMING MONDAY NIGHT, September 17. The 
meeting starts at 7pm. Rockland residents, please take action and ask the 
Selectmen NOT to appoint Mr. Ward or Mr. Kimball to this position.

There are many reasons why neither of them should be appointed. Both Mr. Ward 
and Mr. Kimball have demonstrated self-righteous, condescending, and 
intolerant attitudes, hot tempers, and a tendency to rant and rave at 
Selectmen's meetings, Town Meetings, and base-related meetings. It is likely 
they would continue this type of behavior if appointed to the SSTTDC. 

In its Cheers and Jeers editorial column of July 10, 1999, the Patriot Ledger 
states: "Jeers to John Ward, the former Rockland selectman, who altered the 
town's annual report without consulting anyone, to reflect what he thought 
was the correct interpretation of why his wife, Cynthia, had resigned from 
the Historical Commission." This behavior alone is enough to disqualify Mr. 
Ward from appointment to any official position whatsoever. 

In the past, Mr. Ward as former Selectman and Mr. Kimball as former Base 
Restoration Advisory Board member have used positions of authority to spread 
untruths about base-related issues. Mr. Ward was unseated the last time he 
ran for Selectman, a definite vote of no-confidence from the townspeople.  
Mr. Kimball recently resigned from the RAB, citing family and health reasons. 
Would these same reasons not also keep him from being an effective SSTTDC rep?

As former NASPC people, Mr. Ward and Mr. Kimball are directly responsible for 
the current reuse plan, which is top-heavy with retail acreage because it was 
designed to accommodate the Mills Corporation's megamall. Even though Mills 
is out of the picture, its intended acreage is still zoned for retail. If it 
stays that way, we could be confronted with other retail proposals that could 
generate Mills-like problems. As ardent Mills Corporation supporters, Mr. 
Ward and Mr. Kimball have demonstrated their willingness to cozy up to big 
business at the expense of the environment and quality of life on the South 
Shore. They are likely to do it again if appointed to the SSTTDC.

Rockland residents, please send e-mail stating your concerns to the Selectmen 
RIGHT AWAY.  The letters need to get to the Selectmen before Monday's 
meeting. Send your letter to the following people:

[email protected]  (Carole Mooney)

[email protected]  (Mary Parsons)

[email protected]  (John Llewellyn)

[email protected]  (Larry Chaffee)

[email protected]  (Town Administrator Kevin Donovan)

I don't think Larry Ryan has e-mail; if he does, his address is not known to 
this writer. 

FAX the Selectmen's Office at: 781-871-0386
Call the Selectman's Office at: 781-871-1874

Mr. Brian Wall has also applied for this Rockland SSTTDC rep position. If you 
know Mr. Wall, you might want to put in a word for him.

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this matter. The future of 
the whole South Shore depends upon it. 

This information comes to you from:
COMPARE (Citizens Opposing the Megamall and Proposed Access Road Extension)
Box 890024 Weymouth, MA 02189
[email protected]
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