To the Editor:

This is in response to the January 31 editorial “Speaking Up Fearlessly,” which references a P&Z meeting about the proposed gas station in Hawleyville. Although I did not attend the meeting, I did speak with citizens who there and read the P&Z minutes as well as accounts in The Bee.

I find it appalling that a lawyer representing the developers asked to have statements made previously by a citizen stricken from the record. Small town governments, particularly in New England, pride themselves on citizen participation and indeed value that opinion as a reflection from those who know their town best. That does not mean that local residents are always right or that they always get their way, but their right to be heard is essential to our governmental processes.

Also, it is regrettable that this lawyer was allowed to cross-examine a resident in a public forum. It seems to me that the role of a commission is to gather facts from all sources, including residents, and then also to protect those individuals from any third party intimidation. Hopefully, this sort of bullying will not happen again in our town.

Although this incident was surprising, it might have been predicted since bullying has become such a common part of our culture. Starting at the top of our federal government and including social media and even our school playgrounds, bullying is more a part of the norm than ever before.

While my ability to change things at the federal level is limited, I feel I must speak up when this sort of behavior goes on in my own town. Bullying at any level is never acceptable.

Mary Gaudet-Wilson

12 Whippoorwill Hill Road, Newtown February 3, 2020