Editor:

My husband and I live in Connecticut, but for 32 years we have owned a cottage in Ogunquit, which we’ve considered would be our retirement home. I’m from Maine originally and we cherish our time in York County.

My question is this: What is going on at the Kennebunk, Kennebunk and Wells Water District?

First, the Nestle/Poland Spring Water issue: people with many concerns have come together to question the wisdom of a commitment such as the one involved with little real advantage or protection to local entities over their water sources of the future. Norm Labbe’s comments quoted in a daily newspaper about “the real issue is about being anti-big business and anti-big oil. It’s not about environmental sustainability” is patronizing and arrogant; it seeks to diminish and marginalize genuine concerns by many people about the independence and self-control of local constituencies over their own resources. These are valid and legitimate concerns.

When I was a kid growing up in Maine, Poland Spring was a local destination and product, not a representative of a multi-national corporation, whose reputation as a good neighbor wherever they operate is questionable. That was then, this is now.

Second, is the proposed two-tier water charge, with seasonal residents paying almost twice as much per gallon as year-round residents. As M. John Kawadler of Kennebunkport pointed out in his Aug. 29 letter to the editor, this is “seasonal discrimination.” It’s another indication of poor thinking on the part of the water district. Not good for growth of tax-paying seasonal homeowners who love the area.

After years of respect for the water district, I’m beginning to think that they’re running amok over there and becoming a banana republic. Or perhaps they need a new superintendent and/or board.

What is wrong with them? Maybe it’s something in the water.

Joyce Howard

Simsbury, Conn.