LETTER
Old School Epilogue — Can’t We All Just Get Along?

August 25, 2012

DEAR EDITOR,

Rodney King famously asked, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Now that our representative government, the Town Council, has voted in accordance with the opinion of the majority of residents who chose to publicly render their opinions on this matter, isn’t it time we moved on?

Despite the animosity, division, anger, and hyperbole we all saw throughout this debate, I have also born witness to the strength of our community. We are not just a sleepy little beach town.

I have heard, and read, opinions from residents are who smart, funny, and engaging, that I didn’t know existed in this town.

I, for one, relish robust political dissent. However, perhaps it is time to lay down our swords on this issue and move forward toward the goal of a greater good and a more cohesive community.

Personally, I see no need for a publicly funded community center, but I am open to being persuaded if the venue is smaller and more affordable than the old high school. I look forward to all of us having that discussion.

SUSAN BAUER

Letters to the Editor are welcome on any subject relevant to Cape Charles, and a diversity of opinions is encouraged.  Letters should be original and never submitted elsewhere. Email submissions to [email protected].

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5 Responses to “LETTER
Old School Epilogue — Can’t We All Just Get Along?”

  1. Deborah Bender on August 24th, 2012 11:26 pm

    So it doesn’t matter that Old School Cape Charles, LLC. has over 300 signatures from local residents in favor of the community center, which by the way is more than all of the votes in the last local election. It doesn’t matter that Old School Cape Charles offered to buy the school for $10,000 and take over all of the repairs, taxes, etc. It doesn’t matter that citizens whose families have been here for over 150 years, as is the case of my husband’s family and many others that want a community center, for that matter. It doesn’t matter that our town manager and assistant manager met in secret with Echelon Resources and collaborated behind the tax paying citizens back to practically steal our 100 year old historic school . . .
    Like Hell It Doesn’t! It matters to me. I am not laying down my sword. NOW OR EVER.

  2. Sarah Morgan on August 25th, 2012 9:37 am

    It seems as though there is a lot of energy that has been generated over this issue–I see it as an opportunity to continue to work toward having a community center, if it is feasible, at an appropriate place. Being somewhat pragmatic, I feel that it may be time to evaluate potential costs for continuing to “fight the good fight” and the possibility that some other solution will emerge to satisfy the need for the center. As I said in a previous letter, I don’t really have a dog in this fight, living in Oyster, but I strongly support development of public spaces for recreation and other uses. The open space we still have on the Eastern Shore is one of our most precious resources, whether that means farm fields, forests, or parks/sports areas.

  3. Kearn Schemm on August 25th, 2012 9:37 am

    It seems to me that the Town Council, ignoring as it did legal advice to obtain a buy-back provision and other legal safeguards to prevent abuse of this sweetheart deal, acted in a very foolish manner. This new apartment complex in the middle of the historic district may be very much regretted, especially by those who live nearest to it. I hope not, but I very much fear so.

  4. Wayne Creed on August 25th, 2012 10:07 am

    I concur with Ms. Bauer. It has been a robust battle leading up to the rezoning vote, and now that our Town Council has made its decision, it may be time to step back and take a deep breath and see where we are.

    For OSCC, as Ms. Bender passionately indicated, the fight is far from over, yet to Ms. Bauer’s point, it may be time move this fight into the proper arena (zoning appeals, state code, contract law, etc.), and we can try to move our town and community back to where we were before the battle over the school began.

    I still believe it is our obligation as citizens to fill the 40 percent education gap that exists for families that are trying to raise kids on the lower Eastern Shore, and that the old school is the perfect location for that to happen. Of course, my perspective is that of a father and coach, who is painfully aware of the opportunity gaps that exist between places like Fairfax County and Northampton.

    Ms. Bauer’s perspective is based on an entirely different set of circumstances, yet at this point, we must agree to disagree, and move on. And that is important. I still believe there is an opportunity to turn the old school into a community center, and we will channel all the wonderful passion of folks like Debbie Bender (never lose that fire baby!) into making it work.

    Yet, we’ll also need folks like Ms. Bauer, who can bring a different kind of perspective to the whole endeavor. We’ve got a lot going for us, with the Beach and Harbor — Cape Charles is on the way up. I think we can disagree on the old school and still share that perspective, and maybe channel a little bit of Rodney King, even as we pursue different goals.

  5. Roger L. Munz on August 26th, 2012 4:19 am

    Can we get along? That is a monumental question/problem. The town will remain fractured as long as there is a lawsuit pending in court.

    Let’s look why there is a lawsuit: It all lies with how the town mismanaged this entire affair.

    The town:

    — Kept this a secret too long;
    — Only dealt with ONE interested party;
    — Gave away the town’s property, resources, and money in a one-sided deal;
    — Did not follow the advice of legal counsel or rule of law;
    — Did not insure the town was protected, or would receive anything in return;
    — Never explained why this was so necessary, or needed to be rushed through;
    — Never solicited other proposals, and;
    — Never voted on the Old School Cape Charles proposals that were submited in good faith.

    How did the town’s boards, commissions, and counsel, who are sworn to represent the town’s people and follow the rule of law, allow this to happen? Even if they did not “get it” right away, they should have realized there was something wrong when so many townspeople were questioning what was happening. Never once did I hear, “Let’s slow down and look at this some more.”

    On a personal level, my concern is to keep the open space/parkland zoning. What ultimately happens to the school is for the future to decide. In a small town such as ours it is very hard to recapture lost open space.

    One last note, about Thursday’s meeting. IT WAS A SHAM! Purely to appease the masses, and fulfill the legal requirements. When a public comment session is held, in future please have the decency to wait until the next scheduled meeting TO DISCUSS and than vote on an action after fully taking the public comments into account. Not like Thursday when immediately after the public comment portion was closed the vote was taken. In allowing this untimely vote, the town is showing its contempt for all those citizens who spoke but were actually ignored. Which is why I did not bother to speak — I KNEW IT WOULDN”T COUNT!