To the Editor:

Marty Klein is a friend and one I enjoy. We have agreed to strongly disagree on many topics throughout our friendship. Like many Democrats in town, though, I am struck by the inanity and arbitrary nature by which Marty has - outside of his authority, expert counsel, and the Selectmen's majority vote - effectively closed Lovers Lane.

Probably less than 10 vehicles use the one-way Alder's Bridge Road daily. Yet Marty commenced a project primarily permitting the split property of his friend, Mr. Adametz, to be rejoined. Meanwhile, across Route 148, a busy and safe thruway has been arbitrarily shut down. How can this be? Our tax dollars have been extended to "fix" an unbroken and under-utilized one-way road, yet the gates can't be kept open on Lovers Lane, at no cost, for the manifested daily use of more than 10 percent of our residents. Why? According to the Hartford Courant, Marty simply said, because "I would like to see it closed permanently."

Between 600 and 800 cars use Lovers Lane daily when it's open. It is one of only two means by which residents living on 31 Killingworth roads can reach the town hall, parks, and businesses as well as Routes 95 and 80. With this much traffic, despite driving through "measurable" water, there has never been a fatal accident on Lover's Lane and no accidents reported in years. Two selectmen voted to maintain the long-standing procedures which require closure only when water or ice poses an identifiable danger. When Marty's proposal to permanently close the road failed, he declared that his office would independently determine when to open the road. He has since kept the road closed. It was opened once by the Selectmen in Marty's absence only to be immediately locked again upon his return.

Marty admittedly does not daily check the "measurable" water on the road. I did earlier today (July 6th) - after a lot of rain, I walked through the "wetter" of two sections in sandals without my feet getting wet and the second area was clearly dry on half of the road near the newly added jersey barriers. There was less than half an inch of water in the second of the two usual wet spots - therefore, under Marty's own guidelines - the road should be opened. I called him to ask him to open Lovers Lane since the conditions he stipulated are currently met and he said, among other things during our hour-long friendly and animated discussion, that he would now not open the road until it was dry.

Marty calls Lovers Lane "a serious safety concern." No research supports this. No accident records support this. No common sense supports this. In November, I asked what science, what experts, what town committee was relied upon to support his claim that the closure was due to safety concerns and "large" expenditures, he said none. Rather, he declared he "just knew it should be closed. Accidents could occur." When queried, he admitted that he did not know how many or even if any accidents were caused due to "measurable water" on Lovers Lane or at its intersection with 81. When I shared that according to the police, no accidents were on record for at least the last five years, he angrily averred "yes, but there could be accidents."

Meanwhile, we have frequent accidents occurring along 81 near True Value, Dunkin Donuts, Jensen's, Rte. 148 intersection and the rotary. Some deadly. On any number of other town roads, the speed and traffic have become a serious problem. In fact, the police thought consideration should be put into the intersection at Stevens Road and 81 before closure of Lovers Lane was contemplated. But, why listen to them, why even ask them?

The town's Democratic Party ran on a platform of responsible leadership and inclusion of committee work in decision-making. In contrast, this road's closure is an autocratic move on our First Selectman's part. He decided the road should be closed to open a bird sanctuary and has arbitrarily overridden the research, the experts, the Democratic process, and the people's will. Even his prior running mate and our long-time Selectman, Lou Annino, has opposed Marty on this. Why fix what ain't broke?

This is about ego and authoritarianism. This is a personal battle between Marty and the rest of the town's representation, people, and experts. When he was outvoted on permanent closure, he insisted that the road not be opened anyway. Instead of honoring the Selectmen's vote and expert counsel, Marty changed his strategy, declared his office to be the gatekeeper, and quietly added jersey barriers. Apparently when Democracy doesn't meet a goal, try dictatorship. The road has not been open since the vote - despite dry and drivable conditions. If Marty was going to be true to his word, how can he easily open the road with the barriers in place? That will cost our town yet more tax dollars to constantly move the barriers - that is, if he ever intends to do so. Why mess with a road and system that has worked for over a hundred years simply because of one man's ego?

Marty, please put your ego and assumptions aside and follow the will of the people, the vote of the Selectmen, and the experts. You have done an extraordinary job in office and have handled a spectrum of issues decisively and effectively. It takes a strong leader and human being to acknowledge that another path might be taken that differs from one's own preference. I appreciate the hard work and difficult decisions you've made to date, but I ask with respect to Lovers Lane that you please represent us with integrity and humility and consider the needs of the Northern residents of Killingworth.

Sincerely,
Jamie M. Young
Disclosure: I live on Schnoor Road, my husband Brian and I would use Lovers Lane several times a week, and I served on the IWWC and KDTC with Marty Klein.