Rye candidate is preaching, but not delivering the goods

Feb. 27 — To the Editor:

In response to Rob Wright’s letter of Feb.19 announcing his run for the Rye Select Board, I am expressing my concerns about his candidacy. In his letter, Mr. Wright validates the actions of a resident “who made errors in not applying for proper permits to develop his property.”

As a member of the Rye Planning Board this speaks poorly of Mr. Wright as land use regulations exist to protect residents and our precious natural resources, including water supplies. Moreover, the act of remedying land use violations via “after-the fact” permitting is a costly affair for the Town and the Building Department.

Mr. Wright is preaching “fiscal responsibility,” yet in his role as Chair of the Long-Range Planning (LRP)and Master Plan Steering Committee (MPSC), he has yet to deliver the “goods” when it comes to updating the Master Plan in a timely fashion. Three-years into this project, Mr. Wright is still focusing on “conduct[ing] outreach and listening sessions,” while manifesting this as an accomplishment.

Initial budgeting and planning for this update of the Master Plan began in the Fall of 2020, yet the timeline to complete this project is not until the end of 2025. Close to $150,000 is being spent just for consultants, and this in addition to staff time. A “circuit rider” from the Rockingham Planning Commission was hired to “help” the Planning Department in July 2023 via a $45,000 contract/year.

In running for a seat on the Rye Select Board, Mr. Wright is “abandoning the ship,” namely he is not finishing the job that he set out to do as both the Chair of the LRP and MPSC.

I support Tom King.

Dominique Winebaum

Rye