To the Voters of Camden:

Last week’s vote to approve the removal of Montgomery Dam by a decisive vote of 1391 to 995 was the result of a five-year long public discussion between the advocates for saving the dam and those who wanted to see it removed. 

The process leading to the vote was open and transparent. Scores upon scores of meetings were attended by members of the public both for and against dam removal.  We commend the diligent process the Town of Camden followed during arduous and often contentious discussions among the members of the public. 

The Town impaneled a citizens committee, and charged them with analyzing the entire length of the river with respect to such key questions as cost, fish passage, impact on Harbor Park, flood control, aesthetics, and so on.  This required digesting huge amounts of technical information and extensive community outreach and engagement.

The Camden Public Library Trustees stayed neutral during the multi-year citizens’ advisory process. But they had a lot at stake since Harbor Park shares a property boundary with Montgomery Dam and the Trustees have the sole power to approve any alterations to Harbor Park, a responsibility conferred on the Library by Mary Louise Curtis Bok when she gifted it to the Town in the early 1930’s.  

 In February, the citizens advisory committee ultimately voted 8-1 in favor of dam removal and the Trustees of the Library voted May 1 to issue a statement of support. 

We are thankful for the investment so many in the community made in this momentous decision and look forward to working with all parties as we move forward on this and additional projects related to the Megunticook River watershed. 

Politics excites the passions of its partisans.  Nevertheless, the public discussion at forums, Select Board meetings and other public venues (in contrast with that on social media) was for the most part civil during this entire debate.  We hope that in future debates people remember that what is said on-line is often hurtful and can only make the public discussion more difficult.

Above all, the process we have just gone through reinforces our belief in the rich heritage of the New England Town Meeting form of government whereby the people decide the important issues of the day.

Sincerely, 

Megunticook Riverkeepers: Tony Grassi, Ben Ellison, Ellen Reynolds, Courtney Cease, Geoff Scott, Frank O’Hara lll, Jennifer Gromada, Rick Thackeray