Trust is earned, not given

To the Editor;

This is largely my opinion as a founder of the Friends of the Mayo Mill Dam group. We have a necessary PR effort as part of what makes this movement more effective. I write this in response to a letter to the editor from March 8. I will address some concerns regarding this letter.

In the past month, I would argue that the community has come together twice and let their voices be known that we do not agree with the decision to remove the dam. We have a great community and I’m certain without a doubt we could work together in a bi-partisan way for the benefit of Dover-Foxcroft and its people.

There are alot of emotions involved in this issue. We are working to find solutions to saving the dam that involve trust without emotions. The citizens of this movement will have all their voices be heard equally for the best result! This is how we shall build the cohesion we need to find solutions to saving the dam. Trust in the people and the process! Trust in the steering committee and subsequent decision making processes must be earned not given. That process was not started with citizen stakeholders involvement or their interests in mind. There are two sides to a coin and only one side was considered, the one presented from outside groups bearing grants with no intention of saving the dam! 

I will be the first person in this movement to offer my hand in working together with the opposing side to find a solution to address our aging Mayo Mill Dam but this must be done under equal conditions. Those conditions involve the discarding of the previous steering committee recommendations and the formation of a new one with only citizen taxpayers of Dover-Foxcroft and some opinions of those from upriver communities who have a stake in the dam’s future. They must have no ties to local government or outside organizations for that trust to be given. This is how a foundation of trust can be built to work together for the betterment of the community! This is the way it should be going forward on any major issue of this magnitude affecting town taxpayers. 

Unfortunately, the hour is late and time is of the essence and very limited for our side. It’s too late to focus on what can’t be changed and what likely will not occur as a condition of working together. For those reasons, I must focus all of my time and energy from the creation of this group to defeating the efforts of those who wish to remove the Mayo Mill Dam. In the people of this group, I shall place my trust!

Sean Hadley

Co-Founder, Friends of the Mayo Mill Dam

Dover-Foxcroft