Editor:

   Several weeks ago, the Leader was kind enough to print my letter drawing attention to the fact that the owners of the Dunstan Plaza had chosen to opt out of the sidewalk construction project at Dunstan Corner. I wrote  this letter after confirming with the town that the owners of the Plaza had rejected at least two requests for an easement that would have allowed construction of the sidewalk.

    A subsequent letter from Patrick O’Riley reinforced this observation and called more forcefully for Joseph Penna, an owner of the Dunstan Plaza, to reconsider his decision.

   Apparently, Mr. Penna had already reconsidered his decision and was negotiating a compromise with the town when Mr. O’Riley’s letter appeared.

   I don’t know Mr. Penna or Mr. O’Riley, and I’m sure they’re both admirable individuals, but it seems disingenuous for Mr. Penna to criticize Mr. O’Riley for the timing of his letter while ignoring his own original decision to prevent the sidewalk from crossing his property.

   Whatever the cause of Mr. Penna’s conversion, I’m glad that we’ll be looking at a crisp, new sidewalk at Dunstan Plaza instead of a stretch of broken, weedy asphalt. Congratulations to the Leader for providing a  public forum where these issues can be brought to light.

Bob Curtis

Scarborough