Editor:

The Pine Point Resident Association tried for five years to save Depot Street from becoming privatized. When the motel was closed for the season Scarborough and Maine residents flocked to Depot Street parking lot on nice sunny weekends. I know, as I lived across the street at 4 King St. for many years.  

Town Manager Tom Hall lived just a few houses down the street last winter so he must have known this. He claims it’s unsafe for people to be dropped off on Depot Street. This is false. People who have lived at Pine Point for 60 years know of no auto accidents or people injured. If anything, the barrels the motel owners put up years ago and now the long curbing called the “berm” the town put up, makes it less safe.  

Mr. Hall, you’ve only been town manager for less than a year. You don’t have the history and facts about this place or understand how Pine Point residents feel about Depot Street, access to their beach. If you did, you would have accepted their invitation to the Pine Point Residents meetings. You chose not to. When residents went to your office asking for information on this land swap you would not provide it until five days before you asked the council to vote on it. According to the town assessor’s evaluation figures for waterfront property, Depot Street has got to be worth close to a million dollars.  This town council has given it away for free. Mr. Hall has stated the town has the right to discontinue any road.  

Arlene Hurd

Old Orchard Beach