Dear Editor:
Despite heavy and pointed criticism from many Alna residents, on Jan. 6 Alna’s selectmen signed a settlement agreement with Jeff Spinney allowing him to keep the permanent boat launch he built in the Sheepscot River two days after Christmas.
They did this knowing that the abutters and other opponents of Mr. Spinney’s project would continue to oppose this project through multiple pending appeals.
The Alna Planning Board had denied a permit for that same motor boat launch on June 29 and July 27. Those denials were upheld by the Alna Board of Appeals on Oct. 16.
Seven days later, on Oct. 23, the selectmen (one of whom is Mr. Spinney’s wife) appointed two new members to the Alna Planning Board who had made repeated public statements in support of Mr. Spinney’s project, one of whom served on the Board of Directors for Mr. Spinney’s Golden Ridge Sportsman’s Club.