The issue before the Brunswick Town Council on May 4 was whether to make a recommendation to the state Transportation Committee to eliminate the Downeaster locomotive idling in our town. Certainly their actions show me and other residents that they do not have our best interest in mind.

The council had an opportunity to tell the Legislature what the town wanted as the best solution for the residents of Brunswick and where to put that solution, but they abdicated their responsibility by doing nothing. As Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” With the exception of a few councilors, they did nothing. Councilors’ responsibility is to look out for the citizens of this town; LD 439 calls for an end to excessive idling after 30 minutes. Not a reduction of idling, an end. The Transportation Committee gave the town an opportunity to say this is what we want; it doesn’t mean we will get it, but to say nothing means we get nothing.

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority’s solution does not eliminate idling, so the town will get nothing that will eliminate the locomotive idling issue. Idling trains are a huge health and environmental hazard for all residents. The total abdicating of councilor responsibilities is insulting to me as a resident.

Sandy Buckles
Brunswick