Port of Shelton Citizens' Meeting 11/9/10

20 concerned citizens met with Port Commissioner Jack Miles.

My intent is to provide information on how this Port works & should work.
If I can't answer a question, I will bring it to the Executive Director.

I was wondering whether to buy a plane or a yacht.

Is the Port going to commit to the fairground property
to function as it is until another location is found?

A milestone was made this year with the fair. Hopefully,

the goal in the future is to get a fairground built. The fairground
is a burden on the Port but we are happy to provide it for now.

Will you find out about the Port rezoning issues (from
industrial to residential) Re: Hall Equities? (Yes, I will.)

I voted for the people I thought were smart & went on with my life;
but it turned out they had their own agenda.

What's behind the proposal for the 3oo ft. extension

to the runway & where would it be located?

The plan is to extend the runway in this area, to
encourage more business by enabling larger jets to land.

It is so nice to come here & have a forum & ask our questions!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox

I went to the meeting, formerly know as the "Port Town Hall Meeting", last Tuesday evening. It will now be called the "Citizens' Open Forum at the Port". Commissioner Miles said the old name (because of so called political implications) was objected to by persons who he did not name.

Overall, I liked the meeting. Each time I go to a Port meeting or one of these "Citizens' Open Forum" meetings, I learn a bit more about how the Port operates. I learn how the Port is said to operate and also how it really operates. The former is easy. It makes sense. The latter is like a Russian novel. War, crime, suffering, and nobody wins.

This time the hostile visitation from the dark side did not materialize, which lightened things up considerably (compared to the previous evening encounter we had a couple of weeks ago). Sometimes the Port meetings seem like a cross between Star Trek and a soap opera. "Captain Jack must surrender! Resistance is futile!" is delivered by bad actors who make guest appearances, and then fly back into the night.

There was some discussion about the Shelton Yacht Club. It seems the marina is rotting away and will cost megabucks to fix. One participant questioned the Port's priorities. He was wondering if he should buy a plane or a yacht. He made the point that the Port had spent millions on the airport but seemed hesitant to fix the marina. He wondered if there was a plan to sell the marina at some point, casting the boat owners adrift. No answer was forthcoming at this meeting.

If there are any Shelton Yacht Club boat owners reading this blog, you might want to start coming to Port meetings. Just a thought...

Photos by Christine