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individuals or groups with special interests and appropriate means challenge the authority and <br /> judgment of Town agencies in court proceedings. The Town of Mashpee did not initiate any of <br /> this litigation; to the contrary, it was placed in a defensive litigation position by the plaintiffs. We <br /> see nothing improper or fiscally irresponsible with respect to the Town's use of its legal <br /> resources to defend its agencies in such matters. To the contrary, we, as a Board, firmly believe <br /> it would be irresponsible of Town leaders to be intimidated or leveraged financially to concede <br /> the local jurisdiction and authority of its boards, commissions and officers over regulatory <br /> matters such as the permitting of aquaculture grants. <br /> Notwithstanding vithstanding the unsubstantiated and, frankly, insulting allegation set forth-in the <br /> neighbors' letter, the decisions of the Town Boards and Commission to approve the proposed <br /> aquaculture operation and the policy decision to vigorously defend the Town's positions in the <br /> six judicial appeals filed by the various Plaintiffs had nothing whatsoever to do with Mr. Cook"s <br /> relationship with any present or forayer Town official. for were these decisions premised upon <br /> any financial benefit that may inure to Mr. Cook as a result of his aquaculture proposal. The <br /> substance of the Cook applications for an aquaculture license and order of conditions, together <br /> with his experience and reputation as a responsible aequaulturist, provided ample rationale for <br /> these approvals. The merit of Mr. Cook's proposal and the lack of any likely or apparent <br /> detrimental impact therefrom are evident in the record of the administrative and Judicial <br /> proceedings conducted in this matter. <br /> opponesset Bay is an invaluable natural resource in the Town.of Mashpee. The Board <br /> of Selectmen and Conservation Commission certainly considered any potential detrimental <br /> impacts to the Bay or nearby properties in the course of the administrative hearings held with <br /> respect to this-matter. we firmly believe that the public interest in maintaining the scenic and <br /> environmental qualities of Popponesset Bay has been adequately protected in these-decisions. <br /> Aquaculture has been a common practice on Cape Cod and in coastal areas of New England for <br /> centuries. It is an environmentally sustainable activity which, according to the opinions of many <br /> experts who presented evidence before the Board of Selectmen and Conservation Commission,, <br /> will not harm, and will actually improve, the ecology of the Bay. we believe that poppone set <br /> Bay is a natural resource to be enjoyed by and made available to all; it is neither our role nor-our <br /> objective to conduct governmental regulatory processes solely to advance the interests of those <br /> who own property in close proximity to the Bay. <br /> In summary, contrary to the allegations asserted by the neighbors in their recent letter, the <br /> actions of the Town with respect to the Cook aquaculture grant are dearly based upon and <br /> justified by the facts and legal principles referenced in the record. All proceedings undertaken in <br /> this matter have been consistent with the public interest in sound and impartial regulatory <br /> processes. This is how we believe local government should operate: in the interests of the <br /> community as a whole rather than those of a select few. <br /> i <br /> Respectfully submitted, <br /> Mashpee Board of Selectmen <br />