Sunday, September 24th, 2017

BY KATHRYN BOUGHTON

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

BARKHAMSTED — A global issue collided with this little town on Thursday night.

After 90 minutes of vigorous discussion, residents voted 37-27 to reject a resolution that called for Barkhamsted, a town of about 3,700, to “adhere to the spirit and purpose” of the Paris Climate Accord.

The accord was signed by President Barack Obama in April 2016, but President Donald Trump, who said that in withdrawing from the 195-nation pact he fulfilled a campaign promise, revoked the decision in June of this year.

It was clear that many in Barkhamsted, which voted for Trump by a wide margin, strongly support his action. So strong was the feeling that some attending did not even want to discuss 

the topic. Told they must first accept the resolution’s inclusion on the meeting’s call, several residents suggested that it be rejected.

But the petition had been properly circulated and the signatures on it had been verified.

Former Republican State Rep. Philip Prelli questioned its legality. 

Climate: Residents Reject Obama Accord

“Did anyone check with the town attorney to see if it is a legal question to come before the people?” he asked. “This is a waste of time.”

Former first selectman Michael Fox, who initiated the petition, said town meetings have been held in the past to discuss global and environmental issues.

Prelli said Connecticut already has a plan to reduce emissions.

“The whole move behind this is political gamesmanship,” he said. “If you want to do it right, the Senate should adopt a treaty.  But we don’t need to do this. If you want to protest this, then write a letter.”

Even with the resolution’s acceptance, there were those who disparaged bringing it to the floor. David Moulton excoriated Fox for circulating the petition.

“I’m pretty disappointed this has been brought before us,” he said.

He referenced a “Nature Geoscience” article that concludes earlier computer models overstated global warming.

“Let’s say they were dead wrong. For each scientist who believes in global warming, you can name another who does not,” Moulton said. “So why should the U.S. — let alone little Barkhamsted — accept the burden?”

The scientists quoted in the article said earlier projections predicted warming at a higher rate than has been experienced, but still cautioned that the time before temperatures rise by the trigger point of 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels is only 20 years.

Moulton castigated Fox, a friend of Gov. Dannel Malloy, saying, “You could be on the phone lobbying Malloy instead of wasting our time with this ridiculous proposal when we’re facing a 4-mill tax increase.”

Riverton resident Tom Palmer worried that the resolution would force the town into costly modifications.

First Selectman Donald S. Stein said endorsing the resolution would not include legal obligations.

“If electric vehicles are more economic, then we would consider it,” Stein said. “But if we buy diesel trucks that have environmental controls, we are still adhering to the spirit of the accord.”

Thomas Boyle of Washington Hill said Barkhamsted is not an industrial town.

“We heat our houses, we drive our cars,” he said. “To adhere to the (accord’s) 28 percent (emissions-cut) directive, who cannot drive their car, who can’t heat their house? What are the plans to reduce emissions? Let’s outlaw barbecues — boom, we can do it.”

Fox said the resolution does not require anyone to cut back by 28 percent.

Tim Deschenes added that the three recent hurricanes are “shades of things to come.”

“You can argue we’re little Barkhamsted, but my friends, the world is bigger than Barkhamsted,” he said. “Here’s a chance to step outside Barkhamsted. We think about costs — what are the costs to rebuild Houston, to rebuild Florida and Puerto Rico?”

John Noelke contended, “We’re trying to send a message that we have common sense. No one is taking away your rights in adhering to the purpose — the purpose is to make the world better. If we can all do a little bit, that’s adhering to the purpose.”

Editor’s note: Though the Republican American does not include the full agenda of this town meeting in the article that appeared in Sunday’s newspaper, a second item was also presented to attending town residents, that asked for a vote on the sale of a small strip of land adjacent to the elementary school to Peter and Sarah Ferrereso. This property line intertwines with the town and the Ferrereso’s and involves large trees that does not allow a clear line for a needed fence. The majority in the room, after some left after item one failed to pass, voted yes to allow the Ferrereso’s to buy the land they have cleared that children now play on. 

First Selectman Candidate, Board of Selectman member Mark Hemenway (R), also had his running mate Nick Lukiwsky in attendance with him this evening. Barkhamsted RTC Chair, Juliana Simone, told Republican American reporter Kathryn Boughton after the meeting adjourned, that with over 250 Barkhamsted voters choosing Donald Trump over his opponent, if this small number of people gathered tonight had voted by majority to not agree with President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord, it would have been a misrepresentation of the townspeople. 

Photo’s taken by Barkhamsted RTC Chair Juliana Simone: