Mary French, Hopkins Green, Hopkinton, NH

I offer this:

Although the cost of actual construction cost was by a generous gift that is certainly to the credit of the givers & to the delight of those who want a senior center - the fact remains that continuing yearly operation costs will be expected of the Hopkinton Community, the tax payers.

The projected amount of $30,000.00 per year, as offered in the newspapers, is likely not realistic & given the continuing & rising costs Hopkinton's other town buildings & staff require in terms of maintinence and personel that figure seems unrealistic.

Taxpayers at no time gave assent to this added tax cost by a proper vote - up or down- at a regularly scheduled town meeting.

In my opinion the project should be put on hold until the Voters can approve or disapprove - not only IF a senior center should be built / but also where.. and with a reasoned running budget exectation given at that time.

In too many towns, Selectmen find themselves making hasty decisions for these towns without waiting for the authorization of a town vote (& in the case of Epsom even by ignoring Town vote ) Their actions are no doubt done with good intentions & sometimes under the guise of knowing best.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

Despite understanding the tempation of the gift.The Selectmen were ( in my opinion) wrong to start building without a Town vote of approval.

The Arsonist ( if that is how this fire was started) was obviously wrong to destroy a building many do want.

In order to know how many want this building & are willing to accept the tax costs it will engender for years ahead, we need to vote- as a town of many/ not by an agreement of the few. We NOW need approval or rejection of this project by the majority VOTE ..of those whose taxes will pay for the annual costs ... at a regular Town Meeting convened.