We are, I believe, having a mostly open and factual discussion about what the Griswold Airport property purchase means for the town and that is the way it should be.

Strong supporters and advocates of this purchase include Audubon Connecticut, Trust for Public Land, Madison Land Conservation Trust, the Madison Conservation Commission, Friends of Hammonassett State Park, Citizens for a Clean Hammonasset River, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, State Senator Ed Meyer, State Representative Deborah Heinrich, the Hartford Courant, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Save the Sound, and Madison Youth Football League. First Selectman Fillmore McPherson, Madison Selectmen Al Goldberg, Joe MacDougald, and in fact all the selectmen

support the purchase.

The land purchase has received favorable votes from every Madison town board that has considered it: Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, Conservation Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Madison Beach & Recreation Dept.

While some question the price, the town received two independent, professional appraisals that say the current price (with the approvals given by our town Planning & Zoning Commission and the state's Department of Environmental Protection) is very much "where it is." Most people in town realize the purchase of the land will, each year, cost the median house a dinner for two at Friends & Company with just one glass of wine. Half of the homes in town will pay less.

It's a great plan that preserves the quality of life and the environment in Madison. If your readers haven't been on the land, they should attend the site walk at the Griswold Airport at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 to see why they will want to vote "Yes" on the Jan. 26 referendum to purchase. This almost certainly is our only chance. There is more information available at www.savegriswoldland.org.

William B. McCullough

Madison