I am a critic of the escalating taxes in Madison. It has become a town in which many people cannot afford to live. High taxes have had a negative impact on our property values.

To prove my point, read the August Money Magazine article that ranked the top 100 best places to live. Madison was nowhere to be found. There were six, more affordable, Connecticut towns listed.

However, I believe we should purchase the Griswold property. It will be a legacy we will pass on to our children and their children. Think of what we would be missing if our forefathers had decided not to buy the Surf Club! Also, we do need more recreational fields. If we do not get them now with the Griswold property, we will have to buy land for them someplace else.

As commissioner of Madison Senior Softball, which has more than 75 players, field availability and their condition are a problem. We have two fields on which we can play in the summer. When football starts, we have one and we share it with Madison Youth Football. By October, the outfield becomes so worn it is like playing on asphalt-dangerous to young and old!

We should stop thinking about the developer's profit. We need to think about what this gives the town: Recreational and open space which will be cherished by future generations.

Finally, I think the selectmen and boards of Finance and Education have a responsibility to work harder on reducing our taxes. It does not necessarily follow taxes need to go up because we buy the Griswold property. In my career, if you needed to spend in one area of the business, you figured out where you could cut costs elsewhere. Our town leaders must figure out a way to do that.

William H. Porter

Madison