Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident Urges Select Board to Move New Statue from Fred Thatcher Playground, Says Process Lacked Parent Input
Summary
A Yarmouth resident told the Select Board the historic-commission review and town-meeting vote on a statue sited at Fred Thatcher playground lacked meaningful engagement with parents and playground users and urged the board to pursue relocating the statue or returning the matter to town meeting.
A Yarmouth resident urged the Select Board on May 13 to seek relocation of a recently approved statue at Fred Thatcher playground, arguing the site is inappropriate for a memorial and that the review process did not include adequate engagement with parents and children who use the playground.
Chris George, identified himself as a resident, told the Select Board he wants the statue moved. "I think the best outcome that I'm hoping for here is to have the statue moved to a different location," George said, adding that parents who use the playground "are not excited about the idea of any new occasions to be at a children's play area other than children playing there." He said the public comment process before the historic commission and the town meeting was difficult for parents to access and that an amendment at town meeting appeared to be handled in a confusing manner.
George suggested the Select Board consider returning the project to town meeting as a separate item or petitioning so that the statue funding and siting could be reconsidered, and asked the board to use whatever authority it has to press for another public decision on placement.
Town staff acknowledged the comment and the Select Board did not take action on the request at the meeting. The resident said he had submitted written comments to the historic commission and town staff and asked the board to review them and consider further public deliberation.
