Baldwin: Town Attorney Responds To Cherry Tree Accusations

A response from Town Attorney James Baldwin to a letter from Representative Town Meeting Democratic Caucus Leader Jill Vergara:

I am reluctant to dignify Ms. Vergara’s blatantly political ad hominin attack on me, the tree warden and the administration with a response. However, such vitriol should not be ignored or condoned.

READ MORE: Letter: Fairfield Cherry Tree Removal Violated Procedure

First, I am sorely disappointed that the caucus leader did not reach out to me, the town attorney, as she has so many times in the past. Instead, she chose to grandstand before she knew all the facts. As an attorney herself, she should know better than to accuse others of engaging in fraudulent behavior, abuse of authority, intentionally violating the law and acting underhandedly. As an attorney, such statements are unprofessional if not sanctionable. As an elected town official, they lack the decorum expected of an RTM caucus leader and only serve to degrade the level of civility expected of town leaders in public debate. These are serious charges with legal implications that should not be lodged against others without serious thought and inquiry as was not done here by Ms. Vergara. Ms. Vergara’s tone and language is unbecoming and unproductive serving only to inflame, rather than inform the public with appropriately reasoned and measured civil discourse. To the contrary, it appears that her sole purpose is to incite civil discord and foment outrage for political expediency.

I reviewed the error made in the public notices and advised the tree warden on state statutes concerning the permitting process for the tree replacements presented in the beautification plans. After my review I stand behind the actions of the tree warden, which, in fact, went above and beyond the statutory requirements and I welcome the objective review by the Freedom of Information Commission and the courts on their legality. I do not, however, welcome the purely political vitriol expressed by Ms. Vergara in this particular situation and in town governance at large.