Town Doesn't

Need Work Camp

If the January hearing on the Work Camp was well-attended, it is in large part due to the efforts of a few concerned citizens to get the word out about what is looming for Randolph.

The potential installation of a "work-camp" or prison, if one dispenses with the euphemism, is a huge issue and needs publicity. The citizens of Randolph should know that the selectboard is pondering the placement of a facility within town limits, subject of course, to a vote.

This town is on the "up-and-up." There have been new businesses coming in the past few years. The relatively new cafés and restaurants and existing businesses are testimony of the vibrancy of the community. Families and individuals have chosen to relocate here for the quality of life.

The presence of a prison changes the fabric of a town. The negative connotations associated with it may deter other businesses from relocating here. Moreover, as the Corrections Dept. officers indicated at the hearing, there are no assurances that its presence here would be beneficial to the local economy. Rather, with the pressures of the state to relocate its existing facilities and out-of state inmates, one fears the subsequent placement of a larger security prisoner next to, or instead of, the work camp.

Some towns have incorporated prisons as a last-ditch effort to stimulate their economy. This town is surely not at that stage. The Town of Randolph should pursue the avenue of tourism rather than ring the knell. In the meantime, the work camp issue is one that warrants exposure and opposition.

Adele Smith

Randolph