Thursday, May 4, 2000 Older Editions

Article 43: Oriole Drive to stay unconnected

Oriole Drive will continue to remain outside of the loop when it comes to sewers.

After one resident categorized Article 43, which sought to hook Oriole Drive to sewers, as a move that would benefit a few residents while irritating the majority of people on Oriole Drive, Town Meeting defeated the article with a convincing hand vote.

Only one Oriole Drive resident flew to the support of the article.

"Our septic system is working today. Who knows what (will happen) tomorrow?" said Judy Kaplan, of 21 Oriole Drive. "I would truly like to join the 21st Century and have sewers."

But Charlotte Artenstein, of 20 Oriole Drive, indicated that installing sewers would get the new century off to a poor start for her.

Artenstein said she has already paid to install a second leaching field on her property and does not need a sewer connection. She also owns two adjacent properties, meaning she would have to pay twice the betterment charge if a sewer came down Oriole Drive.

While the inconvenience caused by construction would affect all 25 homes on the street, Artenstein said the sewers would benefit only two homeowners.

Only two of the five owners whose lots would be connected to the town's sewers as a result of the article, favored the article, she said.

Artenstein described the article as "my neighbors wanting to improve their property at my greater and considerable expense."

Article 43 failed in a lopsided hand vote.

- Neil Fater