Dear Editor:

The Knickerbocker Lake Association understands that CMBG is a museum. After all, how would CMBG have received $800,000 from a federal agency that only funds museums and libraries?

Melissa Cullina, a CMBG employee and wife of executive director, Bill Cullina, said at the last Boothbay Planning Board meeting that the Gardens are indeed a museum — CMBG maintains a collection of plants. This collection is on display for visitors to enjoy, and yes, learn — just as we learn from walking through a museum.

The Anthony family understands that CMBG is a museum. That’s why Jason Anthony provided 40 minutes of testimony to the Board of Appeals explaining how CMBG’s funding, activities and visitors are exactly like that of a museum.

Several Boothbay citizens gave public testimony supporting the simple argument that if CMBG walks, talks, and quacks like a museum, then that’s what it is.

Likewise, the KLA understands that CMBG is not a formal educational facility. Sure, a few of their visitors take classes or tours, but it’s less than 10 percent! Schools don’t have exhibits and gift shops; museums do.

And Jason Anthony proved in his testimony that CMBG fails to meet the Boothbay ordinances’ definition of an educational facility.

Finally, the KLA, the Anthonys, and the Boothbay Region Water District understand that CMBG’s claim to be an educational facility threatens Knickerbocker Lake and your drinking water. At a time when phosphorus levels should be reduced, CMBG’s parking lots will significantly increase them in Little Knickerbocker Lake, which may be at a tipping point. That could create a long-term crisis for the Boothbay region’s drinking water.

So if we all understand the museum/school question, and we all understand the consequences of getting it wrong, then why don’t four of the five members of the Boothbay Board of Appeals understand it? In their most recent discussion, only Scott Adams demonstrated that he had studied the issue. The others suggested that they will vote to allow CMBG to keep their false “educational facility” label, but all four declined to offer an argument for their conclusion.

We urge the Board to revisit the debate, look at the facts, and vote to deny CMBG’s claim as anything other than a museum.

Knickerbocker Lake Association

William and Paula Arsenault

Julie Degenhard and Karen Pritchard

Joseph and Lynda Baum

Daniel and Margaret Sickles

Douglas and Ann Thurin

James and Carolyn MacLeod 

Joyce Sirois