On Aug. 8, for the very first time, I chose to attend a Harbor Commission meeting. I was more than disappointed with the way in which the meeting was conducted by Chairman Michael de Angeli. I am a resident of Jamestown Shores and many of us who live in the Shores feel that we must be watchdogs to protect our rights, because we feel that our issues are often downplayed or even overlooked by town officials. One of our rights is to be able to attend open town meetings and voice our opinion.

The Harbor Commission meeting was a perfect example of why residents of the Shores feel they are not treated fairly. The discussion concerned whether the moorings off Sunset Beach, sometimes called Head's Beach, will be designated as a mooring field. We have many concerns regarding this issue, but I learned at this meeting that concerned residents cannot speak their mind, because we are "wasting Michael de Angeli's time."

During the open forum, I was recognized to speak, but I was completely cut off and not allowed to finish any of my thoughts or my statement before Mr. de Angeli simply dismissed me and asked for other opinions. Apparently, Mr. de Angeli felt he had heard my issues previously. I am not sure how that could have happened, since I have not attended a meeting before this. Mr. de Angeli was cocky, condescending and rude.

Mr. de Angeli believes that calling Sunset Beach a mooring field is "just a designation." We in the Shores do not believe that. He also went on to say that "he cannot keep everyone happy," and that his job is to "assign moorings to the long list of people who are waiting for them." With that as his job description, we in the Shores need to keep a close eye on mooring fields that will be "just designations," in the future. This is exactly why Shores residents must go to the open meetings and let our feelings be known.

I thought that anyone could attend an open meeting and state their views. Apparently, this is not the case if the meeting is run by Michael de Angeli. At the end of the meeting, he began to apologize, but at the end of his statement he said, "But it doesn't matter, because I know what your concerns are." Really? How could that be? I was never allowed to state my viewpoint. Apology not accepted.

Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, even if it is repetitious of someone else's remarks. The chairman of the Harbor Commission should have the decency to allow people to speak their mind.

Dr. Kristin Kennedy

Lugger Street