Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The recent Wetlands Board hearing which resulted in a second unanimous decision to approve the building of an enlarged boathouse at Williams Wharf was a repeat of the last meeting, using the same tactics of intimidation:

—A rowing crew employed to stand during the entire proceedings.

—A favorable crowd packed into the room in response to a large ad placed by the Conservancy in the previous week’s Gazette-Journal.

The range of emotions of the speakers in favor went from tears to vitriol while extolling the hard work, tremendous educational benefits, crew successes and college opportunities provided by the program.

But the problem is this hearing was not about the programs at the wharf. No one is opposed to the crew program or to a boathouse to accommodate the crew. The real issue of the hearing should have been about the enlargement of the boathouse to 19,224 square feet, with 3,900 square feet of wraparound decks to cover over 7,00...