A “Whole Bunch of Letters...;”

During the meeting of February 15, 2011, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, James Wettlaufer, praised Brian Johnson’s Highway Department work for removing the snow off the roads and ways of Holland as “outstanding.”
Wettlaufer further stated:
“We received a whole bunch of correspondence from town residents, echoing those sentiments for the great work they have done. I’m not going to read all these letters.”
Brian Johnson’s choices in hiring employees and personal conduct as of late came under fire and can only be described as unfit for a public official.

I promised to help Wettlaufer with his PR stunt by publishing all the letters here on the Holland Blog to help out Brian.

As usual, Wettlaufer’s words had little to do with reality. The “whole bunch of correspondence” from town residents that Wettlaufer mentioned, are 13 letters written as a school project by first or second graders of the Holland Elementary School (HES)!
Besides the 13 letters written by first or second graders are only two “real” letters, and one of them raises the questions whether the author was a “town resident.” Letters written by HES students. The Holland Blog submitted a Public Information Request for copies of all the letters the Board of selectmen received. The Board was obligated to produce said letters as every document mentioned during any public meeting becomes part of the official record according to the new open meeting law.

I scanned two of the letters written by HES students and the two other letters.
One of the two letters was written by Richard Segerdahl, allegedly living at 29 Hamilton Drive here in Holland.

I did a little research and found out that Richard Segerdahl in actuality is living in Merrick, NY 11566, at 37 Margaret Blvd. This information was obtained from the Vision Appraisal website. The question is why a man who obviously only uses his weekend home during the summer would take the time to write such a letter.

Interestingly, Wettlaufer was living just six miles away from Richard Segerdahl’s residence before he moved to Holland... Hmm??
Wettlaufer’s former address was, 175 Cedar Shore Drive, Massapequa, NY 11758. Wettlaufer bought land on October 23, 1976 and built his house in 1977 before he moved to Holland.

Coincident, or a little bit of help from an old friend?

Mr. Wettlaufer, why not inform the viewers of the televised meeting that 13 out of 15 letters were written by first- or second-grader as a school project?

There is also the question, how many letters make a bunch?
Typically, it would be more than four — two is a couple, three and four are called a few, so more than that is often called a bunch.
Wettlaufer actually talked about a WHOLE BUNCH not just a BUNCH..

To read the letters, click here!

The letter written by Grace, one of the students of HES, expresses her gratitude for, “making paths for us [the students] and not hitting the playground equipment.”

I wonder whether Grace noticed Other “equipment” throughout town which was not so lucky... Benches at Hitchcock Field.


Pictured on the left:
Damaged bench at Hitchcock Field.
Damaged railing at the public boat launch.


Pictured on the right:
Damaged railing at the public boat ramp.
Damaged railing at the public boat launch.


Pictured on the left:
Damaged railing at the public boat ramp.
One of many bent street signs.


Pictured on the right:
One of many bent street signs.
March 12, 2011, Peter Frei

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Read also:

Selectboard Meeting of February 15, 2011..
Brian Johnson Hires Neighbor who doesn’t have a License, to Operate the Town’s Heavy Front Loader.