Maintenance takes many forms

To the editor: As long-time home owners living in a 116-year old house, we are only too aware of the need for constant repair and maintenance of the structure to keep it looking attractive and in good condition. The same is true of our town if we want to maintain its charm and rural character with its farms and natural vistas. The residents and officials of the Town of Warwick have so far done a fine job and as a result we have one of the most attractive communities in the area. Our challenge now is to keep it that way. The PDR (Purchase of Development Rights) Program has been a tremendous start in preserving the natural beauty of our Town, but those funds have now been spent. We need a continuing source of funds to use for this purpose and the one-time ¾ of 1% transfer fee, to be paid by people moving into the Town, is a small price to pay for the pleasure of living in such a well-preserved environment. By avoiding over-development, we will increase the value of our houses and reduce the rate of growth in our school and municipal taxes. This benefits all of us. The preservation of an old house and an historic community both require continuing maintenance. The real estate transfer is a small price to pay for knowing that the place you most want to live in will continue to be so. Cushman May Warwick