Memo to Wiscasset

March 19, 2018

MEMO to the People of Wiscasset From Ralph H. Doering, III

Without going into detail, it is clear to me that some Wiscasset citizens do not understand the nature and implications of the offer that the Doering family has made to the town. Therefore, to avoid any possible misunderstandings, we would like to explain why we have reached this decision.

We are so thankful that the Select Board and the townspeople of Wiscasset have rallied to protect to the town’s Main Street, small businesses, municipal rights, and history. I think everyone understands that the Board is Wiscasset’s custodian, and that it’s their duty to preserve and protect the town. Kudos to the Board for having the courage to resist MDOT’s deliberate campaign of intimidation. A YES vote on April 17 is an opportunity for every Wiscasset citizen to say, ‘Yes we agree, the integrity of local laws is critically important.’

The Doering family has been part of Wiscasset for many, many years. We love the town, its people, and its history. Advertising the family’s sum total of tax or charitable contributions over the past several decades would be completely graceless. We simply will not do it. Suffice it to say that our extremely high regard for Wiscasset, its people and its history is real and consistent. Our current effort to help our neighbors, the town and the region, as with all previous efforts, is heartfelt and genuine.

We see Wiscasset as a quintessential Maine coastal town. Its history is worth protecting, and its laws are worth protecting. These are the motives of the Doering family.

Therefore, we made this decision as a family. We are planning on paying for the town's litigation costs in the MDOT matter. I cannot state this any more plainly.

MDOT’s most effective sledgehammer in its deliberate campaign of lawless intimidation is the threat of legal costs to a small town like Wiscasset. Very simply, should the town accept our assistance, the Doering family has agreed to take that sledgehammer away from MDOT. There is absolutely no financial gain in this matter for our family. Quite the contrary --- trying to help protect the town’s ordinances comes at a steep price, and could escalate further. But we cannot sit idly by while MDOT devastates the town of Wiscasset. The devastation would take generations to reverse.

My attorneys asked the town’s attorneys (Peter Murray and John Shumadine) how much they expected things to cost. They have started with a figure of $75,000. They have demanded no strings attached; in other words, we will have no say in any legal strategy, tactic or decision. Last, they have suggested a particular escrow arrangement. We agreed to every last word, and produced an agreement that now awaits signatures by the parties. Yes, it is all in writing. One last time, the Doering family has made it clear we will pay the town’s legal fees, and we’ve done everything the town has asked of us to get that started. We have already put the money aside; that money is available to continue the town’s legal case as soon as they’re ready.

Therefore, it is crystal clear that if voters decide to continue the legal defense of Wiscasset’s local laws, the taxpayers don’t have to pay legal fees. The only issue left to decide in the referendum is whether or not voters want to resist MDOT’s attempt to bully Wiscasset.

To directly address a couple of public statements and the wild rumors those statements touched off, the Doering family is not suing Wiscasset now, and in fact we have NEVER named Wiscasset as a Defendant in any lawsuit, ever. From this point on, any assertion to the contrary is an intentional and politically-motivated misstatement of the facts.

The cry by a couple of public officials that a donation is ‘unethical’ is completely off base legally. My attorneys and the town attorneys have

already swept that political red herring aside. Had there been ANY sort of conflict, town attorneys would never have asked us to draw up an agreement and set up an escrow account.

Had MDOT not lied about federal funding and eminent domain, and had they not doctored their own reports, none of us would be in this boat right now. There would be no lawsuits in play. But MDOT indeed took those crucial missteps. The voters were correct to object to those actions, and the Select Board was correct to back the voters by withdrawing their support for the project. The voters were correct to reject a cynical attempt to repeal the town’s historic preservation ordinance. And finally, the Select Board was correct, and courageous, in their decision to protect local laws by initiating litigation against MDOT. No citizen should ever enter a voting booth under threat or duress. Our family believes only each voter’s conscience should guide his or her decision, whether they vote yes or no. We do not want the threat of legal fees to be the deciding factor in how people vote. We think people have the right to cast their vote based on what they think is in the best interest of the town of Wiscasset. That is why we offered to pay for the legal fees. If voters decide that defending town rules and regulations is important, they know that the Doering family is behind them one hundred percent.

Ultimately, we trust the wisdom of the voters.

I thank each of you for your time and consideration in reviewing my position. On behalf of my family, I hope I was clear.

Ralph Doering, III