County Watch
by G. L. Penney 

At the last meeting of the county Economic Development Committee, Mr. Barton announced that the county had acquired the major portion of the lands formerly owned by Howland Brothers of Berkshire, that the county manager of public works was proceeding to have the electrical service of the now two owners separated. The facts as to how the county came to own this property seem hard to come by, but here they are:

 Some time ago, the county arranged for a large load to Howland Brothers from the U. S. Housing and Urban Development to expand the company's business. They have since defaulted on that loan. The employment of the then director of economic development was terminated and the county now owns still another property for which there is no foreseeable county use.

 Over the past many years, county taxpayers have paid literally millions of dollars for plans for these various properties. None of these plans has borne any fruit. I have spoken about this to several of the county legislators. Only Mr. Huttleston has chosen to call a halt to this unproductive county land speculation.