Town Responses to Facility Updates Lacking

By Erika Higgins, Orange Resident

For five years, I have consistently raised concerns regarding the condition, safety, accessibility and long-term cost of neglecting key town facilities in Orange. These efforts have been rooted in civic responsibility, fiscal prudence and a sincere desire to see our town move forward rather than continue to defer known issues.

I have brought forward documented safety concerns, accessibility challenges affecting residents with disabilities and information regarding potential grants that could have helped offset taxpayer costs. I have also advocated for responsible use of municipal bonding – an established and commonly used tool that allows towns to fund capital improvements over time while avoiding the compounding expense of delay.

I understand how bonding works, including voter approval, debt service and long-term planning, and I have approached these discussions thoughtfully and in good faith.

Unfortunately, rather than engaging substantively with these issues, the response from town leadership has too often been to dismiss, minimize or question my understanding and intentions. Repeatedly challenging someone’s intelligence or motives does not move a community forward, nor does it address the underlying problems that continue to grow more expensive with each passing year.

My decision to run for the Board of Selectmen was not driven by personal ambition, but by frustration with inaction. Leadership should be measured not by tenure, but by results. When the same issues persist year after year – while costs rise and facilities deteriorate – it is reasonable for residents to ask whether a more proactive approach is needed.

I do not view raising concerns as being adversarial. I view it as caring deeply about Orange and believing that our town deserves facilities, infrastructure and public spaces we can be proud of rather than continually apologizing for. Asking questions, presenting information and advocating for solutions are not acts of obstruction; they are the foundation of accountable local government.

I remain committed to respectful, constructive dialogue and to working toward practical solutions that serve the best interests of Orange and its residents. My hope is that future conversations focus less on questioning individuals and more on addressing the longstanding issues we have been discussing for years.

This letter to the editor originally appeared in the Milford-Orange Times, February 12, 2026.