Published in the Asbury Park Press
An Asbury Park Press editorial
United Water Toms River should reconsider its decision to stop attending the monthly meetings of the Citizens Action Committee on Childhood Cancer Cluster. A company spokesman said its representatives have been asked questions for which they cannot provide immediate answers. That's nothing shameful, and certainly should not be used as an excuse to avoid the meetings.
The utility's insistence that it receive any questions a week or more in advance of the meetings is no more reasonable than the expectation that its representatives should be able to answer every question on the spot.
United Water's attendance serves the utility as well as the public. It gives company officials a heads-up on rumors and allows them to respond to unfounded fears with facts. Their participation reminds the public that they, too, have a major stake in trying to pinpoint any common factors in the incidences of childhood cancer in United Water's service area.
Their absence can do nothing but raise suspicions. Too many people have been conditioned to conclude that when a company appears to close the lines of communications, it has something to hide.
By and large, United Water has been forthcoming in answering questions about the water supply since questions arose about cancer cases in Toms River. With the results of studies still to come, now is no time for the utility to reverse course.
Its representatives have a right to be treated with courtesy at the monthly meetings. If the questions become accusatory, the citizens committee chairwoman should remind those attending that United Water is not on trial. Rather, its participation in the meetings has shown the company's ongoing good faith in getting to the bottom of the problem.
The reservoir of good relations built up between the committee and United Water over the past three years could be drained quickly if the company chooses not to show up at the meetings.
Source: Asbury Park Press
Published: August 13, 1999
|
