When the development company BACAS says they want to have bridal showers, birthday parties and funerals at the proposed event center at the Sacred Heart Church, don’t be fooled.

BACAS gave one view to the Planning Board. When they OK’d it with restrictions, Jennifer Bergeron, representing BACAS, said she would rather plead her case before the City Council, where she has friends. At this meeting, she painted a very different picture: late night events, live music, alcohol and, please, board members, no closing times. She was upset that they restricted closing times to 11 p.m. and midnight.

The offer by BACAS to purchase Sacred Heart is not an altruistic motive to “save the church.” It’s to make money, primarily from alcohol sales. At a June Council meeting, BACAS also admitted the purchase was to block any attempt to provide much-needed housing for the elderly there, as an alternative.

I don’t blame BACAS/Jennifer Bergeron — she’s a businesswoman always looking at the bottom line. But city councilors— shame on you for putting the needs of a developer well and truly ahead of the needs of a community trying to preserve their peaceful, quiet residential neighborhood.

Shirley Shepherd

Waterville