To the Editor:

On a recent morning jog through Community Park, I saw five large trucks belonging to our Public Works Department parked smack in the middle of the path through the park, unoccupied. What was particularly irksome, however, is that every single one of them had the engine running, belching exhaust and burning tax dollars, as the crews idled nearby chatting before starting their workday.

In this age of acute sensitivity to climate change, shouldn’t we make it mandatory to turn off fossil-fuel-emitting machines owned by the town when they are not in use? And that goes for the government carts, cars, and trucks that idle endlessly in the center of town as well. In a community that regulates shrubs and jogging, we should also make it a priority to minimize government exhaust.

Scott Sipprelle

Hodge Road