February 26, 2009
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
My name is Dr. Reverend Melinda
Pillsbury Arnold. I am a psychotherapist with a specialty in the
treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I am a native of
Connecticut, growing to adulthood on a farm which experienced snow
fall routinely. For twenty years I lived in New Mexico at an
elevation of 7,000 feet where I dealt with snow under different
conditions, those being mountainous. In each environment I
personally dealt with snow removal both as a driver, walking, and
contracting for services those conditions necessitate.
I attest to the truth of the facts and
events I relay here.
I had occasion to visit a cousin,
Melinda Pillsbury-Foster, with whom I had been in correspondence
regarding a project undertaken to provide treatment for Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. While staying with her I experienced and
witnessed the snow removal techniques provided by the Cedar Slope
Mutual Water Company through their agent, Ed Black.
While anyone familiar with snow knows
that snow will compact to black ice if it is compressed Black's
routine was to pile snow up on the road so that this is exactly what
took place. The areas where this was most likely to take place were
those where the road was steepest, making walking difficult for a
normal healthy individual and impossible for Arthur Foster,
Pillsbury-Foster's son. Arthur Foster is severely disabled from a
brain injury and has only partial use of his limbs making the
conditions hazardous in the extreme.
I also observed that Black routinely
ran his removal equipment as far on the other side of her road as
possible, touching the opposite drive way to leave her the necessity
of digging her way out half way into the road. On my frequent walks
I noticed that in other locations Black went straight down the middle
of the road.
These observations were made after
Black had cleared the road on several occasions. I also had the
opportunity to observe Black working and provide these useful photos
to explain what he is doing that is also counter productive if the
intention is actually snow removal and not harassment, which I
believe to be the more likely scenario.
Notice in photo No. 1 that the blade
does not lie flat. This was not an occasional happenstance but a
constant condition probably resulting in sloppy maintenance. The
blade is outdated and should be replaced. Black often raised the
blade, especially in the areas that were steepest, so that the blade
was often six – eight inches above the ground, leaving a depth of
snow to be compressed into black ice.
Notice the thick pad of snow ready to
be compressed into black ice on this critical turn.
I also observed Black with a
companion, both of them on quads, with a small blade further
compressing the snow while doing little removal and drinking beer and
throwing the cans out on the still snowy road and onto the properties
using the road.
I hope these observations prove useful.
If you have any questions you can contact me at:
415-438-xxxx or at
this email address. rubyshoesmelinda@xxxxxxxxxx.nnn
I am presently in Arizona, anticipating a trip to Washington DC.
Melinda Pillsbury Arnold -S-
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