In regards to Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht’s state of the town address: We taxpayers believe that the operating staff – those who collect the garbage, pick up the leaves, run the sewer plants, treat our water, issue permits, police the streets and guard against fire – deserve to be complimented for a job well done in 2012.

We think they are the best, not only in North Carolina but probably in the whole U.S. We marvel at how smoothly the operating staff continues to function even when faced with yearly increases in population.

Regrettably, the non-operating staff and elected officials made a number of decisions that saddled the town with millions in unnecessary expenditures and possibly besmirched our town’s reputation. Some examples:

•  Installed wireless water meters at a cost of $18.9 million. Alternate, often-used meters would have cost less.

•  Approved expenditure of $25 million to install equipment at New Hill plant based on technology which failed in a demonstration unit in Minnesota.

•  Received low bid of $6 million, more than original estimates, for a downtown theater.

•  Approved spending $250,000 for video and newspaper advertising to promote an $80 million bond issue with knowledge that such action may fail legal test

We find it difficult to agree with any of the above decisions. Some have suggested that the town has placed “innovation” as its No. 1 priority. Others believe the town has adopted an attitude of superiority. Some say our ego is getting in the way.

Ray Czarnecki

Cary