As a resident of Holly Springs, I read with trepidation Town Councilman Hank Dickson’s reply to Tracey Goodwin’s Letter to the Editor. Mrs. Goodwin’s letter brought to light the exclusion of local designers for bids to redesign the town’s Web site.

Dickson, after stating, “She (Ms. Goodwin) was critical of the Holly Springs Town Council for not considering local firms for the town’s Web site redesign project,” went on to postulate that local companies were excluded because those companies did not note on their Web sites experience with municipalities. It appears that the council failed to consider transferable skills. Designing a site for a municipality is no different than designing one for any other company. It is comparable to taking management skills learned in a for-profit corporation and using them to guide a municipality.

In trying times such as these, seeking the best and most cost-effective talent, regardless of the field in which it was developed, is good business. It would be incredulous to think Councilman Dickson could not continue to serve the town effectively as it grows because his resume lists no experience with larger municipalities. Likewise, talented local Web designers could have effectively enhanced the Holly Springs Web site — perhaps even for less money.

Of course, we will never know. Excluding Mr. DeBenedetto, the Council justified its vote against local talent.

J. C. Hines, Holly Springs