Editor,

I read Suzan Getchell-Wallace's informative guest perspective in the Feb. 23 edition of the Daily Journal regarding the city of Belmont's consideration for requiring all homes in Belmont to have the sewer lateral inspected, repaired and/or replaced prior to transfer of ownership.

If the City Council and staff of Belmont want to upgrade our vital infrastructure, they should be embarking on a long-term capital improvement project that encompasses all aspects of the system; i.e. sewer treatment plant and all the peripherals which includes the sewer laterals. Our decaying sewer system in Belmont has been talked about for many years with no comprehensive community wide plan. That in and of itself is shameful.

But let's talk about what's really driving this nonsense. The City Council knows when someone sells their home in Belmont; most likely they are leaving the area and will no longer be a Belmont voter and therefore will not be a political problem or political challenger.

The notion of requiring sewer lateral inspections and replacements at a time of sale is a shortsighted and piecemeal approach and is an act of political cowardice. Citizens of Belmont deserve better.

Sandra Jean Schneider

Belmont