Mar 24, 2008
Wilton Bulletin Editorial: Who's the boss?
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Members of the Board of Selectmen and other town officials would do well to remember that when it comes to the decisions of the town, they are not in charge.
Wilton residents are.
As a system where the governing authority is the Annual Town Meeting, the power is in the people’s hands.
Limited authority is granted to our elected officials — volunteers all save one — who are entrusted with doing the people’s work and putting the town’s interests first. Foremost in the ability of this system to work is an open and transparent government, one where all decisions are made above-board and in public.
The selectmen’s vote on Monday night — using secret ballots to choose nine of 12 candidates for the charter commission — was in clear violation of the rules. While it may be able to be fixed with a certification process from the town clerk, or more likely with a revote in public at a future meeting, the fact remains that the selectmen, all of the selectmen, put expediency and comfort ahead of process.
The argument is that to publicly debate the merits of each nominee would be to possibly embarrass those who had willingly stepped forward to serve. That’s understandable. Volunteers are far too rare these days, and a protracted, divisive argument over this one’s experience or that one’s political bent might discourage others from stepping forward in the future.
But, folks, that’s politics. People have opinions and agendas, and if someone isn’t able to stand up to public scrutiny in the nominating process, how can they be expected to make the tough, often unpopular calls when deciding the town’s future?
Then we come to the issue of partisanship.
It is claimed fervently by one side, the Democrats, that the election of the commission’s chair, Mr. Russell, a Republican and former first selectman, was politically motivated and smacks of partisan politics. On the other side, the Republicans claim with equal force that there was no political motive whatsoever.
The question is: What’s wrong with partisanship?
Particularly in this case, when speaking of the charter — the town’s Constitution — it is to be expected that there will be differing views on the subject. People and political parties are allowed to disagree. But when they skirt the issue, and don’t honestly and openly discuss the reason for their leaning, that is when politics get ugly.
The main reason behind the fight between the two parties on this vote really stems from an argument over whether the town needs a professional manager.
For the Democrats, the argument is that a town manager — who would replace the first selectman in running the day-to-day workings of the town — would bring experience and efficiency to town government and remove the learning curve each new elected leader has to overcome. Let the Board of Selectmen decide the broad brush strokes, the philosophy of the town, similar to the way the Board of Education guides the superintendent in his handling of school matters, they say.
On the other side, the Republicans argue that the chief officer of the town should always be an elected official, accountable to the voters. Another reason for the party’s opposition is that a town manager would add a salary cost to the budget.
But here’s another way to look at the dispute.
The Republicans have had a stranglehold on power in town for more than three decades. Giving up the town’s top post might diminish their influence over town affairs.
Likewise, the Democrats have not held the top spot since 1975, they didn’t even run a candidate for 20 years, and removing a Republican from the highest office could strengthen their power.
But why did this happen? Why are town leaders making decisions and casting votes without justifying them to the public, or offering only partial responses?
The simple answer is: We allowed them to think that they could.
When only 11% of voters turn out to vote on the town budget, when night after night the public meetings are missing the “public” element they were designed for in the first place, our officials get the message loud and clear.
We the people have abdicated our responsibility to govern ourselves, so why shouldn’t they take over?
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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