I thought it an appropriate time to remind those who know me and inform those that don't why I participate in town government and how that affects my decision making process.
As a member of the Open Space Committee I became involved with a group of neighbors who had concerns about the town-sponsored project to develop the Cook Estate. We were dismissed by Town Hall as Nimbys and as bored & disgruntled housewives with nothing better to do with their time. After all, we were just unknown citizens. How could we have valid positions? How could we be taken seriously? We weren't. The result: the town spent upwards of $800,000 pursuing an ill-fated project.
My point is to illustrate how important it is for those of us in Town Hall to have open minds and listen to the concerns and opinions of the citizens we were elected/appointed to represent.
Yes, we are the leaders and we have to show leadership. Yes, we are privy to information they are not. No, we are not smarter or better.
We do The People's Business. It should be incumbent on each of us to listen, seriously consider the input and objectively determine if and how it should impact our final decision. It's humbling but sometimes The People really do have a point. Sometimes they don't. It's our duty to determine the difference.
My first night as selectman I vowed never to forget how it felt to be on the other side of the desk. I haven't. If I ever do, please smack me upside the head.
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