Tuesday. Garbage day again, and recycling

Toast time, as it it has been done.  Our neighboring community, the Town of Acushnet by a vote of 125 to 37 voted to petition the legislature to abolish its elected board of public works.  

Acushnet has a population of 10,303 according to the 2010 U.S. Census.  It has an open town meeting format.  

According to the article in The Standard Times today, a special town meeting was called as a result of a petition signed by 271 people at which 162 people showed up to a special town meeting to do away with the elected board.

First and foremost, note that I am NOT being critical of the vote or action.  Acushnet and its residents are entitled to run the Town as they see fit.  It is their town. 

Besides, I really cannot disagree with the end result.  My point more specifically is about the open town meeting format.  Anyway ...

In Fairhaven, you will see a "discussion" of sorts take place about doing the same come Thursday. According to the agendas on the town website our very own elected BPW meets with the Town Government Study Committee, presumably to discuss it part the DOR recommendation.

Here is the linchpin to that recommendation. A town administrator.  If you want a town administrator, to be able to act as a town administrator, and still want an elected Board of Public Works, you are going to have to give a heck of a lot more than you take or maintain would be more appropriate I suppose.

The concept of a town administrator revolves around a chain of authority.

The little twist in the debate, at least as I see it, is the argument some make that what we have works, so why change it.  Why is that a twist?  Because it isn't what we have that makes it work, it is who we have.

Indeed from a purely observational point of view, it would be extremely entertaining to watch and see the events play out after our present Executive Secretary retires and how events unfold absent any real change.  

If you are involved in town matters to any degree, I ask you to sit back, think for a moment or two, seriously think, about what is going on, what you like and don't like, what gets done and doesn't, maybe put some thought into just how it gets done, and then take a look at the town code for the current position, and then tell me how you expect someone new to come in and take over. Being totally honest by the way in making that assessment based on what you know.

Convince me that the status quo is the way to go. 

There will come a time and a place to address the pros and cons of any recommendation.  Of course we have to wait for the recommendation.  Until then, just listen to the arguments.  The pros and the cons.  For every good reason honestly search for the counter.  When you are done, no matter what side you are on, weigh them up.  

Does the good outweigh the bad? At some point, you are going to have to answer that.

Until that time ...

Be safe.