As an only occasional listserv reader, I've been a little late to pick up on the various controversies animating this Wednesday's Selectboard Meeting. After doing some homework, I will post on a few of the issues at play, but want to start here by stating my own position.
Like Ed Childs, I also believe our current Town Manager is "the best Town Manager that Norwich has had." As I've said before, I think he's demonstrated real bureaucratic genius and shown he's very adept at working with state and federal resources for the benefit of the town where he puts his mind to it. There's no question the documentation and reporting coming from the various departments and his office are far superior to what we've had in the past. As a tool and resource for better Selectboard decision-making, this town manager is really in a different class from what we've seen in this position in the past. That's not to slag previous town managers, but this one really lives and breathes this stuff.
Unfortunately, events this summer raise real questions about whether our current TM has the political compass and sense of his role to survive in this post for long. For all his administrative capabilities, we're seeing a worrying pattern of really questionable turf struggles with the Selectboard that will eventually make this TM's position untenable. I'll briefly summarize a few of the most recent ones in separate posts, but want to express my own hope that our Selectboard members take more seriously the need to honestly and openly address the respective roles of TM and SB before misunderstandings and turf battles ruin the relationship. (If you want the long version of this concern, written back in April 2012, go here.
Equally unfortunate, I'm afraid, is our human tendency to gloss over the failings of our allies and overstate those of our opponents. It is not unreasonable for a TM and SB majority to disagree on all sorts of things. The real feat is to balance the political and representational responsibilities of SB members with the administrative responsibilities of a TM and to restore that balance -- for the good of the Town -- when it slips.
Here, I disagree with Ed Childs' view that a capable TM "deserves full support and respect from our elected representatives and the community." Respect is a courtesy which runs both ways. Abiding respect is earned. If the dialogue between SB and TM is getting frayed once more, it's a mistake to imagine it's all one side's fault. "Full support" is a fairy tale. At worst, it's elected officials giving an appointed town employee carte blanche. At best, it's willful denial this same appointed town employee won't do anything that riles up the electorate.
So, here's hoping our elected representatives on the Selectboard and their appointed administrative head can honestly and constructively work their way through these latest points of friction. In that effort, I can agree, both parties deserve our full support.
Like Ed Childs, I also believe our current Town Manager is "the best Town Manager that Norwich has had." As I've said before, I think he's demonstrated real bureaucratic genius and shown he's very adept at working with state and federal resources for the benefit of the town where he puts his mind to it. There's no question the documentation and reporting coming from the various departments and his office are far superior to what we've had in the past. As a tool and resource for better Selectboard decision-making, this town manager is really in a different class from what we've seen in this position in the past. That's not to slag previous town managers, but this one really lives and breathes this stuff.
Unfortunately, events this summer raise real questions about whether our current TM has the political compass and sense of his role to survive in this post for long. For all his administrative capabilities, we're seeing a worrying pattern of really questionable turf struggles with the Selectboard that will eventually make this TM's position untenable. I'll briefly summarize a few of the most recent ones in separate posts, but want to express my own hope that our Selectboard members take more seriously the need to honestly and openly address the respective roles of TM and SB before misunderstandings and turf battles ruin the relationship. (If you want the long version of this concern, written back in April 2012, go here.
Equally unfortunate, I'm afraid, is our human tendency to gloss over the failings of our allies and overstate those of our opponents. It is not unreasonable for a TM and SB majority to disagree on all sorts of things. The real feat is to balance the political and representational responsibilities of SB members with the administrative responsibilities of a TM and to restore that balance -- for the good of the Town -- when it slips.
Here, I disagree with Ed Childs' view that a capable TM "deserves full support and respect from our elected representatives and the community." Respect is a courtesy which runs both ways. Abiding respect is earned. If the dialogue between SB and TM is getting frayed once more, it's a mistake to imagine it's all one side's fault. "Full support" is a fairy tale. At worst, it's elected officials giving an appointed town employee carte blanche. At best, it's willful denial this same appointed town employee won't do anything that riles up the electorate.
So, here's hoping our elected representatives on the Selectboard and their appointed administrative head can honestly and constructively work their way through these latest points of friction. In that effort, I can agree, both parties deserve our full support.
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