Public Perception

I'm not sure who Bill is, but in a response to my post Nick said Bill's comment was "self serving."

The post in question was labeled as an "Announcement," but I probably should've labeled it an "Issue" as it was the Selectmen's agenda for October 1.

The first item on that agenda was a continued dog hearing for Brian O'Toole. This was the fourth such hearing for Mr. O'Toole in three months, and it reinforced a common complaint - that the selectmen spend more time on dog hearings than other, more important issues.

Selectman Carey Murphy once told me that, "Perception often trumps reality." If we accept Selectman Murphy's logic, it doesn't matter whether there is truth to the complaint. The public perceives that the selectmen spend too much time on dog hearings, therefore the selectmen do, even if they don't.

Changing perception can be difficult, but it begins by accepting that the perception is there and then altering the situation. If the selectmen want the public to believe that they actually do something besides hold dog hearings, a good start would be to limit such hearings to one night. Not only does continuing something over and over again - as they did with Mr. O'Toole - do nothing for the public, it does nothing for the selectmen.

A better idea would be to discontinue such hearings altogether. After all, isn't that why we pay for a dog officer?