A constituent sent me an email. He complained about the "informal, buddy-to-buddy, first name basis by which the selectmen and other boards and committees conduct their business." He went on to say, "It not only gives the appearance of insider advantage, it reinforces the suspicions of preferential treatment."
Recently, a columnist in a local paper raised the specter of 'good ol' boy politics' in the context of now-former Constable George Morse's appointment. This, and the constituent's "buddy-to-buddy" and "preferential treatment" comments got me thinking...Who are the 'good ol' boys'?
Shortly after my election, one local paper opined, "As one member of a five-member board, the only way to accomplish anything is to form alliances." In other words, if I wanted to get things done, I had to 'play ball'. Presumably with the 'good ol' boys.'
Some might think of the 'good ol' boys' as being a network of people; you are either a part of this network or you are not. After a year in office, I prefer my constituent's (inadvertent) definition, "insider advantage". It is not about being part of the 'in' crowd, rather it is about exerting, or having someone exert, undue influence. It is about doing things behind closed doors. It is about leaving the public in the dark.
During the past year, an applicant for a town commission was interviewed by the selectmen. The applicant and some of the selectmen addressed each other by first names. Some selectmen didn't even ask questions, and one stated, "We know your parents." There was no prior announcement that this individual would be interviewed for this position, so the public had no opportunity to comment.
A business requested and received a sign variance. However, the only hardship - a prerequisite for the variance - is a company policy which requires a minimum size for signs. A size that happens to be larger than what the town bylaw allows.
The selectmen devoted just 30 minutes at one meeting for discussion and approval of the annual budget. Attempts to dig into the details of the budget were met with accusations of "micromanagement." Later, taxpayers learn that a branch library in the least affluent village in town would get its hours cut by 50 to 100 percent more than the branches in other villages.
Whether intentional or accidental, these incidents scream of insider advantage. Was the applicant appointed because they knew the selectmen? Did the business get the variance because someone was willing to look the other way? Was the budget discussion curtailed because someone didn't want the public to know about the cuts?
The fact of the matter is that even if there was no insider advantage, there was not enough transparency. That leads to suggestions of favoritism, and allegations that the 'good ol' boys' are at it again.
3 comments:
According to George Kennedy, Paul Newman was a "Good'Ol Boy" in Cool Hand Luke. As I recall, for Paul Newman anyway, that movie ended badly.
I know the selectmen are not all getting along right now, but something has to be done immediately about the troubling allegations involving the town manager. How can this man sit in judgement of Off. Gonsalves when he's facing his own allegations regarding his professional conduct? The selectmen need to reign in this problem before it blows sky-high. What's with this new police chief anyway? I thought he was doing a good job. Seems like Cusolito part 2 is going on in the police department.
This is a campaign perpetrated by the usual suspects. Virginia Valiella waited 2 years to be cleared to apply for public position. They are vile and self-aggrandizing. No town-owned bogs, no affordable housing in the self-over-developed village of Woods Hole. Newset idiot Frietag is a puppet ( because who would elect her based on any research?) Politics as usual.
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