I posted on ibratt, a couple days ago under the title “Taking a Deep Breath” a recommendation to the Selectboard that it might be wiser and simpler, and probably get their budget passed at this point, to remove the $261,000 for the project and let it go at that. Altho, to be sure, it is the project that has pushed the budget over the top and catalyzed the vote the overarching issue is the full spectrum of low income, high taxes, insufficient livable wage jobs…the stress and strains of a bad economy with a bleak future. Slicing and dicing the budget may save a hundred or hundred and fifty bucks a year but worsens our daily living experience without at all addressing the underlying causes. The defeat of the first budget has made a very loud noise. It reverberated throughout the Selectboard, the Administration and the entire town. In fact, a good part of the state as well.
Members of the Selectboard were already overreacting. The noise that was made was so loud they didn’t know which way to turn. It isn’t even clear to them exactly where it came from. Under those circumstances it is only normal that at first there will be confusion and a tendency for overreaction. Imagine yourself walking nonchalantly along a familiar street on a sunny day and suddenly there is a sound louder than a clap of thunder. Where did it come from? What is it? What do you do?
Continued loud noise, that is, too much relentless pressure, may not get us started down the right path. It may lead to regrettable decisions on everyone’s part. I’m counting on what I have learned: that following such a strong action it is good to step back, have forebearance and patience, be co-operative and work together to solve the problems.
It’s going to take a community effort to tackle the issues behind this budget ordeal. In a sense the Selectboard is like the Chair of the community. It needs to organize and mobilize but it will get absolutely nowhere without the co-operation of the community and the community will not get far without the co-operation of the Selectboard. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
We need to deliberately develop leadership. Leadership must be a satisfying and rewarding endeavor If not the Selectboard will be the same revolving door. Every year or two we simply change the names and faces with similar people and the same modus operandi. Every year we remain on the same track of steady decline. Recall the old saw about the absurdity of doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results.
A lot of talk now is about budget cuts. Allow me to cast in a different direction:
Pass a Charter amendment to create all three year terms for Selectboard. (only one or two change in any year)
Pass an ordinance requiring employers of Selectboard members to provide two hours leave per week during normal work hours.
Increase Selectboard stipend another thousand, from three to four thousand per year.
Sweeten the Town Manager’s salary and put out a job description asking for a person not just capable of administration but with a vision and skills to pursue a vision.
I'm not sure we should be
I’m not sure we should be advocating for higher salaries/stipends at a time when the Selectboard is suggesting ( or threatening – depending on how you interpret it) to abolish 2 full time positions at the library( which will result in reduced library hours)and funding cuts to parks and recreation among others. I understand your point about looking to the future and stronger, more creative leadership but I don’t think increasing salaries right now is the way to do. A little like rewarding a job poorly done. Let the Selectboard come up with better solutions for our budget crisis that don’t include knee- jerk reactions to cut programs and then, in the future perhaps the town could look at whether or not pay increases are in order.
In support of Spoon's suggestions
I support what Spoon wrote. I agree that we need to start looking at changes to our structures and our processes, and I don’t interpret his post as advocating for a higher salary or stipends for the town manager and SB, respectively, in the near future. The budget issue needs immediate attention, but I read the”different direction” remarks as a long-term process. His suggestions are ones — but not the only ones — that should be considered once we’re beyond the budget issue. Other ideas I’d like to see on the table are doing away with representative town meeting, re-considering a mayor and town counsel, and researching whether there are different governance structures being used effectively in other communities similar to Brattleboro.
And while I don’t believe that Spoon’s suggesting an immediate raise for TM, one take away from the informational meeting I attended at the Oak Grove School prior to the referendum vote was that the candidate to whom the job was offered declined because of the pay. To Spoon’s point, if we want highly-skilled, qualified TM candidates, it’s not unreasonable to consider better compensation, particularly if we want a dynamic, experienced and visionary town manager.
I’d like to be clear: the situation we find ourselves in isn’t going to be solved simply by throwing more money at town leadership. Neither is it going to be “fixed” in some band-aided, short-term fashion. The only way to get us moving in a different, better direction is to take a long, hard, thoughtful look at ourself and make some difficult decisions—decisions that will involve change, which seems to be something this town is very reluctant to embrace.
Agree with KAlden
I agree that the town manager’s salary is already quite sufficient IMO. Whether or not it is appropriate for the selectboard to give itself a pay raise I can’t say, but I do know how it will be viewed by the residents of the town, given their mood about the town government and spending right now.
I also disagree that we should merely scrap the second bond and proceed with business as usual. IMO this budget rejection was about unsustainable high tax rates in general, not *just* the police and fire project (though that likely was the proverbial straw).
I sympathize with your sentiment against poorly thought out knee-jerk cuts, but at the same time an abundance of caution may result in a “business as usual after a bump” attitude whereas this could and should be an opportunity to address deeper systemic issues.
I agree with several of your
I agree with several of your observations here, Spoon. However, good leadership listens to and engages those they lead. Good leadership does not often walk along nonchalantly on that same familiar street, totally unaware. The unexpected can throw any good leader into a sudden tailspin. However, as you seem to be saying, the current debacle is like so many other debacles that we continue to find ourselves in; it has a very clear and accessible history that includes the leadership not listening to the larger community, one that extends beyond the same old actors and voices.
Like other issues that have become spectacle, and wasted precious time, money, and good intent of community members, the leaders don’t seem to be asking, “What could go wrong with our decision and proposed plans? Who are potential opponents? Why do they oppose? Do they have the resources to derail our efforts? How” ?
The larger important questions are: What exactly is the modus operandi you identify as a problem? What sustains this troublesome modus operandi continues to result in the same steady state of decline in the town, year after year? The larger economy seems an all too common and convenient reference. Then there is the problematic notion of “community” in the town. Difficult to foster in a culture (not simply a political system) that shuts people down. Seems to me two very important characteristics of effective leadership also need to be considered, even before sound vision; they are, charisma and trust. That’s where leadership begins, I think.
Town Leadership--Why would anyone do it?
So why don’t charismatic people who we all trust run for office in this town? Could it be that serving on the Select Board is such a daunting task that few would ever find this type of “leadership” in any way rewarding? Is there some deeper problem in the political culture here?
It is way easier to post opinions than to actually take action in the world. Mr Agave was the Chair of the Charter Review Committee a year or two ago. If it was easy to make change happen, all his ideas to improve the lot of Select Board members, or to change the governance structure here would be implemented by now. As chair of the Town Finance Committee, that body could have pushed for things like raising the Select board pay in the last budget.
I wish everyone who reads and posts on iBratt would consider running for office, serving on committees and getting the work of town governance done. It the test of all the good ideas posted here.
Indeed
Being a member of the Selectboard IS a daunting task. Until now I have been the only one willing to point that out. Now you. Thank you.
It also can be very rewarding. It should be. Mostly it isn’t. Try to get a member or former member to talk about that.
I did try for three year terms on the Charter revision. The Commission thought it too radical. We did agree to propose two year terms. RTM declined.
You are sensing correctly that there is “some deeper problem in the political culture here.” It’s hard to talk about because bringing problems out creates an obligation to change.
Charisma can be beneficial in a leadership role but needs to be a minor characteristic. It suggests following emotions rather than what is well researched, thought out and rational.
Town Not Big Enough For All To Serve
iBrattleboro has a large number of users that are active on boards and committees, and has seen a large number of folks go on to be board members. The list really is too long to write out here. I hope we’ll see more in the future, too.
“Everyone” is a pretty steep wish, though. Perhaps you are thinking of specific individuals.
I’m not sure we have as many positions in town as we have contributors to the site. We often have more people on here participating at a given moment than attend most meetings. As I type this, 46 people are here. (Close to 4,000 people have registered to share news and info over the last decade+, and we have over 30,000 unique readers each month).
I think there’s nothing wrong with contributing a point of view to other citizens and trying to gauge support before trying it out in a bigger arena. A letter to the editor can evolve into attending meetings and eventually serving. I’ve seen in numerous times with writers here (dog shooting at Green St being an excellent example of comment – attend – run – serve – change!).
One more aspect to this – not all folks here are mobile or able to go to meetings. A fair proportion of readers and writers are elderly or on disability.
But, overall, I agree that it is good to go get involved. There’s the old joke about someone cursing God over and over about never winning the lottery. God says “Meet me halfway… buy a ticket.” : )
" Is there some deeper problem in the political culture here?"
The elephant is up on two legs, trunk blaring…The emperor is on the parade route… Can the SB sort it all out in executive session?
People will not come to serve if they see their neighbors and friends burned over and over, and are made to feel pressure to play a role of complicity in a play they don’t believe in.
The matter before us is bigger than the P&F imbroglio. Looking at the Brattleboro Defense budget very seriously makes good sense, yet IMHO, in this case the devil isn’t in the details, it’s in the big picture.
Cut access to even one book, or one quiet hour, for one person… or delay by one day the skatepark long sought by so many..this is not a place I would want to call my home.
Agree with several of the
Agree with several of the points made here. First, it’s always nice to see new blood and faces participate and bring their voice and views. But let’s not assume they will survive. And, like cgrotke notes, there are many ways to participate and many reasons more people do not and cannot, or are not as visible as sitting on formal bodies. When we moved here, we jumped right in. However, for newbies in town, it can quickly become clear how unattractive participation in “local” politics, processes, and planning can be. None-the-less, we found there are many ways to continue to participate, support, and shape the town. Those should be identified and talked about as much as official committee and board work in town governance, lest we confuse those with effective leadership and the ability to move forward.
Clearly charisma is not the most important characteristic in leadership outcomes. I would, however, argue that trust is. But charisma’s role has been analyzed in leadership qualities literature for many decades and should not be minimized. We should not confuse leadership with desired political and policy outcomes, which only effective leadership can produce.
Charisma and trust are critical in getting people to follow. I think this is often the rub here in town, particularly whenever an agenda depends heavily on public approval. I also think there is an argument in here that what is well researched, thought out, and rational is secondary in effective leadership. The examples are nearly endless (e.g., global warming, animal abuse, myriad “smart” politicians who fail to lead vs. charismatic ones – or charismatic ones who also do their homework). We quickly evolved from an agrarian society to an ambitious capitalist class based society that often purchased the “intelligentsia” for purposes of technocratic control. That contributed to fostering anti-intellectualism and distrust of self-serving “big thinkers” who often can’t see the forest for the trees. That is, in addition to committee and board work, big thoughts, theories, science, and rationality often witness increasing social and planetary mayhem.
Perceptions of the followers matter significantly (who are as much emotion as they are intellect). Without charisma and trust in leadership, persuasion is unlikely.