Editorial

CEDC =

Community Economic Discouragement Committee

Asking the Community Economic Development Committee to investigate what may be contributing to the town's regulatory quagmire is like asking the blind to lead the blind. How can a group of people so mired in negativity and myopic, insular and xenophobic attitudes views possibly contribute to an objective investigation of haywire procedures in any meaningful way? Answer: they can't.

The Town Council has been asking local businesses and developers to speak up regarding their experiences in getting permits and projects completed in Gray. A few have spoken openly and the ball is rolling for a wider exploration of where the process may be broken. The Ordinance Review Committee has recommended that they be allowed to review, and rewrite where necessary, the Town's ordinances. The Council accepted that request and a three-month deadline was proffered.

In addition, the Council has asked the CEDC to review the issue. It was a well-intentioned request, but I am not hopeful that the product, if the Committee even completes one, will be useful.

In many years of observing this committee, I have never seen a completed initiative emerge from their efforts. I've never heard a positive comment. I haven't seen quality work come out of their discussions. Their meetings are usually either social in nature or extended gripe sessions. They are disorganized. They are distinctly unwelcoming of new people and ideas, further cementing the fact that few would want to be part of such an atmosphere and thus the insularity tightens. It's a downward cycle and the CEDC has hit bottom.

At meetings, the Committee members repeat one mantra, and it's negative. Statements such as "We tried that," "We don't get support," "That's not our purview," "We haven't been successful," We have no clear charge from the Council." They ridicule the Council, calling them kids, and then spend meeting time discussing how the media portrays them. Worse, they make these embarrassing statements in the presence of media, State Representatives, their own Councilors, and invited and honored guests. Oy.

It was stated by an attorney with expertise in land use and real estate that regulatory quagmires are common. When quagmires emerge, places to look include Code Enforcement, Manager, and Planner, as well as the Boards that have judicial authority. At the December meeting, Chair Julie Sheets stated flatly that she has no intention of investigating the Planning Board. And with the Planner sitting right next to them and as their self-stated "funnel into the economic community," it is equally unlikely they will investigate his potential part in the problem. Finally, with every negative comment they make about their Council, they temper it with a positive statement about the Manager, so it is just as unlikely they will review any part the Manager plays in the problem. And given their tragic lack of self-reflective abilities, they won't investigate themselves. Oy.

It's good that the Council is asking their volunteers to participate in real work that might help the community. However, the problem is a wider one than just the CEDC's charge to look into any regulatory quagmires. It's this: when you have a group of people who are part of the problem, who have demonstrated that they not interested in working with the Council for the betterment of the community, are actually actively hindering its progress, and are an embarrassment to boot: how do you fire them? Does the Council need to accept their poor attitude and obstructionist ways just because they are warm bodies?

My recommendation is to sweep the committee clean, let it rest, and start over with some people that have an interest in serving the community in a positive and more professional manner. This includes the Council-liaison, who has missed two of the last three meetings. What you have on your hands, Council, is a failed committee. And that is part of the quagmire.