The
Gray Town Council is taking some well-deserved heat
from its citizens lately, in no small part due to
the imperious attitude of its Chair, Pam Wilkinson.
Ms. Wilkinson's commitment to her town is undeniable,
having served in volunteer or elected capacity for
much of her adult life. It is gratifying to see an
elected official who is so dedicated.
However it is also undeniable that when one lives,
works, and volunteers in the same town for so many
years that the tendency is to lose perspective and
to become proprietary. With so much dedicated energy
directed toward town undertakings, and so much involvement
and investment in one's ideas, it is a small step
to start wandering off the path of consensus and to
begin making decisions on one's own, showing signs
of an "I know best" attitude.
Ms. Wilkinson's missteps lately have been many- several
executive session discussions that did not need to
take place in private, a refusal to answer media and
citizen questions clearly and simply, a denial of
a request for a public document, disregard for peers
in failure to disseminate information to them in a
timely way, and a maverick concession to a long-time
resident regarding zoning in the physical presence
of others who had asked for but did not receive the
same treatment.
It is always helpful to step back and remember that
although the Chair is the traditional person in charge
of any governing board, ultimately the Chair is one
of five, and serves at the will and pleasure of the
people. We ask the Chair to please remove the blinders
and take out the ear plugs and see the other four
and the many who are willing and eager to be part
of what could be a fruitful process.
