The resolution passed in March that called for a referendum to decide the status of the Highway Superintendent position was official town business. The motion passed and so became an authorized act of our Town government, which then has the duty to carry it out according to the law. This was not done, for reasons that appear to stem from the appalling level of mistrust and animosity among our elected representatives. Whoever was supposed to carry out some simple town business failed to do so, and the accusations have been flying ever since.

Where does the buck stop in Wawarsing? Town Supervisor James Doloway has a broad range of powers and duties. As the highest elected official the ultimate responsibility lies with him, no matter what the customary or expected procedures are. A true leader would apologize for a mistake that occurred on his watch, declare it will not happen again and make sure that it doesn't. A man more concerned with political bickering and scoring points will point fingers and say, in essence, “it's not my job”.

Mr. Gavaris seems to believe his primary role as a Board member is to subvert the established powers of more senior Town officials, with either aggressive parliamentary procedures or ill-considered attempts to change the structure of government itself. Regardless of the specifics of who is elected and who is appointed, only trust and compromise will allow a group to operate effectively. He does not act as if he understands this most basic fact, and his belligerent tactics have created an environment where cooperation is virtually impossible.

Stepping back from the personalities, we see the same perennial problems. Our town has no discernable plan for economic development, no new initiatives to bring people or business to the area, no program for the hundreds of workers recently laid off from Hydro or the countless others from past layoffs, no approach to deal with empty commercial spaces, decaying infrastructure and eroding tax base. The primary concern of our elected officials is to nurse petty resentments and one-up one another with grandstanding and obstinate behavior.

This is not leadership. This is junior high school. This descent into accusations and bureaucratic incompetence is not new for our current collection of leaders. We had hoped that after the embarrassing display last fall, and the outcry that followed, our representatives would get the message and start governing again. Alas, our hopes were premature. The level of dysfunction seems terminal. The voters need to speak next fall and tell them that we will not stand for it any longer. We need a leadership that works together and solves the problems of our town, not create new ones. Regardless of party affiliation, personal acquaintance, or just force of habit, the decision in November is simple and direct: vote for public servants, not politicians.

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