Windham: Closing Down Transparency,
Part 2 0f 3
In 2009, then state representativeWalter Pawelkiwicz concluded a speech for a Main Street substance abuse center dedication with these words: "Windham, may be the the second poorest town in Connecticut, but we have heart."
Part 2 0f 3
Going through Town Council minutes on the Windham web site proves interesting. Sixty two meetings, 124 opportunities to speak ( 9- 21- 2009 to 12-. 6- 2011). Public hearings not included. The findings:
- Total comments: 605
- Early comments: 391 (2/3)
- Late comments: 224 (1/3)
- Most comments: July 20, 2010, 54 first comment session, 10 second comment session
- Heavy participation always occurred during the first comment session when controversial items were on the agenda: union issues, ballroom naming, drinking in town hall, wrestling club, Card Street, senior citizens issues, magnet school concerns.
- Budget season 2011 saw a reversal in public comment. More people spoke during the second comment session.
- Budget season 2010, near equal citizen participation.
"We were finding that it was the same people coming to speak twice,” those councilors voting to eliminate the second comment period claimed. “This will encourage people to focus on what they have to say.” In fact:
- (Nov. 2009-Dec. 2011), 81 citizens took advantage of both the first and second comment period at least once. Familiar names such as Stone, Santucci, Lary, Crane, DeVivo, Hoxie, Niles, Galucci, Fantolli, Montalovo, Veins, D'Auteille, Millard, Giordano, O'Brian, Jeffers, Doyle, Council members Iazetta & Underwood (who voted to elimanate the second public comment,) and Quercas.
- Of the 81citizens speaking twice, 64 offered different subject matter during late comment.
- 14 contributor's repeated themselves to some degree.
- Three speakers definitely repeated themselves.
The most recent buzz at town hall is adding a third polling place. Windham's voting results have sunk to embarrassing levels. The November 2011 municipal elections saw a turnout of less than 15% ... Budget referendums, even less. Our authorities say the convenience factor is a detriment to voter turnout.
But, convenience has little to do with voter turnout:
- Poverty and voter turnout go hand in hand. As poverty rates increase, voter turnout descends. When you don't know where tonight's supper will come from or how your fuel bill will be paid, voting is quite trivial.
- When government shuts down citizen participation and stymies public engagement government suffers.
- When government becomes hearing-impaired and forgets how they got where they are ...When government considers their position a God-given right ... ... we are on the brink of government breakdown and moral bankruptcy.
Maybe someday a third polling place will be required, but first our councilors must change their tune. The town council should offer citizens increased -- not fewer -- opportunities to participate in policy-making and to provide town government with the benefits of their collective expertise and information. Public engagement enhances government's effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions.
Government must be tuned toward a bi-lingual format. We are currently shutting out hundreds of voters and potential leaders.
For once politicians must serve the town first, not their party. Our government cannot withstand power plays. Yes, we know that one party controls town government, they always have.
Heart ain't going to do it, nor is closed government going to solve Windham's problems:
- We need leaders with integrity and intellectual honesty.
- We need politicians who respect their political opponents, treat their constituents like adults, and promote openness and transparency in government.
- We need leaders with compelling ideas -- and the ability and vision to turn those ideas into action.
- We need leaders who can see beyond the next election cycle and who have the political courage to lay the foundation for Windham's future success -- even if it means making unpopular decisions today.
- We need leaders who are willing to work with those from across the aisle to get things done.
- Most importantly we look for men and women who are not afraid to challenge their party’s leadership when that leadership is putting politics and partisan mudslinging above what’s best for us all.
And so, Councilmen Krich, DeVivo, Underwood, Kevin Donahue, Rivera, Christel Donahue and Iazzetta ... when did it happen?
When did you grow too big and stop caring about the people who elected you? When did you see them as a herd of the needy that comes to you to find purpose in life? Oh come on, if you keep up this attitude, the herds of people will soon start disappearing. And what are you without your little people ? Who will consider you the authority that you pretend to be if there is nobody to listen to you?
Listen to us. Respect us. We'll do the same.
Tomorrow, Part 3 of 3
Tomorrow, Part 3 of 3
