Apathy on the Run
As some have heard, I am ending my tenure on the Holliston FinCom. I must say that I am stunned and extremely disappointed to learn that no one has filed to run for any of the 3 positions open on the Finance Committee. This is appalling.
Over the years I have heard people in town meeting and elsewhere talk about “term limits”, “old boy’s networks”, complaints about taxes, spending and the like. It’s all part of the job. To be honest I actually enjoy discussing these things with people who are informed, committed and engaged. I love this town and appreciate it when people care enough to commit to making things better. That is why for 15 years I decided to try and do what I could to help out.
You would think with all of this supposed complaining that there would be a huge line to take these open seats. No one has stepped forward. Why? We have 14,000 people in this town; surely someone cares enough to donate a little time to understand how it all works and keep a watchful eye on finances. There should dozens of people in a town this size looking to do this.
Here are some disturbing facts. Most times we have a problem raising 100 people for a second night of town meeting. The first night is no great turn out either, unless some emotional issue is involved. Our May town meeting is when the budget is vetted and approved. If there is any meeting that should have a large attendance it is that one. Most times there is more debate on zoning issues than the one on the budget. What “debate” there is comes from some people who are ill informed and wouldn’t recognize any facts unless they coincide with their preconceived notions.
The Finance Committee rarely, if ever, has more than one member of the public at our budget hearings. These are all posted and open to the public. If you have questions on the budget that is the place to start. I have said this both privately and publically many times over. Alas, nothing changes. It appears that most people are very content to let us handle things until we gather at Town Meeting. Then things turn nasty.
That is not to say there say there are no committed or thoughtful citizens who have real questions and will understand when they are presented with cold hard facts. There are. There are many more of them then those that are uniformed. However, the bombast created against anyone that works for the town (be it paid or unpaid) makes it a lot more difficult to do the job.
That may be part of the reason that no one has bothered running. There is a new atmosphere of contempt and ridicule for elected officials that is not only unwarranted but destructive to the overall process. Callous and reckless accusations; assumptions about what people know or care about without ever bothering to look at the facts occur too often. If people attended meetings and understood what is going on they would know how lucky we are to live in Holliston.
This town is run mostly by elected boards that take little or no money. Every single person that serves deserves recognition and the thanks of the community. We are all citizens and taxpayers and care deeply about how life functions here. If we didn’t we wouldn’t invest our free time to do this. This is not meant to be self-serving and has nothing to do with me or my tenure. Its more about the other remaining officials that will no doubt have to face the same unholy wrath of others that often have no facts, only opinions.
It really has been my pleasure to serve with some very dedicated public officials over the years, especially our Town Administrator, Paul LeBeau. Without his willingness, hard work and assistance the amount of effort required to accomplish much of what we do would be daunting. I would like to thank him for all his help over the years.
In closing here is my to challenge to every citizen; do something for the town. Contribute some time or money to the things that make this a great place to live. Run for office; don’t leave important decisions in the hands of others only to complain about them. The only way to maintain Holliston is when we take ownership and control our destiny. Do something!
Mark Schultz, Member of the Holliston Finance Committee 1995-1998, 2000-2012
Schucon@aol.com
Mr. Dowd cant run for it because he is too busy writing articles and making comments on how others should run, and make decisions for the town
Bob | 2012-04-19 23:09:57
Well Mr. Dowd why don't you run for the FinCom?
sally | 2012-04-18 12:09:00
I too feel sad that so few people are willing to step up to the plate and participate in local government, in elected or appointed office. There seems to be such a growing anti-government attitude in this country over the last several years.
Warren Chamberlain | 2012-04-18 10:27:22
Thank you Mark for your many years of dedicated service to the Town. You and I don't agree on much, but you were one of the few who would at least reply to the many questions and suggestions I posed to the FinCom. And I fully agree that folks who choose to stay away from the facts until Town Meeting and then rise to complain have limited credibility. That's why I've made it a priority to attend as many Selectmen, FinCom and School Committee meetings I could over the past year. I don't claim to know as much as those inside the process, but it has been very educational and I look forward to Town Meeting. I was reassured to see that your rant against those who criticize Town Officials - in whose company I place myself - was directed to those who are not well informed. Yes, the FinCom is volunteers, and yes, you put in many hours and late nights. But that does not put you beyond challenge by someone who has taken the time to learn and investigate the issues. I have tried to do that. Along the way, I've made some very troubling discoveries about what's really going on and how the "system" is just not functioning properly to address them. Long ignored retiree health benefit liabilities, union contract provisions, numerous non-union jobs whose pay is controlled outside the by-law, incomplete cost allocations for fee based services, random and wasteful stipends for certain elected officials. I too am hopeful that good people will step forward to take on these and so many other important issues. Thank you again Mark!
Bill Dowd | 2012-04-18 10:10:06