Good morning blog readers! Well, the election is over and the dust hasn’t quite settled, but it looks like the results I put out last night will stand.
I am so proud that the residents of Vernon selected me to be their Chairman. Next Tuesday, 4/12 is the annual meeting. Please come and show your support when I’m sworn in!
My victory is a little bittersweet for me. I’m disappointed that Marilyn Gauger and Diane Herried were not selected to join me. Both of them are hard working, honest people and both would have made excellent supervisors. That being said, I’m sure that as chairman of this board, I will be able to work with all of the supervisors to continue the work of running this community and continuing to look for ways for our community to do more with less and to keep our tax rate under control.
As I’ve said before, Tom Bird and Bill Craig are hard working public servants who are doing their best to achieve the same goals we all have: have the best services, maintain a rural community and do so at a reasonable tax rate. I will be happy to serve with them! They were selected by the community just like I was, and we will work together based on the guidance of the community! It is so important that as a resident you come to the annual meeting next Tuesday, 4/12 and offer that guidance. That is your chance to voice your opinion about what is important to you and offer the town board guidance on how you would like these important issues handled. This board will take your requests for action seriously!
So, as we get down to work, stay tuned to this blog. I will continue to use this as a forum to gather ideas, comments and thoughts from residents so that your board will best serve you!
In summary, I’m excited, but apprehensive about this new role for me. I don’t want to let you down! I will do everything I can to perform to your expectations. One thing you’ll get from me for certain: you’ll get my honest opinion and straight forward approach to the issues. You will not get disrespect or dismissal. If I disagree with you, I can still be your friend and neighbor!
Regards,
Mike Doble
Chairman Elect
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
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Contempt for town citizens
ReplyDeletePosted: Aug. 31, 2010
It's one of the oldest tenets of democracy: Good government starts with openness.
If government is to be by the people, for the people and of the people, the people have to be kept informed. It is the people's government. They pay for it. They elect the representatives to watch out for their interests. When government keeps secrets, it is us, the people, who suffer. Nothing is more sacred to accountability than a government that answers to the citizens.
The Town of Vernon's recent decision to meet in secret with a consultant to review recommendation for how to proceed with the Fire Department violated this provision on two points. Town officials deliberately meet in small groups in an apparent attempt to avoid the open meetings law so they would not have to declare a quorum. They also used the guise of calling the report a "draft" as an apparent attempt to circumvent the open records law.
Yes, they did so on the advice of counsel, but the court precedents in this case are clear. This type of behavior is not allowed by state statutes.
But let's set aside the letter of the law. The spirit of the law is clear behind open government. What purpose was served in withholding this information and holding secret meetings until the Mukwonago Chief brought this to light? What else goes on that none of us knows about if this behavior is allowed to happen?
We don't think the people on the Town Board are bad people. But they need to know the authority that is vested in them comes from the citizens. We want to know about the information. We want to know how they feel about it. We want to be aware of the discussions. We want to be part of the dialogue. We want to have an impact in the discussion before it is preordained.
The advice of legal counsel is valuable, but it is in the end just advice. Ultimately, decisions rest with elected officials who are charged with acting in the best interest of town residents and in accordance with state law. We hope that in the future Town Board members act with respect for the people who put them in their positions: town citizens.
I think this is why you have chosen to become Town Chair and I look forward to the changes that you hope to bring.
I won't let you down!
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteI wrote a comment last Friday morning, after attending the Town Board meeting, Thursday night.
Dave Nowicki suggested the Town, hold two open houses for the Big Bend people, to come and see how well The Vernon Fire Dept. is doing.
He suggessted serving wine and also lunch of some sort, which would ONLY cost about $300. to $400.00 dollars, where is the money suppossed to come from.
Secondly, he serverd on the fire commission for a period of time , that I also was on the Commission.
Does't he remember the Fire Dept. people that are on call or serving our community, aren't even suppossed to have a sip of wine when they receive communion, at their church, if they are on call.
I beleive there shouldn't be any wine or alcohol there, if they go ahead with this.
Also , I feel it is not necessary to hold another open house, if they wanted to come when we had open house, they could have.
Also i beleive , The OPEN HOUSE, could have waited, and a notice put in the news letter that will be coming out this week or so. Instead of spending over $2000.00 on mailing that one sheet of paper, for open house.
Also, there were three people who were at that meeting, I talked to them after the meeting, I didn't know who they were prior to the meeting.
They said they couldn't beleive how RUDE, Supervisop Bird was to Supervisor Singert, for asking a question in regards to reimbersment from the State, to the Fire Dept., for assisting at calls on the Highways.
I think the previous ,existing board members should treat others with respect, the same way they would like to be treated.
Thank You, for listing to me.
Shirley Goff