By Jarret Liotta
WESTPORT — You’d think with all the money we have in our community we could simply hire the best elected officials to serve us — perhaps out of a catalogue — but unfortunately it’s not the case.
Instead, many of us will go to the polls Tuesday to make a decision as to who we think is the best choice. We’ll never agree and whoever gets chosen is going to start disappointing many of us simply by accepting the position.
At the very least, however, we’ll hopefully all get “I Voted!” stickers before they run out this time.
Unfortunately again, it’s a shame there aren’t a greater number of competitive races going on in Westport to at least offer choices, motivate candidates to differentiate themselves, and of course make Election Night more fun to follow.
Instead, please note both the stark commentary on people’s reticence to step out of the shadows (so to speak) to get actively involved, and a worthy tangible commendation for those who quite kindly and enthusiastically give their time, sweat, and in some cases even hair to elected office.
Harrington, That’s He
There’s been no shortage of Republicans lambasting Robert Harrington this weekend following his eleventh-hour lambasting of the GOP.
I won’t speculate on motives, personalities, relationships, nor even the content of Harrington’s claims.
I do, however, celebrate someone speaking up, out and over the usual line of party conformity.
In this age of ridiculously close-mouthed representation — and perpetually paranoid people in all walks of life too scared to say anything beyond the most synthetically staged kaka — (Wait! Can I say “kaka?”) — it’s refreshing to get a whiff of unfiltered smoke, wherever it ends up blowing.
My hope is Harrington will be as outspoken about the school administration and their practices when he takes his seat on the Board of Ed.
Choice Endorsements
While it’s traditional for news outlets to endorse at least a top-office candidate, this year I’m choosing not to run my mouth. I sincerely feel that with this first selectperson race, Westport has a wealth of riches between the two major party candidates; whoever gets in is going to bring significant experience and intelligence, and I’ll cross my fingers that they lead the electorate with care, compassion and forthright integrity.
I will share, however, a few things I’d like to see the new first person do after taking office. I won’t expect them to get to everything in their first 100 days, but there’s no reason these items can’t be considered, investigated or completed in the first season of their benign tyranny.
Open Town Hall!
For starters, open Town Hall already. Stop stopping visitors at the front desk with a security guard. Unlock the back door and let in some light!
There is no good, honest reason that I’ve been told why this was ever implemented and it’s very distasteful. That used to be a public building and now it’s not.
If the occupants are facing some sort of weird jeopardy by working there — risking their lives or something — please, let’s get to the bottom of it. Otherwise, enough fear mongering already!
It’s all too bizarre and some would even speculate stinks of outright Marxism! (Wait! Can I say “Marxism?”)
Where The Sidewalks End
Next, I really don’t know why it’s so hard to put in sidewalks — even the crappy kind, which are better than nothing.
Rather than a beautification day or another ceremony, we should all get rakes and shovels and spend a Saturday making some sidewalks, especially along some of the ridiculous high-speed thoroughfares — Compo Road North, Roseville Road, Bayberry Lane, Greens Farms Road, Wilton Road, Coleytown Road, etc. — none of which, bizarrely, even after so many decades, have any …
I mean, WTF?!
I don’t care if some are state roads. The DOT won’t even notice anyway, as its attention remains focused on union concerns relating to doughnut consumption.
Let’s just put the damn things in. Who’s gonna stop us?!
Communication Breakdown
Next, several departments under the auspices of the first selectperson’s office should be given clear, step-by-step instruction on communication — the importance and necessary value of returning phone calls, responding to emails and providing public info (and not just for the honest hard-working reporters doing their best to serve the town).
Perhaps it’s something they just don’t understand or know about, so let’s devote some quality training time to enlightening them as to its importance, and as to the fact that it is part of their job …
Uh, Can We Get An Answer, Please? …
Speaking of departments, some serious accusations have been made against one department, per the third-party candidate, but the public is yet to hear any explanation or answers about it …
Is it true? Has it been investigated? Is the new first selectperson going to give us an answer? A verdict?
“No comment” and “No comment” and “I have nothing to say” thus far have added up to nothing in relation to some serious accusations …
I, for one, would just like to know a simple answer … How about it, new First Person?
Things’ll Be Great When You’re Downtown
I’ve long wondered why we don’t ban cars from downtown, at least throughout Parker-Harding Plaza and around Jesup Green.
I suspect that if cars are banned, they’ll park somewhere else — the Imperial Lot, for instance — and everyone will survive.
Perhaps if we can make it just a little less convenient, maybe they’ll start walking to town instead of driving (using those great new sidewalks we built on Saturday!) … or maybe they’ll just stay home and give more focused attention to their gardens, their families, and those great little puzzles where you have to roll the tiny metal balls into the holes. (Wait! Can I say … Oh, never mind!).
Either way, it wouldn’t be a great loss for anyone. And with the additional space in Parker-Harding, we could put in more of those super-size trash compactors, which I know are a draw for many people.
All Hallow’s Eve
And finally, here’s hoping you had a safe and fruitful Halloween … We’ll hope the days ahead are nowhere near as scary!
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Thank you Jarret and Doug and all the Journal staff for providing this forum. Now it’s all about our Democracy and moving forward after tomorrow.
When the RTM voted on Nov. 10, 2020, to approve funding for Covid-19 and security upgrades for Town Hall, we were in the midst of the pandemic. It is a year later.
If the Westport Library, also a public building and with four entrances, has open access with a simple “Masks Required” sign, so can Town Hall.
Open Town Hall! Now! Today! Before Tuesday, when Election Day Registration is permitted inside Town Hall.
I always welcome the editorial words of The Westport Journal. The above is no exception.
You are certainly correct Town Hall has been barricaded for too long. Speaking of Qualified candidates Westport needs the experience of Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore as Selectman and the P & Z badly needs the addition of former commissioner Jack Whittle. His experience and knowledge will be of great benefit.
Our Town has misplaced something invaluable: Community awareness, community engagement, community responsibility, community control over its governance, and community control of its destiny – i.e community self-determination.
Because so few citizens have been historically engaged and watching, and because there is no consistent meaningful mechanism for residents to enforce Town responsibility and accountability, Town impositions continue.
As a community we are not without fault – for numerous valid reasons we have abdicated our responsibility to be consistently engaged, informed, and proactively desirous of directing the Town’s course. Town Hall is quite fine with that.
I understand the meaning of a “Representative” Democracy. I understand that elected officials are entrusted to act as surrogates of their constituents. However that does not provide elected officials license to act in opposition to the constituents will – and this doesn’t translate well to powerful non-elected Town officials appointed by the Selectperson rather than by the people.
BoF Chair Brian Stern has wisely offered the following litmus test for granting approvals:
1. Can the Town afford it
2. Is there adequate and appropriate value for the price being paid
3. IS IT WHAT THE TOWN RESIDENTS WANT
If only Mr. Stern, and our other Town decision-makers, adhered to his own litmus test.
While 1 & 2 might be currently quantifiable, the most important item 3 seems inconsequential to their approvals. It is either unsolicited, or often ignored.
Cases in point:
An insipid generic white “W” became Westport’s “Face to the World, replacing our unique, historical, meaningful, cherished minuteman emblem.
Marijuana establishment approval was granted prior to having verifiable ingredient testing, approved dosing recommendations, established treatment efficacies, Federal approval or police testing capability.
$510,000 appropriation of taxpayer earnings to “further improve” a postage stamp park that due to its inherent restrictions, traffic concerns and peripheral location few residents will utilize, while admitting the goal is NOT to create a “destination”
A dilapidated dangerous Compo Beach Skatepark knowingly continues to place its users at risk.
Under the auspices of the P&R department, and despite having a quality rehabilitation plan since 2015, for over six years the Baron’s South has languished overgrown from intentional neglect.
$1.1 Million dollars of taxpayer earnings was spent to construct three toilet rooms at Compo’s South Beach resulting in an inefficient, ineffective, and inherently dangerous facility whereby physically handicapped persons cannot independently enter, and anyone fallen within will lay unnoticed.
Westport Resident desires and priorities must take center stage. The electorate must hold whoever our new leadership becomes, held accountable to Mr. Stern’s ignored litmus test.
In addition:
1. Town residents deserve a process that ensures an item of interest or concern has full access to the relevant department’s agenda. The RTM uses a twenty resident or 2 RTM member petition procedure. The PRC currently has no such resident capability.
2. The entirety of ALL Town meetings should be archived, including advisory committees. IF video is unavailable, at a minimum an audio recording should be archived for residents to reference at will.
3. Westport needs a non-partisan, transparent and effective process whereby public concerns, requests and complaints can be presented, heard, and adjudicated in a fair, non-partisan, impartial fashion. Restricting such to our fine Police Department, while leaving Town Officials unbeholden to identical scrutiny and oversight, is suspect and not in the best interest of Westport’s residents.
4. Minutes of meetings should be accurate and complete.
Despite Westport’s informative website our Town officials have been notably complicit in keeping its citizenry at arms length by failing to maximize informational technology that could meaningfully guide their decision-making.
To maximize resident availability to participate, the Town Charter requires most consequential meetings to be held preferentially in the evening. P&Z Commissioner Cammeyer’s comment that he’d rather use his “lunch break” for meetings rather than sacrificing evening time from family directly violates the Town Charter’s intention. It is shocking that the current P&Z commissioners would even presume that employed residents are equally capable of dedicating hours from work as they are in order to meet their preferred meeting timeframe – and using “funny” isolated anecdotal “attendance numbers” to support their contention is notable.
Closed door decisions, agendas designed and controlled by the few, visions created by a handful with power, crony influences, impositions devoid of meaningful community consultation or acknowledgment, intentional “benign neglect”, and an absent means for effective citizen oversight to ensure both responsibility and accountability of Town officials, need to be effectively addressed and remediated. Enough is enough.
An election is soon upon us – and these undesirable, significantly detrimental activities, deserve substantial and meaningful attention. Whoever wins this election should be pressed for a plan for rectification. Collectively, we have the awesome responsibility, the obligation, to return what’s been misplaced; to ourselves for ourselves, for our future residents, for our entire Westport community.
Elections have consequences beyond the “feel good” self-congratulatory sensation of fulfilling our duty when exiting the polls. In actuality that responsibility does not end at the ballot box – there it only begins, and too often where abdication commences.
Thanks for the entertaining editorial comment. As for the long distance parking, I’m all for it, and I walk with a cane.
Jo Ann Davidson