Letter: Thoughts on ethical governance and Dock Square (Printed Dec. 21, 2007)
Editor:
Great! A refreshing step in the right direction was proposed by Barbara Rencurrel during the Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen meeting Dec. 13, and with due credit to her and Peter Sargent along with their working group and the collaborative contributions by our Town Manager, Larry Mead. Thanks much!
The proposal suggests that the responsibility for ethical governance should lie within the board and amongst selectmen, individually and separately, where it should be. And it recognizes that selectmen have responsibility for the greater good of the broader community when faced with actions that are even perceptively in conflict with self interests.
The chairman of the board is to be credited for his supportive dialogue on this matter at the time.
Now it is up to the voters to see to it that only the best in our community, of which most are, are accorded responsible roles within our community by appointment or election.
And thank you to Barbara, Peter Sargent, Larry and the working group, for a fresh start in proposing that we let time prove the effectiveness of their proposal.
Young folks in this community take notice of this lesson in civics! You are the “grass roots” for future leadership in our town.
On a related matter, I would ask that the issue concerning the use of the funds in the Dock Square shuttle and parking system account be re-addressed by the current chairman. In a previous letter to the editor, I pointed out that the use of this revenue is NOT intended for “tourism or tourist related” matters. The origin of this misconception appears to be by a previous board chairman in the town’s annual report of 2006. “ . . . with income generated being intended for use on tourism related items such as sidewalks and bathroom,” page 61, though it may have even preceded this. The words “tourist” and “tourism related” do not even appear in the Dock Square shuttle and parking ordinance.
The discretional use of these funds, other than for operational expenses, lies with the voters at town meeting. It is their sole and exclusive prerogative.
Closure to this matter lies with clarification by the current chairman. We are dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds here. No small matter!
John L. Haggerty,
Kennebunkport
Great! A refreshing step in the right direction was proposed by Barbara Rencurrel during the Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen meeting Dec. 13, and with due credit to her and Peter Sargent along with their working group and the collaborative contributions by our Town Manager, Larry Mead. Thanks much!
The proposal suggests that the responsibility for ethical governance should lie within the board and amongst selectmen, individually and separately, where it should be. And it recognizes that selectmen have responsibility for the greater good of the broader community when faced with actions that are even perceptively in conflict with self interests.
The chairman of the board is to be credited for his supportive dialogue on this matter at the time.
Now it is up to the voters to see to it that only the best in our community, of which most are, are accorded responsible roles within our community by appointment or election.
And thank you to Barbara, Peter Sargent, Larry and the working group, for a fresh start in proposing that we let time prove the effectiveness of their proposal.
Young folks in this community take notice of this lesson in civics! You are the “grass roots” for future leadership in our town.
On a related matter, I would ask that the issue concerning the use of the funds in the Dock Square shuttle and parking system account be re-addressed by the current chairman. In a previous letter to the editor, I pointed out that the use of this revenue is NOT intended for “tourism or tourist related” matters. The origin of this misconception appears to be by a previous board chairman in the town’s annual report of 2006. “ . . . with income generated being intended for use on tourism related items such as sidewalks and bathroom,” page 61, though it may have even preceded this. The words “tourist” and “tourism related” do not even appear in the Dock Square shuttle and parking ordinance.
The discretional use of these funds, other than for operational expenses, lies with the voters at town meeting. It is their sole and exclusive prerogative.
Closure to this matter lies with clarification by the current chairman. We are dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds here. No small matter!
John L. Haggerty,
Kennebunkport
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