GilfordGrok

To the Editor, GilfordGrok,

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The counter claims regarding the actual goings on in the Gilford budget committee meetings are quite a stretch from reality. The letter writer who described some of the budget committee meeting antics was very accurate.  Unfortunately, he gets way off an important message when he makes claims of what might happen if a Gilford emergency should occur. I’m confident that those meetings have nothing to do with the job performance of Gilford’s dedicated town employees. Those kinds of attacks are not only baseless and uncalled for but unfortunately detract from the point he’s trying to make.

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As a casual observer, it is easy to understand all sides of this issue. The budget committee meetings are more like department meetings that occur in most corporations. I think Chairman Dick Hickok runs things that way because he comes from a corporate background. Quite frankly it is very interactive and for the most part productive. It only gets dicey if the “experts” are questioned and some of their arguments aren’t holding water. We can all well imagine how we’d feel if we were sitting in our company’s board meetings as the directors were discussing cutting the money that we feel maintains the quality of our job performance or affects the salary and benefits that feed our families. I can honestly say that I’d be whispering an interesting conversation with my fellow employees sitting next to me in such a meeting. Most companies don’t invite employees to those meetings and we simply get the results in our pay checks.

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Public business is different and all the residents are welcome to attend budget meetings, including town employees. In Gilford, employees are welcome to attend and their input can be very valuable. In one meeting a budget committee member was reminded by a town employee that a generator wasn’t solely used to back up computer systems but was also used to supply emergency power to the school because it’s a designated emergency shelter. There were a few immature snickers from some attendees, whispering accusations about the budget committee member’s competence, but that was ignored and the information was welcomed toward a critical budget vote. Setting aside the snickering comments, this informational dialogue is how it’s supposed to work. Budget committee members hear the department budgets defended by the department heads and make common sense evaluations based on the information received. When differing opinions arise, a debate is heard and decisions are made based on the discussion.

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In the case of the fire truck, we heard from two experts with differing opinions, nothing more. I detected no personal hatred or agendas and both men gave exceptionally well pointed arguments. I personally would have voted to support Chief Hayes because his reasoning carried more weight with me. Keep in mind that I grew up with a fire fighting dad and spent most of my life around fire fighters. That doesn’t mean that I think anything less of Mr. McDevitt or the people that voted the other way, win or lose, that’s democracy.

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We should consider ourselves lucky as a community to have so many passionately engaged members of the community willing to be a part of the governing process. The only problem that I’ve witnessed is the negative reaction, by some, to being questioned or even challenged. Gilford is a close community in which everyone cherishes our town employees and unfortunately they are held to a higher standard whether they are in uniform or not. I understand the emotional connection to the budget process but the reality of the situation is how it is reflected in the public’s eye.

Fortunately, I was one of only a few non employees or elected officials in attendance to witness these proceedings. The heckling comments from some of the attendees and tone of some of the presenters, though I understand them, were the very cause of “certain” budget committee member’s reactions. If Gilford had televised hearings we could all bear witness to see who really needs to change their tone. It’s obvious that we aren’t going to be hearing any public apologies any time soon.

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Sadly, it appears we are going to see a continued barrage of letters and accusations from those who wish to smear the messenger as opposed to debate the important issues. This is usually the case when questionable spending requests can’t be intellectually defended. It would be a pleasant change if those attendees and budget presenters would take a long look in the mirror to assess their own behavior instead of blindly throwing rocks at the budget committee.

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Understanding this political landscape, I feel it necessary to throw my hat in the ring to run for the Gilford Budget Committee. Recognizing that I can separate the fiction from reality, I believe the wisdom of the voters will elect me to serve them. Your comments are welcome, email: tstewart [type "at" symbol] Lr.net 

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Terry Stewart – Budget Committee Candidate 2007
Gilford, NH