I looked up the definition of milquetoast, and guess whose picture I found?
Gilford Board of Selectmen (GG file photo)
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The FreeDictionary.com defines milquetoast as:
One who has a meek, timid, unassertive nature.
And so it goes for our selectmen, chronically unable to make decisions, always looking instead to punt. "Elect us," they say, "but let the cup of hard decisions not pass our lips." Thus it is with the latest item to come knocking on their door: the request by the budget committee to publish the salaries and benefits costs of all municipal employees in the town's annual report. Rather than take a position, they have instead decided to simply ignore the letter. This way, by the time they decide, if they ever do, it will be too late to make it to this year's book. How convenient!
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The Citizen had a story today that pretty much sums it up:
The topic did not appear on the Selectmen's agenda and Grant declined to bring it up as an issue when given the chance.
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"If I don't have to talk about it, I'm not going to," said Grant.
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"We don't have to do anything (with their request)," said Boucher, leaning toward Grant.
Our town desperately needs somebody to run for Selectmen to provide some badly needed leadership. One way, or another. Remember, this is the same bunch that voted to meet in the evenings, but don't.
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"Not doing anything" is what they do best!
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[UPDATE] I received a rather nasty email from one of the selectmen disputing my take on this. As I told the person, unless the meetings are at night, I generally cannot attend. Therefore, I must rely on the newspaper reporting. I checked with the reporter who wrote the story and he stands by it. The selectman insists that the salary printing discussion WILL take place in a timely fashion, with enough time for inclusion in this year's Annual Report. I hope that happens, and they prove my contention above wrong. I'll gladly eat crow if I am...
