An open letter to the people of Dover:
Shocked. Insulted. Sad. And overwhelmingly embarrassed.
Those were my feelings after attending the Dover Board of Selectmen’s meeting on June 22nd. This particular meeting was held to discuss several funding proposals of the Dover Economic Development Committee. What transpired was a blatant display of rudeness, disrespect, lack of knowledge, and close-mindedness. I was embarrassed that our townspeople had elected this board and have allowed them to function with no behavioral accountability whatsoever.
I am not writing this to advocate for the DEDC or the local option tax. I am writing this because our town government is broken. Our selectboard has shown no leadership or direction. In the time since the local option tax was approved, the selectboard has exhibited a hostility toward the DEDC and its work that is simply inexcusable. The selectboard members are tasked with acting in the interest of the townspeople, who definitively supported the option tax at town meeting. This was not the first contentious meeting between the selectboard and the DEDC. Yet this last meeting was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.
Instead of asking questions of the experts in the room, selectboard members made erroneous and ignorant declarations, such as mountain bikers don’t bring families. Instead of showing a cooperative spirit, they confronted volunteers and attendees. Instead of respect, they were rude. Instead of acknowledging the judgment of dedicated citizens, they second-guessed them at every step. Instead of debate, there was intimidation.
In the last several days, the DEDC staff person and two DEDC core committee members have resigned. I find it impossible to believe that this is a coincidence.
We deserve better. We deserve accountability. We deserve transparency. We deserve professionalism.
Perhaps it is time that we consider a town manager form of government. We are a small town with big potential. In Vermont, a town manager’s responsibility is determined by statute. With selectboard oversight, the town manager would review finances and budgets, manage the staff, liaise with area boards and committees, and prepare the selectboard for decision-making. While having a town manager will not prevent poor behavior on the part of our elected officials, it will provide consistency and professionalism that is clearly lacking right now.
About 25 people attended the June 22nd meeting. That means over 900 Dover voters are unaware of the embarrassing manner in which our selectboard conducts themselves. Please, go to meetings. Listen to the tapes. Ask questions. Run for office. Let’s get back on track.
Meri Spicer
Dover
It has gotten to the point where good, intelligent hardworking people feel their efforts are in vain due to the overwhelming negativity certain selectboard members. Our towns most valuable asset is its people but if a few sticks in the mud are allowed to stymie their efforts the whole town is harmed.