A Time for Action

After the March 2012 election, in a spirit of cooperation and constructive action, we made the decision to suspend the Ashland Speaks Blog and Coalition for Action.  I have personally refrained from making comments at the Board of Select meetings, despite many concerns, that might in any way seem controversial.  I told Jeanette Stewart on the night of election (where she had defeated me in my bid) that I would work with her.  I watched and waited for the creation of the Capital Improvement Plan committee (promised by Ms. Stewart during the campaign and voted for in the election), which was delayed for four months after the election.  I still wait for the promised economic development committee, also promised by Ms. Stewart.  I listened to her at the first Board of Select meeting after the election as she announced that there would be no discussion of “history” because there were too many important matters to attend to going forward.  I have now observed more than nine months of meetings waiting to hear discussion about any of those “important” issues.  Alas, now we are in a position of being banned from making any comments at the BOS meetings. 

To be sure, we have been told that we can submit comments and questions two weeks in advance of the next meeting.  I suppose that legally, the Board can make this decision.  But, even if the issues are addressed, there is absolutely no opportunity for discussion in real time.  I can envision a scenario whereby one comment addressed two weeks after submission will lead to a new comment addressed two weeks after that, and so on, leading to endless discussion.  Is this efficient?  So where do we go from here.  I submit that in a truly democratic society, the public’s voice must be heard.  The Ashland Speaks blog is just such an avenue.

The Ashland Coalition for Action was established for the express purpose, among others, to create transparency in local government.  I’m sorry to say that to date we have failed.  In light of recent actions, it is time to renew that purpose.

Fran Newton