Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Monday, January 31, 2000 Page: 8A
I have just returned from witnessing the worst example of local govern
ment in action. The Kingston Township supervisors’ reorganization meeting was
sad, hilarious, inept, scripted and was saved from being a complete disaster
by the good humor and erudition of the township solicitor.
The old board majority demonstrated their inbred monopoly of power and
resistance to change. The committee assignments were decided well ahead of the
meeting and froze out the newly elected supervisor who had obtained 400 more
votes than anyone else on the board.
It was quite obvious to all who attended that one of the supervisors forgot
his script and was lost during discussion on board liaison positions to
committee assignments. The newly elected chairperson demonstrated his lack of
understanding of parliamentary procedure and the simplest understanding of
Robert’s Rules of Order by declaring each motion made as “passed” even
before any votes were taken.
I assume the old board majority was confident of their three votes to
ignore the newly inaugurated board member who requested a board liaison
position which was different from the prepared script. The position which he
requested was one for which he was eminently qualified, after serving 30 years
in a position which gave him both practical knowledge and expertise in that
subject. However, the old board majority of three, minus one supervisor who
was home ill, illustrated its arrogance and unresponsiveness by plodding on
with the prepared script.
I would respectfully suggest to the residents and citizens of Kingston
Township to begin attending the Board of Supervisors meetings which are held
every second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the township building to
view for themselves the staged nature of the proceedings and take back their
government from an entrenched group of retirees.
J. Carl Goodwin
Trucksville