Letter to the Editor: 05.23.2025

May 23, 2025

To the Editor:

I read Joe Pawlak's letter in the May 22 edition of the Town Times with fond recollection of the way things were.  He served as Chairman of the Town Council after the Democrats won the election of 2005. His party attained the majority having beaten us Republicans who had been in control since 2001. I'd like to take a walk with you down memory lane and remind all our citizens what happened in 2002 after the swearing-in ceremony.

Public Participation at the Council meetings was a standard agenda item, scheduled to occur at the beginning of the meeting. We Republicans thought we would establish a second Public Participation agenda item for the end of the meetings. lf you’ve been following this issue currently you already know the reason. We did that and thought we were doing something really good. Back then we actually encouraged our citizens to come to the meetings and talk to us. We wanted input that wasn't available elsewhere. And when someone had something to say, we actually listened. Often we would have a conversation on the spot when appropriate.  We didn't make any rules or set any time limits. Our unstated premise was that we were in this together and wanted to work together.

How times have changed. I walked away from the Republican Party in 2008 and never looked back. After bringing the Independent Party onto the political stage in 2009, we were presented with an example of unintended consequences. The Republican Party has retained the majority on the Council ever since.

The issue of Public Participation is but one of many. Some citizens have been wondering when these issues will be managed better. The answer is when the Republican Party becomes the minority party on the Council.

It's Time.

Richard Wick