Board Seeks Civility Fix

December 09, 2010

TRENTON — If the board of selectmen here was a married couple, the neighbors would be complaining about the constant fighting, and the pair might be heading to divorce court.

But the two factions on the board – Jim Cameron, Carleen Hanscom and Mike Hodgkins on one side, and Sue Starr and Julee Swanson on the other – don’t have that option. They are stuck with each other.

One of the few things they all seem to agree on is that the situation is unhealthy – for themselves and, more importantly, for the town. At their Nov. 30 meeting, they voted unanimously to ask the Maine Municipal Association to help them develop a “code of personal conduct.” Mr. Cameron said the code would govern board members’ behavior “both in public and amongst ourselves.”

The fact that the board recognizes it has a problem and wants to do something about it is a hopeful sign, says Don Gerrish, a specialist in “marriage counseling” for municipal officials.

He was Brunswick’s town manager for 19 years and, before that, was the manager in Gorham. He served as president of the International City/County Management Association in 1996.

Mr. Gerrish now advises public officials on issues including relationship development, ethics and goal setting as a member of the municipal management assistance division of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group in Augusta.

He said in an interview with the Islander on Dec. 3 that, while he couldn’t speak to the specific situation in Trenton, he is very familiar with the type of divisiveness and infighting that the board has been experiencing.

“I wouldn’t say it’s common, but it does happen that elected bodies sometimes just can’t get along with each other,” Mr. Gerrish said.

Board members don’t have to like each other, he said, but they should be able to work together in an atmosphere of trust and civility.

Courtesy of fenceviewer

By Dick Brook