From the Editor
Wipe Out
A bad decision followed by worse communication leaves the surf community, the beach community, and just about anybody else who is paying attention, wondering what happened to the idea of public input in the decision-making process of the York Board of Selectmen. Having inexplicably removed the most crucial portion of the proposed Surfing Amendment last Feb. 26, despite the positive recommendations of the chief of police and the head of Parks and Recreation, the board followed up on Monday night in a packed and raucous session by essentially stating to the hundred or so concerned citizens who packed the audience, "sorry, we're done on this, take it or leave it." To those in the audience who were waiting for a reasonable explanation as to why the heart of the amendment was removed, well, they are waiting still.Or perhaps not. Word comes to us that as of Tuesday morning a petition was in the works to call for a special referendum, which would bypass the Board of Selectmen and go directly to the people. Moreover, there appears to be a real indication that the impetus for this petition comes not simply from frustrated members of the surfing community, but from the non-surfing beachgoers as well, many of them from the same two groups of people who were seen to have been shaking hands and giving each other hugs after Monday's meeting, all the while casting disparaging looks at the board that had pleased neither side.
So what does it tell us, when the advice of the chief of police and the head of the town's lifeguards is disregarded completely? What does it tell us, when the month's long work of a responsible citizens group is not given any respect? What does it tell us when two groups on the opposite side of a town issue become both so disillusioned with their elected leaders that they join forces to circumvent the normal process? It tells us that those in power, or at least some of them, are not listening. Which in turn begs the question, why not?
Elected public officials are often called upon to make hard, unpopular decisions. And when our officials are acting in good faith, and make those decisions after careful consideration and consultation with all the stakeholders, most folks are willing to accept the outcome, even if they disagree with the ultimate decision. But the process breaks down, and the credibility of those same officials seeps away, when the voters sense that important decisions are being prejudged simply out of personal preference by those whose job it is to weigh and consider, and yes, listen closely to the merits of all sides. Accusations to that effect were made directly to certain members of the board by the audience at last Monday's meeting, and the side-stepping responses satisfied no one.
Now it appears we will have a special referendum, and the fact that we are at this point cannot be viewed as anything else but a clear failure of our established decision-making process. Meanwhile, the citizens, surfers and beach-combers alike, have had enough, and are paddling forward on their own. Our sense is that they know where they are going, and can explain it clearly enough to anybody who is willing to listen.
