Rantings of a town worker

I work for a small town as the Assistant Town Clerk--I am so high and mighty it is crazy!! Ok--I am like the man who cleans the low man on the totum pole...

We have about 1,000 people in our town. And they all think the town board is out to screw them over.

"I complained about this about two years ago and NOTHING has been done!"
Well yeah--they might have forgotten--they might have tabled it because it wasn't as important as something else---and GUESS WHAT!! The town had an election since then and only TWO of the original board members that even heard about your complaint are still around (which was brought to light by someone else since you were brave enough to do it yourself). Of course they didn't do anything---YOU didn't take action.

LISTEN UP PEOPLE---if you WANT your TOWN/CITY government to do something---be PROACTIVE.

Lets say you live on a busy street that is a main traffic run for high school-ers before/after/and during lunch and they run the stop sign at your corner.

1. If you can--Look up if your town has any rules/policies/ordinances/or regulations about the issue. Call your town clerk---or call around until you can find someone to help you. (for this issue it might be a police thing--)

2. WRITE DOWN THE PROBLEM-- Write your name, your contact information, what the problem is, what you have observed, and what you would like to have happen, and what could happen if nothing happens. IT MIGHT NOT GO THE WAY YOU WANT--but you are being helpful. EXAMPLE "Amy Larson 555-5711---The high School students at Windridge High School are running the stop sign at 2nd street and Elm. I have observed personally happening on a daily occurrence. I would like to see more stop signs placed on that street, police car patrol that area more closely, and/or that intersection made into a four way stop. I am afraid a car accident with deadly results will happen unless action is taken. Thank you, Amy."

3. CALL to get on the agenda--of course you might have to call around again to find out WHO does the agenda--most likely your town clerk (or they might have a public comment section--many times it is limited to TWO minutes). ASK how many board members there are (and then make about 5 (or more) extra for Town Clerk-to keep on record, the Town Cop (if needed) and anyone else who the board might think will be interested in having this.

4. GO TO THE TOWN MEETING--don't mail it it, don't tell a board member, don't even rely on the Town Clerk (or assistant) to pass it along. They have other things they are dealing with.

5. Be polite, but stern. If you are a push over---they will push you over---if you are rude, you set up walls--EVEN if what you are saying is true. don't say (Quote) "I know that people on the other side of town are getting there roads worked on--we pay the same amount of taxes, but we aren't treated as well. We know that people on that side of town are more well liked" WHAA WAAA WHAA! Really?! Whining doesn't work. We don't like THEM more than you---maybe we see that issue more in our face than we see your issue. We had NO IDEA your side of the road was flooded because so and so doesn't turn off their sprinkler--We are NEVER down that street! That is why it is called TOWN GOVERNMENT and NOT THE TOWN BOARD GOVERNMENT.

6. PLUS--don't stop as at church, at the post office, in the store, or show up (unless it is an emergency--like a wild dog, or crazy person --but really call the cops most of the time if it is THAT important!) at our door and expect us to remember everything YOU would like to have happen---"oh yeah, and could you bring up this.....which reminds me that needs fixed too...." I promise you --we won't remember, and EVEN if we write it down, we will LOOSE it before the meeting!!! WE have VERY busy lives outside of town board---we are volunteers-(well, not me, but them!)-not paid---so we don't think about it, and often don't work as hard at it as we should!

If you REALLY don't like the way things were handled--get involved---go to more meetings, write letters to the mayor weekly--(the Mayor doesn't really have voting power--just organizes the meetings and gives his two cents worth --which is weighted)--so write to the board members also.

Plus--Town Meetings take a LONG time--and there is always at least one totally long winded guy/girl on the board who has to tell you all about the way it use to happen/or the way it should happen! UGG---AND it is hard to get action---because normally by taking action you will tick someone else off and it starts a chain of NEW issues no one expected---THAT is NOT saying you should do anything--but just be prepared for a long wait--and bringing it back to the board over and over--

HECK---RUN FOR TOWN BOARD----

Ok--enough already---I know!

But there you go.