No, Paris, it's not all better yet. And there isn't any magic. We - all of us - have to get out and make things happen. We've made a serious start with voter turn out to stop things from going any further south in our town government.
The hardest part, the less dramatic and immediately gratifying, the more demanding because it is longer term - though no less critical - is yet to come. The patient has had the bone set, antibiotics have been administered, care givers have been identified, the patient has been discharged from the hospital. Now the patient's bone has to heal, #1; and then the patient has to learn how to walk again, #2.
We have to re-establish the ordinary, day to day functioning of our municipal machine, clear of the debris of misunderstandings, lack of accurate information, guilt trips and naysayers, blame and innuendos. Without focusing on the real, but distracting, too-hards, never-been-done-befores, no-one will-show-ups, there's-not-enough-moneys.
What's on the list? Here are some starters:
*Three candidates are running for the 2 open seats on the select board. Time has been limited, but there has been a Meet the Candidates night, and articles and ads in the paper. It's up to the voters to do their part - again, still, one more time - and get to the polls March 9. Or, vote by absentee ballot at the town office up until that day. Remind your friends to vote. Offer to drive them. Vote yourself!
*Norway Paris Solid Waste will be needing directors to replace those removed by the joint decision of Norway and Paris selectboards last week. For the Paris seats, Paris has an application process for any interested Paris citizen to make his or her interest known to our Paris selectmen. Call the town office.
*The law suit facing the town is not a taboo subject shrouded in dreadful unspeakable mystery; it is a topic that requires a little homework on the part of our elected officials, and then some straight talk with the voters, as much as is possible when a legal issue is under consideration. But there must be straight talk. Because, before any healing can possibly happen in this town, there has to be a way to deal with a miscarriage of justice that has left people confused, angry, and worried.
The dilemma of the law suit can be dealt with. In a workable way...somehow. Our elected officials have this assignment, and we voters will continue to remind them. The deadline for this will be sooner rather than later.....
*Land use is still a raw issue. We have subdivision-ordinance amendments sitting in dry dock.
A comment made at the candidate's forum offers food for thought - how do the citizens in Paris as a whole (not only the builders, or the land owners) feel about the whole idea of what our town becomes?
The Comprehensive Plan enacted June 2007, and the Subdivision Ordinance (the original ordinance) enacted at the same time, was surrounded by heavy controversy and strong feelings; attempts to repair things only made the controversy worse; the replacement ordinance enacted in 2009 only fed the controversy. There never has been a time to have an actual dialog in the light of day without individual agendas or demands and threats. Somehow that needs to be looked at.
This town belongs to every tax payer in it, including, but not exclusively, the ones who have a financial interest in the use of the land.
*The budget? Oh yes. But we have a crew already on that. They'll be talking to us soon, and everyone should be ready with questions.
*And that civil tone that everyone is craving? We will all have to help with that. That will take a while to get nailed back down. Straight talk will help. Listening will help. Taking responsibility will help. It's not so easy....
