..."parties may be too far apart to settle the matter themselves."... (Sun Journal, "Mediator approved for Jackson Lawsuit", 5-05-10).
Yes. So it would seem.
It's all about the cost of things, right? Maybe. Three former Paris selectmen...who are no longer individuals held in the highest of esteem by the voting majority... certainly made the case for that.
"We have to protect the citizens of this town...." (overheard from the front table during the 4-11-10 selectboard meeting). Why, yes.....yes, of course... the citizens of this town certainly don't have any sense of their own, now, do they?
These citizens, at least the voting majority who showed up at the polls, didn't - pretty much all by themselves - slog through the last 10 months, get themselves to the polls 5 times in 5 months, recall 2 selectboard members, save 2 other selectboard members, who, caught in the same bitter trap that caught the former town manager, would otherwise have been removed as well. Not to mention a good portion of these citizens getting themselves out that last time in March to elect 2 new selectboard members.
And this town is not in danger of being divided - again. There is no need, nor has there ever been, any healing required. There is widespread trust in the elected officials representing us on the selectboard. All town employees are feeling very supported. There is high confidence in how our municipal operation is currently being run. There is not a power hungry individual anywhere.
And "....we are in negotiations." (the chairman, 4-11-10).
Because negotiating, all along the way of this whole sorry situation that had to result in a lawsuit - as opposed to heads in the sand and then finally loud saber rattling and pronouncements, when push came to shove - would be the way of wise rulers.
Pick the true statement you like best from the list above.
