It looks like the appointment of a new Precinct 2 representative on the Greenfield City Council will be a decidedly “democratic with a small ‘d’” process.
Newly re-elected City Council President Karen Renaud this week announced the formation of a five-member ad hoc committee to vet the five candidates to replace Precinct 2 Councilor John Lobik, who has stepped down due to health reasons.
Lobik had considered withdrawing his resignation after the council tabled last month’s library vote, but thought better of it, and now five applicants have come forward for the job. They are former Council President Dan Guin, former Charter Commission Chairman Mark Berson, and political newcomers Matthew Howell, Rachel Gordon and John Andrews.
It’s an unusually large number of applicants for a precinct vacancy, and with good reason. Not only is the proposed new library still in play, but the council’s ideological split could set up Lobik’s successor to be a swing vote on a variety of issues, including next year’s budget.
Given the significance of the appointment, Renaud is looking for maximum “buy in” from her fellow councilors, which is why she suggested a five-member committee review the applications and bring her a recommendation to send to the full council.
Councilors Sheila Gilmour, Ashli Stempel, Wanda Pyfrom, Brickett Allis and Doug Mayo will compose the ideologically mixed committee, a move intended to make the process is inclusive as possible, which has been a guiding principle of Renaud’s ever since taking the council gavel one year ago.
It should also be pointed out that Renaud was under no requirement to do this. She could easily have just picked one name from the five and sent it up for a vote. But there is a nobility to her decision, even though Renaud is likely to face criticism from some who feel she is being a bit too cautious.
The big question is timing. Ideally, I think many people would like to see that seat filled in time for this month’s library vote, although Renaud indicated that she has no problem extending the process into February if need be.
“It will take as long as it needs to,” Renaud said. “The key is getting the absolute best person for the job.”
As it should be.
It would appear that the votes may finally be there to finally pass an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags in Greenfield – but that may not be the last word on the matter.
If the City Council does get the seven votes needed to enact the ban, At-Large Councilor Isaac Mass says he plans to call for a binding referendum question on the November election ballot to allow the voters to make the final decision on whether to do away with the bags once and for all.
Mass announced his intentions during what amounted to a rant at this week’s council chairs committee meeting, one made in response to Mayor Bill Martin’s remark that Mass appeared to be “frowning” after His Honor suggested that the town might be able to sell reusable cloth bags both to raise funds and help promote the community.
“I hear so many stupid things that I’m going to continue to frown,” Mass said. “I remember sitting in these meetings hearing a lot of people, including the mayor, say we aren’t going into the ‘real estate business,’ but now we’re going into the retail bag business…I can’t believe this is something we would even consider.”
As for the ballot question, Mass argued that it’s the best way to gauge how residents really feel about an issue, including whether to build a new library.
“You all wanted a library to pass last month, and last year I asked us to put the library on the ballot on a non-binding referendum,” Mass snapped. “Had the voters voted for it, it would be hard-pressed for any councilor to vote no.”
“So we couldn’t let the voters have a say, but we are now being persuaded to vote for it because of a poll,” he added. “I’m very interested in having voters who have said ‘no’ have the option of saying ‘yes’ before we ram something down their throats.”
We’ll see if Mass can get six of his colleagues to come around to his way of thinking when the council revisits the bag issue on Jan. 16.
Regardless of how this month’s meeting goes, the council will likely be well-caffeinated.
Once again, each councilor has been presented with a $10 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. Town Clerk Kathy Scott said the cards came in from an anonymous donor, and were presented at this week’s council organizational meeting.
It was certainly a thoughtful gift, but what about the rest of us who are forced to watch these opuses every month?
I guess you can’t have everything, even in a community that seems to have so much going for it these days.