In reading yesterday's Southbridge Evening News (right sidebar), I feel compelled to respond to the story concerning the departure of the Sturbridge Building Inspector. Specifically, I am writing to address comments made by two members of the Board as well as our acting Administrator; comments that in my view were inappropriate and incomplete.
Selectman Scott Garieri stated that Mr. Wight was “not terribly interested in enforcing zoning code – specifically temporary sign bylaws”. He went on to say that “he wasn’t cut out for that” and that “[Mr.] Wight would enforce the sign regulations, but owners would later defy regulations after hearing from him”. Selectman Garieri fails to disclose the benefits his business derived as a result of the former Building Inspector’s approach to temporary sign enforcement; he himself has been in violation of the zoning bylaws throughout his elective tenure. As a selectman, he has maintained temporary signs (void of appropriate permits) as well as banners (flags) specific to his business with regularity. This is disturbing in light of our Charter designated responsibility to “cause the laws and orders for the government of the town to be enforced”.
Selectman Mary Blanchard was reported to have “expected more out of Wight” and was quoted as saying that she “wanted him [Mr. Wight] to do all…that it encompassed. Oddly, during Mr. Wight’s tenure he was publicly questioned by Mrs. Blanchard on multiple occasions about specific temporary sign violations wherein she omitted those violations specifically referenced above, as well as those of an adjacent business owner with ties to a Board member. This arbitrary and capricious approach to bylaw enforcement was - in and of itself - cause for consternation by the former Building Inspector.
Additionally, it was reported that our acting Town Administrator referenced the fact that Mr. Wight “bristled at being told to spend additional time writing more tickets for sign violations”. He added that Mr. Wight felt that the “Building Inspector’s time was more valuable but that [temporary signs were] a big issue in this town”. No doubt these comments accurately reflect part of the issue; they fail however to recognize the inconsistent and inequitable approach town leadership has presented in terms of bylaw enforcement.
Leadership is about character, personal accountability and recognition of one’s responsibility to do the right thing. Perhaps these “leaders” might have better served our community by publicly recognizing the inconsistencies by which the Board of Selectmen approached its responsibility to “cause the laws and orders for the government of the town to be enforced”. Perhaps recognition of the arbitrary and capricious manner by which we on the Board approached zoning enforcement would have been a more appropriate response by these “leaders”. Instead, they chose to highlight the failures of the Building Inspector while omitting the failures of those who share the ultimate responsibility for accountability.
To be sure, I’ve not been one to champion zealous enforcement of the temporary sign bylaw. Considering the disastrous economy, I’ve aired on the side of allowing small businesses more leverage in their battle to maintain economic viability. In so doing, I have clearly failed my obligations under the Charter and am equally culpable for enforcement failures. That said however, I have never been, nor shall I ever be one to support the arbitrary, capricious, and preferential approach supported by some of our “leaders”. As well, I’ve not been one to take a hypocritical posture in terms of the departure of our Building Inspector.
To be clear, I do not defend any town employee’s selective approach to fulfilling their assigned responsibilities and my purpose here is not to offer a defense of same. I cannot in good conscience however, remain silent while elected and appointed “leaders” engage in revisionist history, incomplete accounting, and hypocrisy as it relates to our responsibilities on behalf of the residents and employees of this community.
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