 |
Outgoing Selectman James Bodman showed up for his final meeting in a tuxedo, complete with bow tie and coattails. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
Buy this photo |
By Dominik Lobkowicz
Outgoing Waldoboro Selectman James Bodman showed up at his final board meeting June 10 in a tuxedo complete with bow tie and coattails, and called fellow board members on the carpet with allegations they discussed town business outside official meetings.
“The majority of the board for the last year and I have not agreed on many issues. The most frustrating thing for me, though, is not necessarily the lack of agreement. It’s the lack of process in the decision-making,” Bodman said as he stood before those in attendance.
“I strongly feel as though many of the decisions that have been made by the majority of this board have been discussed outside of the normal process. I believe they’ve been discussed before selectmen’s meetings are being held, and after.”
“Whether it’s three or more meeting together, or simply three or more talking independently about the same subject, I still believe that it violates the ethics issues of being transparent in town government,” he said.
Bodman ended his speech by making a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Selectman Carl Cunningham and the meeting ended with a round of applause from the public, but no response to Bodman’s comments from Bodman’s fellow board members or the public.
Asked specifically June 11, Selectman Chair Craig Cooley declined comment. “No, I don’t want to comment on it,” Cooley said. “I let him have his say.”
Cooley said selectmen were not meeting or discussing town business outside of official board meetings.
“Absolutely not, there’s no proof to it,” he said.
At the meeting, Bodman reiterated a concern he mentioned in a letter to the editor that micromanagement has gotten the board off track, and pushed for the board to keep goals in mind during discussions.
“This town does not need five town managers sitting at that table. It does not need five public works directors, or police chiefs, or transfer station managers. This town needs five leaders,” he said. “I challenge the future board, whoever may sit at these five seats in the next couple weeks, to start thinking about the big picture.”
Bodman included himself in some of his criticism.
“We need to work on a vision for this town, instead of bickering,” Bodman said. “I have allowed myself to get caught up in the small talk and bickering that bogs this board down.”
“I’d like to thank the people for giving me a chance to serve. It’s certainly been a learning experience,” he said.
Bodman said he could remember when he first ran for selectman and how ignorant he was of town politics and how things were run at the time.
“I will say I probably made some of the same promises that some of the candidates are making this year, that really are not board functions,” he said. “I would say the other thing that I’ve learned is that you can’t do anything by yourself on the board. It’s not a one-man show. You can’t take credit for any one thing because it’s an entire board working together.”
Bodman thanked the town’s employees for their dedication.
“These are some of the most dedicated employees I’ve ever seen,” Bodman said. “They stay day or night, it doesn’t matter what time of day or what time of night, any need that comes across, they step up to the plate and they follow through with it.”
“To the future board, I wish them good luck,” Bodman said. “It’s not an easy job.”
