Letter: Animal crisis: Westport must change from within

Posted 8/24/16

To the editor:

In 2002 I became Westport town administrator. Deep-seated government practices that existed then still hang on to this day. “Westport has its own way of doing things” seemed to …

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Letter: Animal crisis: Westport must change from within

Posted

To the editor:

In 2002 I became Westport town administrator. Deep-seated government practices that existed then still hang on to this day. “Westport has its own way of doing things” seemed to be the common mantra. The Selectmen’s secretary at the time told me on day one, “We don’t work for you, we work for the Selectmen. You do your own typing also.” On day two she told me, “I am beginning a six-week approved absence.”

I quickly learned that her position was critical to Westport governance. Selectmen come and go, but the Selectmen’s secretary position remains and the same person remains ad infinitum. Selectmen look to this person for past-practices and agenda guidance. It is critical that this person be pro-active, not just reactive. This thinking applies to all town employees, of course.

The current animal abuse issue confronting the town is, in my opinion, of such magnitude that reform will be front and center. “Right to Farm” will be changed to “Right to Farm but not to Harm.” I see change coming in three forms: Re-Group, Reform, and Regenerate.

Re-Grouping must come by a clean sweep of the Health Department. Resignations must come from all critical personnel. They must be replaced by fresh thinking, reform minded, pro-active personnel. Resignations for the “good of Westport” in the truest sense, not any admission of complicity in what has happened, but in recognition that change in leadership and direction is mandated.

Reform in practices and governance does not come easy. Time and resources are critical factors. As town administrator I proposed a Westport Task Force, made up of volunteers with professional expertise, reform enthusiasm, and “let’s do what’s right activism” attitudes.

I made the mistake of mentioning the model for such an idea, the Fall River Regional Task Force, and at a Selectmen’s meeting a shout of “We don’t care what Fall River (or other) communities are doing!” Laughter followed, and no support was forthcoming from any selectmen or citizen. The fact that several key members of the Fall River Regional Task Force were prominent Westport citizens was not recognized.

I believe that Westport has talented, energetic residents who would make up such a task force, and I again propose that idea. It works! And it saves taxes. Volunteers cost nothing, their time is “free,” and free is good! Volunteers don’t need to be restricted to Westport. “Friends of Westport” are everywhere, including local colleges and universities.

Regeneration of procedures must come in several departments, involving changes in practices and governance. “Westport has its own way of doing things” must be rephrased such as “Westport takes the best policies and practices from wherever they might exist.” This is regeneration of best ideas, putting them to work in Westport. Every department must take available opportunities to have their personnel sent to regional and state meetings, conferences, and training sessions. Learning best policies and practices from fellow practitioners that they can develop professional relationships with.

As Westport Town Administrator, I did that. Decades old policies and practices in the handling of Harbormaster fines received, personnel practices involving state-mandated paid time off for court appearances, and even resolving years-old law suits, were done from learning about these issues at regional and state learning opportunities. With each and every change I made to comply with county and state law I was greeted with, “We don’t do things that way around here,” but I got it done anyway. I even had money taken out of the town administrator’s travel account to pay for the travel of the town Finance Committee to go to a few conferences. Where there is a will, there is a way to get things done and to get people moving.

Westport, the future is now.

Daryl Gonyon

Former Westport town administrator

 

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