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Editorial

An open letter to our legislature

Posted 5/3/21

Dear Chairman Rob Doherty and members of the legislature. Starting in May, we feel it is time that our elected officials running the Sullivan County government begin working together.

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Editorial

An open letter to our legislature

Posted

Dear Chairman Rob Doherty and members of the legislature. Starting in May, we feel it is time that our elected officials running the Sullivan County government begin working together.

We have read about, listened to and observed in person exactly what is happening in our halls of government and this is no way to run a $235 million business, much less our county government.

First and foremost, we urge Chairman Doherty to call an Executive Session to discuss sensitive and confidential issues, with robust discourse designed to strengthen trust and communication.

That means our nine elected legislators can shout and holler all they want behind closed doors, but when they finally get out of executive session please have a plan in place to return decorum and decency to your meetings. You are going to have to learn to get along - for the sake of our residents, if nothing else.

Nearly 30,000 Sullivan County residents elected you to run our government and we want it to run in a more civil, cooperative and efficient manner.

Disagreeing on issues, having healthy and sometimes animated conversations, making tough decisions and learning to compromise are not bad things.

But the finger pointing, name calling, personal attacks, high-profile publicity stunts and damn poor excuses have got to stop.

“The dog ate my homework,” excuses need to cease and desist and we need nine adults in the room to run our government.

There have been some shining moments from our legislature during the 16 months you have been in office and we are not criticizing or disagreeing with many of the decisions you have made.

It is safe to say that running a county government during COVID-19 has been both mentally and physically exhausting and we commend you for your hard work.

But it is the public display of acting like amateurs that really has Sullivan County residents worried. The private sector does not have it any easier than anyone on your board. We are dealing with personnel issues, revenue shortfalls, government regulations, and so much more on a daily basis, you don't even want to know.

But a successful business depends on teamwork and cooperation and we know a government board or agency needs the same attributes.

So please, call for an Executive Session this coming week and deal with your biggest personnel issues before you - yourselves!

A note to the public

Dear public,

Thank you for attending so many government meetings and making your voices heard.

We appreciate the time and energy you have given to get involved in your local government.

In a Republic it is your right to attend open meetings and express your opinions. But they are just that - your personal observations.

Let's keep our discourse about the issues, not personalities.

Enough said.

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