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The editor’s opinion
Inexcusable rudeness
Everyone who appears before any of the
town’s boards, from the Board of Commissioners on down, should be treated
courteously and politely.
That was not the case during last
week’s planning board meeting.
Planning board member Ward Marotti’s
comments to planner Ann Ayers were made in a confrontational manner, his voice
was strident, and his body language after each comment said, There, I just
scored a point. Marotti’s points were valid, albeit repeated too many times in
sometimes confusing ways, but it was his attitude and tone of voice that set
listeners’ teeth on edge.
Marotti, who has the expertise and
professional credentials to be an effective board member, has demonstrated this
same combative attitude since he was appointed, although not as strongly as he
did last week.
Commissioner Peter Thibodeau wanted to
debate with Ayers whether a standard or threshold for a traffic study should be
higher.
If he thinks there should be a higher
standard, he should discuss it with his fellow commissioners and introduce a
change in the ordinance to that effect, not try to score points against a staff
member.
Thibodeau’s question to a consultant,
made in a sharp voice, was along the lines of: when did you stop beating your
wife.
The commissioners and the members of
the town’s advisory boards do have a responsibility to question plans and
proposals before them, but they should do so in a way that no one feels
affronted, attacked, demeaned or insulted.
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