On June 12, voters in Gray will decide a charter amendment. I believe that this proposal by the town council is unwise.
The proposal will allow a town council to hire and fire an economic development director. Currently, the town council makes a similar choice by entering into a contract with the director. In fact, the council used this mechanism a few months ago to replace the previous director with a new one. This mechanism works well and does not require any personnel hearings or formal findings of cause to replace the director.
The charter provision would empower the council to make a permanent employee appointment. In general, I believe giving the power of elected officials to make personnel decisions opens the town up to corruption. I have no reason to question the ethics of current council members, but a charter change empowers all future councils.
A charter change would make the town vulnerable to political appointees, influence, favoritism, rewards, cronyism, nepotism, patronage or purges.
The charter authors were wise. Say No to the charter change, and maintain our protections against political corruption.
Mark D. Grover
Gray
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