“Ooooh that smell. Can’t you smell that smell?”

Lynyrd Skynyrd

I stated in last week’s column that the Windham Town Council would vote on appointing the vice chairman (I prefer the term chairperson) during its meeting held on Dec. 13. I guess the chairman of the council can vote and vote often, which is something I find very disturbing. Councilor Dennis Welch voted for one of the nominated councilors, which ended up three votes for, and then voted for another councilor which made it a 4-2 vote. I find this very disturbing as I find it sets a very distinct voting method which contradicts the norm which the Windham town councilors have always followed, or at least as long as I have watched them. I know it’s Christmas but maybe the Windham town councilors chose the wrong person to the chairperson of the town council.

I give as an example that for some time the town council meetings have begun with the national anthem and then the following is read: “We, the Windham Town Council, recognize our individual and collective responsibilities as leaders and representatives of our community. To this end, we pledge to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting these roles and duties. We pledge and encourage others to ‘Be the Influence’ and to recognize decisions matter.” That is Resolution 14-285, in support of the “Be the Influence” community collaborative in addressing the pervasive adverse effects of substance abuse in the community. I have to wonder why that pledge has not been heard at Town Council meetings with our new council chairman. I have my suspicions as to why that has happened, and I will definitely keep my thoughts to myself, period. I must add that I believe the town councilors voted in the past to be part of the “Be the Influence” collaborative so how could just one town councilor change that vote?

The only purpose of the chairperson of the Windham Town Council is to lead the Town Council meeting. Other than that, it must be the decision of the majority of the town councilors to do anything. Even the Windham Town Charter states that for anything to pass there must be at least four votes in the affirmative. The town charter also states that the town councilors do not interfere with the day-to-day business of town employees. Therefore, I wonder why one can see a town councilor constantly hanging around Windham Town Hall like a mini-mayor if I may use that term. Best I can see is that has happened numerous times in the past and still happens today, and one might be surprised who stated that to me.

I have seen great strides in the past year in the Windham Town Council leadership to move our town forward, especially with the Town Council directing the town manager in doing the same. I again mention that during my military career I wondered why there were set lengths when it came to a tour of duty. It somehow began obvious that the military realized, especially for leaders, that at some point stagnation sets in. I have no doubt that is happening now in the town of Windham with both the municipal and school sides of government. We shouldn’t have leaders for life, especially if the voters and taxpayers can do nothing to change that leadership. That has led to problems and Windham has definitely suffered with that.

I believe it has come to the point where an effective change must happen in Windham. We shouldn’t have a town government with leaders appointed for life. I went to the Town of Windham website and first noticed that there appeared to be about 25 or so committee vacancies. I came to the conclusion that there were some committees without any members and yet they weren’t listed under committee vacancies. I find that really strange. And do I understand that the Appointments Committee in Windham meets only once a month? I thought that the Windham councilors were pushing to fill those vacant committee seats.

Lane Hiltunen of Windham smells that smell coming from town council chambers and he smells something awful fishy.