This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top ba A lot has been written and said about the school board’s fiscal policies lately. One point I would like us all to hold uppermost is that the original questions were not personally directed at anyone nor intended to question any board member’s integrity.  It was therefore puzzling to have Board members direct personal “counterattacks” at community members asking questions.

I still do not question the personal integrity of any members of the school board.  These are people who have volunteered to serve the public just as council members have.  I believe they are doing their best to fulfill their oath of office. 

What I would remind us all, however, school board, school administration, council, and city administration, is that, when a citizen asks a question, it is incumbent on each of us to endeavor to provide a reasonable and prompt response. 

This is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves that the city’s and schools’ money belongs to the people of Oak Ridge.  Our budgets should be readily available and, just as important, readily understandable.  It would be my ambition that our budgets should be readable and understandable to the average Oak Ridge high school graduate.  Wouldn’t that provide responsible goals for both administrations and curriculum designers?  A well-educated citizenry is better able to help make intelligent decisions. 

I believe both city government and school administration need the understanding, advice, and participation of citizens.  And I believe we need to answer questions about the citizens’ business as forthrightly, promptly, and efficiently as possible.  To that end, we should be designing our websites and our information storage in ways that make all our non-private information available to anyone for a few keystrokes.

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This letter was written in response to a citizen's letter in the Oak Ridger suggesting that asking the community about hiring a new police chief was a "waste of our time" and indicative of lack of ability on the part of the new city manager.


Dear Mr. Zobel:   The new city manager is, in my opinion, eminently qualitfied to select a new police chief.  As a council member, I have come to regard his approach to city management as thoughtful, richly competent, and even wise.  When he asked for public meetings to discuss citizens' concerns and expectations in this manner, I was delighted.

There are many issues which have caused divisions in our community.  One of the deepest divisions has been the result of perceptions concerning the police department's policies.  Mr. Watson is asking us, his collective employers, to add to his knowledge of our needs and wants.  This, to me, is an action of respect and inclusion.  If you have no issues with the police department, Mr. Zobel, I respectfully request that you attend one or both of the meetings to hear what others in the community have to say.  

For the benefit of the search professionals, Mr. Watson is also asking for additional input from city staff, police department employees, and city council members. The information from all sources will be added to the search process to create as comprehensive a list as possible. It helps to prioritize the appropriateness in fit of candidates' training, experience, and personal management strengths.    

This appointment is one of the most important hiring decisions the city manager ever has to make. The fact that he is being open, inclusive, and thorough about the process bodes well for our town.  I do not think participating in a community information sharing is a waste of anyone's time.  You will have to make your own decision on that.  I assure you that Mr. Watson will very competently make the final decision on hiring. A better informed decision because of our participation.  
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