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June
14, 2005 It's so easy to get caught up in Killingworth's rural atmosphere and gentle pace that sometimes we overlook our own problems. For example, the exterior condition of the Killingworth Library was neglected for several years by this administration, despite the Town's commitment to maintain it. Now that the situation has been addressed there's a bigger issue. When a local tradesman does a good job for a local officeholder he might be awarded a contract to do work for the Town. If the price is low enough there's no need to bid it out or go through a lot of complicated paper work and procedures. It's just business as usual. The repainting of the library is a clear example. Apparently the estimate came in just under the $5,000 mark, at which point a bid would have been required. Unfortunately, with no specifications or bidding, the level of work may not have been adequate. This sort of thing can happen with neighbors, acquaintances and citizens who are well known and respected. On the face of it there may not seem to be much wrong with that. It helps get things done. But it's symptomatic of a disregard for the future that can hurt us in the long run. In the case of the library, work that was paid for with our tax dollars may have to be done -- and paid for -- again, sooner than expected. That's an added cost that can be measured in dollars and cents. When we avoid focusing on other problems we risk incurring other, sometimes much higher, costs. There are very real issues facing Killingworth that we need to plan for now, because even a little bit later might be too late. They go to the core of what our we value most about living here: the scenic countryside; our sense of community; the quality of our school system; the opportunities our location offers for work, culture and recreation; the manageable pace of life. The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee believes that every decision, big or small, must take future implications into account. In recent months we've been hard at work examining where we as a Town stand now and planning strategies that will bring us where we all want to be -- not just in 2005, but in 2015 and beyond. We're dedicated to providing strong, competent, fiscally responsible leadership that will address today's problems with a keen eye toward tomorrow. That means applying the same forward-thinking approach to all the Town's business -- from painting a library to painting a promising future for all our residents. (To learn more about the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee, visit http://www.killingworth.dems.info or join us at out next meeting at the Library on Sunday, July 17, at 7 p.m.) Arlene Tunney has been a major contributor to Killingworth for many years. She is currently Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate and a member of the KDTC. Gwenne Lally is Vice Chair of the Fields Study Committee, Vice Chair of the Conservation Commission and Recording Secretary of the KDTC. |
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