Selectmen of Orange, the recent meetings of the Selectboard have not furthered the hiring of an Orange town administrator. In place of procedure, respect and compromise, we have witnessed, with embarrassment, only conflict among the members of the Board.
Mr. Sheridan, you have stated that, “I don’t feel that I can be unbiased in the selection process.” Thus, you must recuse yourself completely from any discussion and votes in the hiring process from this point on.
Reporting two members of the board to the Ethics Commission within two weeks of the convening of a new 5-member board system does not engender any trust or faith in your capacity as chairman to build a solid relationship among Selectboard members. You have made unfounded charges of corruption and wrong-doing for years, with no results. Perhaps you should consider stepping down from the position of chair to allow for a more effective leader to step forward.
Mr. Smith, you have begun your new role as an Orange selectman, not with ideas, problem solving or geniality, but with a vitriol directed toward Mr. Mailloux, which is obviously personal. The reasons for this animosity may be unknown by most, surmised by others, but your personal reasons have no place in public service. Your behavior is destructive and inappropriate, and, unfortunately, goes unchecked by an inadequate chairman.
We are blessed to have Mr. Mailloux’s youthful interest and energy on the board. He is intelligent, knowledgeable and he does his homework. Why is he not being mentored and encouraged? Why is he being attacked? Because he used the words “lack of integrity” in a way that offended others? Words for which he later apologized?
Those of us who heard the reading of Mr. Wrigley’s letter to the board know that, in fact, Mr. Mailloux’s words were correct. Whether the Search Committee was instructed by the 3-person Selectboard to exclude Ms. Volker’s candidacy, or whether there was bias within the Search Committee, it is clear from Mr. Wrigley’s letter that the process was tainted.
We suggest that citizens request a copy of Mr. Wrigley’s letter to the board to understand the “process,” or lack thereof, in coming up with their list of interviewees for the job of Orange town administrator.
So, how do we move forward? The first step is for Mr. Sheridan to step aside from any further role in the hiring process. Secondly, the board should pledge to work together to engender an atmosphere of good will, acceptance, respect and tolerance. These qualities have been glaringly absent in the past few Selectboard meetings. We request that each of you look inward, and challenge yourself to restore civility to the Orange Selectboard.
Constance Pike and Michael J. Magee
Orange