Local Bellyaching – Commentary by Werner Poegel
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You all know the type, the bellyacher. On the national level, the bellyaching politicians drive everybody crazy. My commentary focuses on suggestions for a more positive local approach. I also give some positive examples such as Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson who has a “People are Policy” philosophy and honors the dignity of each individual. And, Department Head Dane Arnold of DPW who is well-liked by staff. And I use as the one of the best examples, Dr. Mark Pellegrino, the Superintendent of Schools who I think has a magic formula for social emotional learning and high achievement in Gardner Public Schools, mostly by treating each student as an individual and finding ways for each person to succeed.
In contrast, I use as a negative example the style of Council President George Tyros who made a “Federal case” out of the recent DPW donation incident. That’s where kind-hearted DPW employees went out of their way to collect scrap metal and had a goal of giving more than ever before to the Gardner CAC and they did reach a remarkable tally of over $10,000. Sure, permission should have been obtained from the City Council because the scrap metal was collected by City employees on City time. And sure, the Mayor could have immediately stopped the check from being cashed. But the City Council did not consider that there probably wouldn’t have been so much scrap metal collected if the goal of helping the CAC wasn’t fueling the Herculean effort. Rather than being praised, DPW was lambasted in public and I find that shockingly wrong.
In my opinion, there’s no smiles lately from City Councilors at City Council meetings because the joy has been sucked out of the room, and that should change. Constructive oversight is good, but lately there’s just too much bellyaching about process issues when Gardner’s success as the “Model City for America” should be celebrated with joy.