Circus Time!

I've been pretty quiet over the last couple of weeks.  I've attended all meetings required of me, engaged in discussion and discourse, listened and expected to be heard and thought that there had been a resolution to halt the action to remove Neil Gillespie as Board Chair with only 13 months to an election and with the immensely important Master Plan Project in full swing.  I left a meeting on Tuesday 21st August thinking that a decision had been made to seek further governance training and to set out a rules of engagement document outlining roles and responsibilities of board members and their relationship with each other, council, the mayor and council staff.  So when I was contacted less than a week later on Monday 27 August I was surprised to hear that a requisition letter calling for the removal of Neil as chair had been sent to Sanchia Jacobs, CODC Chief Executive.  I relayed that surprise to the journalist who rang the next day.  I was not blissfully unaware of issues as some social media commentators would like to suggest - but really surprised that a decision made a week earlier had been overturned, behind closed doors, setting up a 'them and us' scenario for our Board - not a particularly helpful or pleasant place to be.

Cromwell looking fabulous

I've come to realise that I am not part of the 'cool crowd' I'm not 'in' with the inside information and that I am very much left out in the cold as far as much of the business of our community board is concerned.  I am intrigued that there is a group on our board calling for transparency and openness and they are doing that away from public meetings, away from the board table in secret little meetings held just between themselves in private.  Not sure how that fits for open and transparent.  I've taken a look at myself and wondered why I haven't been brought into the fold, why I've been left to sit on the edges, all by myself, or dismissed as part of the wrong crowd.

Our board is made up of a group of people (I'd like to say we are diverse but we are probably quite homogenous, white and middle NZ - so diverse would be a stretch) who represent different sectors of our community and we are tasked with the responsibility of bringing these view points to the table, engaging in debate, considering the issues, taking on board the expert advice and making a decision based on all those elements.  We vote and sometimes we agree unanimously, sometimes we don't - but a vote is taken and win or lose that then becomes the decision of the board and we have to put our own pride aside and move on.  You don't stand for public office if you are a shy, retiring flower and everyone around our table has a voice and everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute to the debate.  Sometimes you've got to put on your big girl knickers, roll up your sleeves and be forthright - but on the whole it is all quite tame.

Big girl knickers on the line!

I take my responsibility as an elected representative very seriously.  A lot of people voted for me and put their trust in me to act in the best interests of the community.  I campaigned on embracing growth in Cromwell and taking the opportunities to build and develop a strong and thriving community, remembering what we value and trying to protect it; and on ensuring that our families and young people are able to live in Cromwell with the same opportunities that my family enjoyed growing up here.

I believe that I act with the utmost integrity in my Community Board role as I do as a primary school principal.  My school community very much reflects the changing Cromwell community.  It is growing and changing, becoming more diverse, members of this community are struggling to manage the increased cost of living, our schools and families are struggling with suitable accommodation (school buildings and homes), our school works hard to ensure we have enough skilled workers to fill long term, short term and temp positions.  School is a microcosm of the health of our whole community - so I am clear about what I represent and some of the key issues that we face going forward.  That is why in my view that it is so important that the Cromwell Master Plan is a success.  That the process produces something that will take us into the future with a bit more certainty and less trepidation and why I am so discouraged by the three ring circus happening around us that diverts our focus from what is truly important.

So back to the worry about not being one of the popular kids, the ones who hold all the power, hold us all to ransom, make ultimatums and have conditions attached to their participation.  I think I'm too pragmatic, too practical in my approach.  I look for solutions, not problems.  I listen and take things on board, I read every word of my agendas and supporting documents, take notes, listen to the council officers and try to take a balanced view point into every debate. Most of all I try to take the emotion and personality out of the discussion and look at things from an impartial, open minded perspective - dislike or like for a person and impassioned pleas for or against a position have to be balanced when making sound decisions.  I believe that is what the community expects of me.  I make my own decisions - I'm not following the lead of anyone else.  I'm listening, looking, taking it all in and considering the best course of action - maybe the cool crowd find that unsettling.

I like and have respect for all the people who represent us on our community board.  I would share a drink, meal and a joke with all of them and I know I can sit around a table and engage in debate with them.  I'm hopeful that we can move forward from the very public mess we find ourselves in so that we can ensure the Masterplan process is successful and takes us forward for our community.  I agree with Michael Laws assessment that this is a 'tar baby' all of us are touched therefore all of us are tainted.  I've sat quietly and played my expected part and I'm still tarred, so quiet is of no advantage.  If open and transparent governance is what this coup is about then openness and transparency is required.  Not sure I know of any coups that have led to better democratic process, hopefully the action taken was to open discourse and this is what will lead us forward.