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Commissioners See No Need for a County-Wide Town Hall Meeting

10/6/2009- County Commissioner discussed the possibility of a Community-Wide Town Hall Meeting at their October 5 regular meeting. The concept of an open and informal forum where county residents would be given the opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and learn more about how their commissioners think is one I've been pitching to the Board since January. The fact that it took them so long and so much prodding to even put the issue on their agenda speaks volumes about their thoughts on the idea.

Robert Lee Swanson, Chairman of the FC BoC set the tone immediately after opening the discussion. He indicated that he feels no need to meet with the community at-large and will be happy to have a town hall for his own district, but only if a group of citizens specifically requests such a meeting.

The other commissioners quickly fell in line and voiced similar responses, with two notable exceptions. Harry Foy indicated that he thought it might be a good idea to meet with the entire community. Sidney Dunston's only comment on the issue was "no comment". Penny McGhee-Young wasn't in attendance, so her thoughts on the issue are unknown.

Bob Winters summed up the discussion by telling me, in no uncertain terms, that "This is a republican democracy, but it's not a democracy." He went on to explain, with increasing agitation, that the Board does not exist to respond to or satisfy the concerns of individuals. It exists, he indicated, to follow the wishes of the entire body that it represents. I wonder how he expects to learn the wishes of the body without listening to individuals.

Accountability and openness are still rare finds in FC government. Refusing to grant open discourse is certainly no way to win the support of the citizens. Sadly, our commissioners have made it clear, time and time again, that they don't care what we think and care even less about what we want. They'll decide what's best for us because that's the way it's always been done in Franklin County.