THE BIG PICTURE

     David Burnham, an early American urban planner and architect said, "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood."
     And that is the situation here in the Village. We cannot fix things piecemeal anymore. There are too many issues and they begin to entangle themselves on each other. We need to look at the big picture and make the big plans.The true needs of the Village are simple.
     We need to rid ourselves of incompetents  and incompetence and worse.
     We need to change our system of elections and responsibility chain of command.
     We need to institute proper process and procedure and this will protect us from running into problems we did not but should have anticipated.
     We need to institute think tanks of various people in the Village based on their knowledge from prior life experience rather than have people who know nothing decide solely on their own wishes and uninformed choices and whims.
     We need to get our finances in order with prioritization, with straight thinking, with an austerity budget, with a strong discussion with WPRF and Eva as to what we NEED as opposed to what she WANTS.
     We need to look into the possibility of a management firm but FIRST must have a good grasp on our expenses here in terms of outlay to employees, to WPRF, to hired companies and then know what we have to go seeking in terms of a firm.
     We must NOT jump without looking for that is how we got into this mess in the first place, by following those who jumped headlong, run by their own temper tantrums and desires more fitting for a two year old than for a responsible adult.
     We need to set rules carefully so as to avoid the strings of the Village being held by one, two, or a few people, especially non elected ones, a situation we now have.
     Even should we have a management firm, there will have to be a supervisory or advisory board and the components of the board must be chosen carefully, with a method to remove for cause that is actually doable and fast, not what we have now. Incompetents and people who have deteriorated cannot be allowed to remain in office.
     Obviously this is only a sketch of possibilities and priorities and there must be a thorough consultation with proper advisors and the first topic must be that which is now hanging over David Israel's neck and deservedly so - the roads and their debacle of a paving job and how we are to pay for the fixing of this whole mess.
     David, you need to read, or reread, Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and heed these lines.
     "Ah! well a-day! what evil looks
     Had I from old and young!
    Instead of the cross, the Albatross
     About my neck was hung."

     You have many possibilities for an albatross, but luckily we have managed to stop some, such as the Wi Fi and we will do the same with the broadband, the sign and other non necessities, particularly in this time of financial crisis. BUT, the roads are there and will do you in. They are your albatross, a well earned and deserved one.
     We need you to go and take Ed Black and your henchmen with you. GO!