This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Residents packed Thursday’s Taylor City Council meeting in one of the largest showings in recent memory. People came to make their voices heard about either preserving egrets or a controversial pay-raise proposal for council members, or both.
I’ve been to my share of council meetings with similar situations where residents use public comments to voice their frustrations or agree with their elected officials’ decisions. Usually, it’s the first one, and mostly folks are opposed to whatever the leaders on the dais are proposing.
Once a decision is made, community members flock to social media to express their appreciation or disapproval.
At this latest meeting, the motion for council members and the mayor to receive a raise was voted down 3-2. Mayor Brandt Rydell then said the issue would be revisited down the road.
However, a suggestion is being floated to have a committee of community members determine if there should be a pay hike for the municipal politicians, and how much it should be. The suggestion is supported by the three council members who voted against the increase as well as several residents.
The questions now are: If this committee is created, when and who gets to be on it?
In most situations, the loudest people are the least likely to sign up. It seems most city committees have the same handful people who join or are appointed. In order to create lasting change, it’s time to switch up the “usual suspects.”
In other words, more volunteers with fresh perspectives need to step forward.
The entire system is a process. A problem or situation is presented to the council. The members discuss the item and find ways to start moving things forward (or backwards, in the opinion of their critics). When community members step up and voice their opinions, whether they believe they’ve been heard or not, they must be willing to be a part of the solution.
The next step in the process is offering to help find a resolution. However, that means more than just volunteering. It means having an open mind and not a hidden agenda when working on boards or committees. One ulterior motive can derail an entire group.
Also, having quandaries with the people you are representing makes the task more difficult. In the case of a potential pay-raise committee, if a member dislikes a couple of council members, it’s possible his or her vote will be against an increase in compensation, or at least a much smaller hike.
The last part of the process is accepting the decision regardless of the outcome. If you volunteer to join a committee, you helped with the decision. Once you acknowledge your involvement and accept the conclusion you helped reach, change will happen.
I’m not in favor for or against a council pay raise. I’m only encouraging the people standing on both sides of the issue to get involved if and when the time comes.
The squeaky wheel gets the oil — or replaced.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and ask Jamine and Tiana if it is possible to stand on stairs backwards.
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” — H. Jackson Brown Jr.
