Working toward a shared vision takes cooperation

Residents in the town of Washington and village of Millbrook were left with a bad taste in their mouths after the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee (CPRC) held a meeting last week that was announced at the very last minute. The announcement came, reportedly, only after a lone resident discovered the group was to convene; she then called those on the committee and suggested they place immediate notice of their intentions on the Internet. That move gave Friday notice for a Monday meeting; thankfully, it was time enough for some 20 residents to make it to the meeting. And that was important, because the meeting was designed to plan for the town’s future, and those who live and work in the area needed to be given the opportunity to be a part of that planning process.

Unfortunately, no agenda was posted to coincide with the meeting notification. But, nonetheless, the fact that the CPRC was able to get its meeting date and time up on the web so quickly should be duly noted. The fact that it did not make it a priority in the first place should be noted as well, and the public should be assured that error in judgment will not repeat itself. That’s exactly what the committee members seemed to say, at the Monday meeting, when they agreed that all meeting dates will be posted on the town’s website, in the newspapers and in an upcoming monthly schedule yet to be printed.

Let’s make sure we hold the CPRC to this commitment as open meetings are at the foundation of open government. They are paramount to having functional and cohesive towns, with well-informed citizens who can participate in the governing process. This is what true democracy is all about.

It’s also what the town of Washington and the village of Millbrook should strive for on a daily basis if they want to keep the shadow of suspicion at bay. When information is kept from the public, that public becomes skeptical, if not distrustful, of what’s going on. There must be transparency in the process; even the hint of ambiguity can taint practices that are otherwise above-board.

The bottom line is that everyone in Washington and Millbrook likely wants the same thing — a town and a village that represent the best the Hudson Valley has to offer. Residents and business owners want progress without forsaking tradition; they want rural charm while maintaining style and sophistication; they want to preserve the natural world yet access all available amenities; and they want to attract and keep the best and the brightest in their community.

The way to gain that, and anything else those who work on the comprehensive plan can come up with, is through teamwork. Ideas must be encouraged and shared openly and fairly among those who participate in this endeavor; once they are, everyone will benefit. The spirit of cooperation should serve to guide the town and village on their journey as they map out an updated comprehensive plan — the results will be all the better for it and can help bring about a future everyone can envision.