Letter: Ex-Supervisor Wells Opposes Wards Vote

The ward system is the antithesis of all we strive to do to build and enhance the sense of community in New Castle.

A ward system would divide the community where divisions don't exist.

In addition, these lines of division would be drawn by an outside political body that does not know us as well as we know ourselves.  One only has to look at the controversies generated by the drawing of Congressional district lines to anticipate some of the problems.
   
Having Board members elected from a specific district would make representation of the entire community more difficult.  An individual's goals would focus on a ward first and the community second.  Not only might it pit neighborhood or ward against ward, it may pit Board members against each other.
 
At the current time all Board members are elected to serve the entire community.  In 10 years as a Board member and 4 as Supervisor I was never aware of a lack of concern for any area of the Town.  Examples exist of improvements made and problems solved from Rt. 128 near Armonk to Kisco Park to Lawrence Farms East to Millwood to Allapartus Road to the West End to the Chappaqua Bridge, to South Greeley, to Rt. 117 and Rt. 120, etc.--a very long list. 

The number of Board members is or should be a separate question.  Over the years this issue has been discussed informally by both the Town and School Boards, and the conclusion always has been to stay at 5.  I believe that there are good reasons to continue with 5 members and not sufficient reasons to change the size of the Town Board to 7.

A 5 member Board must function as a group to accomplish its goals.  That does not mean all must agree.  With 5 members each voice has value and becomes part of the decision.  Everyone knows that the group has many issues before it, and it is in everyone's best interests to work together.

The smaller number of 5 members ensures regular attendance at meetings because each person plays a very important role, and anyone's absence becomes very noticeable.  As New Castle Board members past and present will attest, lives and schedules are planned around Board meetings, and members rarely miss a meeting.

Not attending meetings becomes easier with 7 as there are still 6 members to cover a meeting.  The consequence is different combinations of members in attendance.  There is, in essence, the potential for a different Board from week to week resulting in differences in information and discussion.  Development of an effective decision-making group becomes much more difficult. 

I urge rejection of both the ward system and an increase in the number of Board members.  In the spirit of Community Day, the Interfaith Council, the Chappaqua  Schools and Library, sports teams and the many events and organizations that promote working together, let's not create community divisions and cause problems where problems don't exist.

Janet L. Wells
Former Supervisor  (2004 - 2007)
Town of New Castle