Over the last several years many people have commented that members of the Brockport Village Board don’t seem to get along. Well before I joined the board, spirited arguments about everything ranging from the placement of flowers on Main Street to the handling of employee contracts took place at least periodically—some would say frequently.
In my short tenure as a trustee, I’ve heard several times—in particular from a few people who monitor the village intently—about a desire for board members to work together better, or more closely, or in greater harmony. Fact is though, our opinions often differ, sometimes substantially. And while I consider our diversity of thought as an asset, I understand how some folks might watch our Monday evening debates and conclude that it would be nice if we agreed more.
What I hope observers can recognize is the passion of the five people representing Brockport. It’s visible and audible at our meetings as we discuss varying viewpoints. More importantly, though, is that underlying our passion is, I believe, a sincere desire to serve the village to the best of our abilities. Perhaps that’s not center stage enough, but in this we are united.
Also worth mentioning is reality that those who attend our meetings or watch them on television get only a glimpse of our interactions. As I said during my board report this past Monday, I accomplish most of my work as a trustee between our meetings, not at them.
For example, Mayor Mort Wexler and I have spoken on different occasions about the process of finding Brockport's next treasurer. To his credit, it was Mayor Wexler that suggested we tap Lou Spiro, the vice president for administration and finance at the College at Brockport, to lend his expertise in this area. What a wonderful idea that has proved to be: Mr. Spiro’s input has been indispensable.
There are lighter moments, too, that go unseen by the public. For example, this past week when I stopped by the village offices to pick up mail, I had my three-year-old son, Edison, with me. Edison knows that Clerk Leslie Morelli has a candy jar, so when he asked for a sucker, the mayor advised him to take two: one to go into his mouth immediately, and another for later. You can insert your own joke here about my future dental bills, but my son sure got a kick out of the mayor’s offer.
A few seconds later, Edison marched into the mayor’s office, attracted by the portrait of William Seymour that hangs on the south wall there. My son wanted to know who was in the picture, so I told him, not that the answer would hold any significance for a pre-schooler. Mayor Wexler then produced a placard from one of his own early campaigns. Slightly yellowed with age, the placard featured a portrait of the mayor. “You know who this guy is?” asked Mayor Wexler.
What happened next got a chuckle out of the mayor and me.
Edison, without hesitation answered confidently: "Barack Obama."
So yes: it’s undeniable that members of the board do bicker. We fight. We’re not fond of one another’s positions on issues. But behind it all, the work of the village is getting done, and from time to time, we even share a laugh along the way.
