To the Editor:
Just a thought… When talking of someone taking action, or lack of action, it is often asked “who’s driving the bus?”
Implying that whoever the name, is to be blamed (or credited) with a specific action or lack thereof.
In our town government however, the phrase should be changed to “who’s flying the plane?”
I suggest this change of thought based on the number of operators of large commercial airplanes.
While the bus just has the one driver, a large jet has the pilot, co-pilot and a navigator or two.
The comparison to our not so small Town of Webb government is simple. While each department (10+ departments at last count) has its own Department Head, they do not operate in a vacuum. There is of course the Town Supervisor. In addition, there are the four Town Council members. Two of which are liason to each Department.
With that in mind, I wonder why there is such a problem with McCauley Mountain signage. The summer scenic chairlift sometimes opens its season without the reinstallation of the appropriate signs indicating the “season has started.”
And again in the fall, there is sometimes an issue with changing the signage from the summer to the appropriate fall signage.
Currently, the fall “Pre-season (winter) pass sale” sign has not yet been installed. While the “Summer scenic chairlift ” sign is still in place. Obviously the summer is over. The WINTER pre-season passes are available, the local used ski sale has come and gone. The McCauley ski shop has been open, and yet for some reason this fall activity has been kept from the traveling public.
For a couple of years now, when a season starts or stops and the signage is not up to date, at least one local has taken it upon themself to text, call or email a reminder to one council member or another; however at some point, it must be acknowledged there are numerous people whose job it is to ensure these departments are operating at one hundred percent. Who’s flying the plane?
In this case, let’s remember McCauley’s expenditure versus income is offset by town taxpayers. The more money that comes in…the less tax dollars have to be raised.
Sure there’s the dept. head. It would be easy to point fingers. But everybody gets busy. Aren’t there additional persons who should notice? Who should care?
There’s the Town Supervisor who drives by these signs daily. There are council members who should be aware of the standard operations of the departments, etc.
While the public has been willing to mention reminders here and there, at some point there are others who are cashing a paycheck who should be taking the lead… or flying the plane.
The taxpayers deserve it. The skiers deserve it. Just a thought.
Richard Risley
Thendara
