Kathryn Ross column: The first step to local government accountability is showing up

Earlier this evening, I was busy working away on a project that must be completed by the end of the month. I was engrossed in figuring out how to do something in Microsoft Publisher. I had been working on it for an hour to no avail, when I glanced down at the clock in the corner of my desktop and realized I was nearly late for a meeting.

I had just a half hour to change clothes and drive to the airport where the Wellsville town board has been meeting for the last 24 months or so, since the old Municipal building was closed and abandoned by the village. I knew I could make it to the meeting, a District IV meeting with its county representatives.

Everyone likes to grumble about the federal, state, county, and local governments. Everything from the weather to the price of a dozen eggs is blamed on them. It has never been easier to vocalize or write out those complaints thanks to social media. Facebook is full of people listing their complaints or just saying cruel and mean things about the government. It is an American’s right and duty to complain when such criticism is needed. It says so right in that document we live by, the Declaration of Independence.

But just try doing the same thing, expressing criticism of the government, in Russia, China, North Korea or any other number of countries which are ruled by dictators. At best you will serve jail time, but most likely you will end up on the wrong side of a gun.

It is also the duty of the government to listen to the people, hear their complaints or criticism and act on them, not by closing the door as did King George, but by opening their meetings and proceedings to the people and listening to their complaints and grievances.

In that vein, by law, Allegany County legislators are required to hold four meetings a year with their constituents in the district each represents. It was recently published that District IV legislators would meet with representatives from the towns and villages of Andover and Wellsville and members of the public at the Wellsville town hall on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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Not many people show up to these meetings, but usually the legislators show up. They, after all, set the meeting date, time, and location so they know it is taking place. Also, representatives from the towns and villages usually show up for these meetings.

Not this time. There were four people at that Tuesday night meeting. County Legislator Gary Barnes, two members of the public and I represented the Fourth Estate.

Like any good college student would, we waited 20 minutes for those leaders to show up, but by the end there were the same number of vehicles in the parking lot as had been when we arrived.

Barnes could have carried the meeting off on his own, since fellow District IV Legislator Steve Havey is non ambulatory after undergoing knee surgery and Legislator James Rumfelt may have been occupied with his job as a police officer.

But no representatives from the Wellsville town board, Supervisor Shad Alsworth, Councilwoman Patricia Graves, Councilmen Mark Miller, Jesse Case nor Greg Day were at the meeting. No representatives from the Village of Wellsville, Mayor Randy Shayler, Trustees Mike Roeske, Ed Fahs, Jeff Monroe, or Gary Pearson were at the meeting.

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On the same hand there were no representatives from the Town of Andover, Deputy Supervisor Joe Kent, nor members of the town Council — Mathew Zengerle, Mandi Joyce-Phelps, or Heather Simon.

Nor was there anyone from the village government — Mayor David Truax or Trustees Mel Thorpe, Samantha Gavin, Rob Carter, or Scott Updyke.

Where were they? I don’t know, but I know the local media carried the news that the meeting was taking place. Why those 19 people didn’t attend is anyone’s guess.

It prompted Barnes to guess that the towns and villages have no gripe with the county board and how it is handling matters.

Yes, the people can complain and grumble about the government on social media, in coffee shops and bars or wherever they choose to talk, but it would be nice if those they chose to represent them showed up to their own meeting.

— Kathryn Ross writes a weekly Opinion column.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Ross column: Local government accountability starts with showing up