Boardman needs break from political firestorm

It is not uncommon for a new administration, be it on the federal, state or local government level, to implement policies and make personnel changes it believes are necessary to further its goals.
And it certainly isn't uncommon for a president, governor, mayor or even trustee to point to an election result as justification for the changes.
But transitions are also about diplomacy, which helps prevent political upheaval -- of the kind that, unfortunately, has consumed Boardman Township since the beginning of the year.
Trustee Robin Gallitto is right when she says that the changes she has been pushing since she took office in January were the foundation of her election campaign last fall. She not only received a sizable vote in a crowded field, but one of the losers was incumbent Thomas Costello.
And Trustee Kathy Miller is right when she says that many of the initiatives she and Gallitto are now pursuing were on her agenda for the past couple of years, but that Costello and Trustee Elaine Mancini refused to go along with her. More often than not, Miller was the "1" in 2-1 votes.
It is not surprising, therefore, that Miller and Gallitto have now formed an alliance; in effect, a new administration in township government. And that has brought their political enemies out of the woodwork. Some of the criticism of their actions is nothing more than sour grapes, but there also are legitimate concerns about whether they are moving too quickly on some important issues.
For instance, their decision to dismiss township Administrator Curt Seditz without a full explanation appeared spiteful. And even when Miller and Gallitto did explain, there were many questions left unanswered.
"We really felt we were headed for a financial meltdown," Miller said.
"If someone isn't 100 percent committed to a vision and moving forward, I'm not sure you're getting your money's worth anyway," Gallitto said, in justifying paying Seditz six months' severance pay. His contract was to run through this year and his 2006 salary was to be about $78,100.
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Miller needs to tell the residents of Boardman Township what responsibility Seditz bore for the financial meltdown. Indeed, the community should be told how the former administrator's tenure was at cross purposes with the vision articulated by Miller and Gallitto.
And, the two trustees should provide details of the "new direction" they envision for Boardman.
They must recognize that there's no such thing as too much information when it comes to the operation of government. The people who foot the bill, the taxpayers, have a right to know just about everything that's going on in the administration building.
Miller and Gallitto should also understand that their every move is being scrutinized, which means they should tread carefully.
For instance, was it necessary for them to reprimand Police Chief Jeffrey Patterson for e-mailing a few pages of law school notes to his township computer and printing them to study during lunch? Could they not have talked to Patterson about his private use of public property and warned him that any future violation would result in a reprimand?
Diplomacy was called for in this instance.
Miller and Gallitto are taking on some difficult issues and are trying to change the culture of work in the township. They are to be commended. But not every action requires a heavy hand.
Boardman needs a break from the political firestorm that has consumed it for the past three months.