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Leadership That Listens

First Selectman Tom Banisch’s latest campaign mailer states that “Tom Banisch is listening to and getting results for Madison families.” Last year’s attempt by Tom to push through a condo development on the grounds of Academy School is a prime example of leadership completely devoid of listening to the documented wishes of the majority of Madison families. Rather than reaching out to get citizen input in advance, he charged forward with his own agenda. To date, he continues to question the validity of the town’s professionally conducted public opinion survey, paid by taxpayers, and recommendations from previous committees, all of which support the building remain in public hands. This has flagged concerns about motivation and inflamed public distrust over process, transparency, and viability.

One solution to clear up this distrust, for the benefit of us all, is for Madison to establish an ethics commission. An ethics commission would be a way for citizens to register concerns about possible conflicts of interest for projects initiated by town government. Did the town follow an open and transparent process? Were town policies followed? On what merits were bids solicited, contracts awarded, and decisions made?

Peggy Lyons, the Democratic candidate for first selectman, will propose that we form such a commission. Peggy will be a leader who respects all citizen’s opinions, putting the expressed needs of the public above any personal agenda. As a former finance executive at several major companies, along with having a Wharton MBA, she has a background in long-term financial planning. She possesses collaborative project management skills, determining the most prudent fiscal path forward, rather than usurping other ideas for a preferred outcome. That is why I encourage your readers to vote for Peggy Lyons for first selectman on Nov. 5. We need leadership that listens.

Rosalyn Fahey

Madison