Letter: Alcombright Has Right Leadership
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To the Editor:
I am writing to voice my support for Mayor Dick Alcombright in the Nov. 3 election.
I worked with Alcombright when I was at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and continue to work with him as a city councilor. With admirable consistency, he has been kind, respectful, diplomatic, and collaborative.
I believe that the most effective leaders are those who distribute their power, expanding their capacity by empowering others to get the work done. I could share many examples of where I have seen this happen under Alcombright's leadership, but given the limits of space here, I'll share one recent experience.
North Adams City Council recently passed an ordinance creating a seven-member Public Art Commission that, among other duties, makes decisions about what art works can be mounted on city-owned buildings and other property. This idea began in the Mayor's Office. Historically, if someone wanted to post public art in North Adams, they would call the mayor's office and the sitting mayor would say yes or no. Alcombright wanted to change this approach, as he did not feel qualified to make these decisions and was uncomfortable with all of the decision-making power regarding public art being concentrated in the Mayor's Office.
He and his staff researched and drafted an ordinance and workshopped it with a group of resident artists. Next, the Council's General Government Committee (which I chair) along with this group of residents and the City Solicitor John DeRosa spent months discussing and refining the ordinance language. We stayed in touch with Alcombright throughout, but we were free to take the ordinance and run with it — as the council and interested residents should be. I am proud of the ordinance we created and will be delighted to see our initial slate of commissioners appointed later this fall. I will add: even when it came to developing a slate of appointees, which is entirely his purview, Alcombright sought input from myself and others. It was a truly collaborative, satisfying process.
I believe that Alcombright's participatory style of governmental leadership is the right choice for North Adams as we move forward into the future. It will attract new people — both those already here who are only beginning to connect with city government and those who might come in the future — to get involved and share their voices and expertise, just like those who will soon serve on our Public Art Commission.
Kate Merrigan is a city councilor in North Adams. She is running for re-election.
Tags: election 2015,
