Hold city leaders to standards of conduct
To the editor:
Historically, I had mixed feelings and thoughts on the benefits or harms of labor unions.
No doubt, they have influenced the way labor is today both in the private and public sectors. Some influences were negative, some positive.
Like any organizations, where there is power and money, some people retreat to unfair practices and forget their original purposes.
That is what happens in the corporate world, unions and even in city halls.
From the sideline, I have watched this debate between the mayor of Haverhill and the unions and wonder why we as taxpayers tolerate such actions.
I found the mayor's actions of walking out of a meeting unprofessional.
Keep in mind, he is not the only public official to have displayed inappropriate behaviors. For example, I have watched many City Council meetings and was shocked that some council members got away with making personal stabs at each other and/or the mayor.
Just watch some of the recordings of past council meetings and you would agree.
I am certain that should I display such actions to a co-worker or a superior, I would be either reprimanded or my employment terminated.
Some would say that the business community is different from the public. I agree that may be true to a certain point, but why should the taxpayers tolerate unprofessional behavior on the part of our public officials and or employees?
I am disappointed in myself for not following up with either the mayor or the City Council member(s) and letting them know that I hold them accountable for their actions and expect them to behave in a professional manner.
I am certain, should I show up at a City Council meeting and repeat the same behavior displayed in the past by some council members, I would be escorted out of the chambers and perhaps would make the front page of the local paper dubbing me as "An unruly taxpayer who disrupted Council meeting".
I understand that managing and supporting public resources is not easy. Being a former Haverhill employee, I know from first-hand experiences what it's like to work for the city.
Being in the private sector, I discovered that my employers and customers hold me to the very same professional standards that were expected of me while working for the city.
I am not waiting until Election Day anymore. I am going to hold myself accountable as a taxpayer and let public officials know I hold them to the very same standards they expect of me. I wonder if any other taxpayer feels the same way?
Tom Ellis
Haverhill
