Following is a statement Ben Blake read to the Town Board during the public comments portion of the Nov. 1 meeting:
Like many here tonight, I was beyond disappointed to hear about not only another Mt. Gilead Town Manager biting the dust, but in my estimation the BEST one our little village has ever been blessed to employ. But y’all already know how I feel, because I sent virtually the same text message to all 5 of you. Only 3 of you had the manners (or the guts) to respond. The Mayor did text me back. I received much-appreciated calls from Commissioners Covington and McAuley. On a side note, we should all commend Commissioner McAuley, in particular. Without his leadership and the work he has been putting in behind the scenes, we probably would not even have Town Manager David Smith here in an interim capacity. THANK YOU.
I could stand at this lectern and go on for my entire 3 minutes or perhaps even 3 days about how the Lord Jesus Christ himself could probably not satisfy all of the members of this board (1 or 2 in particular), but I won’t. However, what I WILL DO tonight is put you on notice. There is a grass-roots movement developing in this town. A broad and diverse coalition of people who have had enough of the inept and embarrassing nonsense that continues to keep Mount Gilead from reaching its full potential. Enough of Board members who think it is even possible to move too fast on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Enough of Board members who are more concerned about what people wear to meetings or whether or not their elected position/title is written on their Board packet. It is difficult to believe this town is literally being shot up, and these are the things some of our elected officials choose to focus on.
This new movement is called “A Better Mount Gilead” (feel free to Like, Follow, and Share on Facebook or Instagram). Our coalition can, and in fact does include board member(s) who want and deserve to have better, more-positive, more-qualified colleagues serving alongside of them. We have already been meeting, and plan to really hit the ground running in January. This is your fair warning, presented in an open, honest way; we aren’t going to go into a closed session, or tell you we can’t discuss what we are up to because it is a personnel matter. Our mission is transparent and simple: If you as an elected official are in the way, if you are an obstacle, if you are a human speed bump, if you are slowing down or holding up the progress that this community not only wants BUT DESERVES, we will replace you. This is going to be an organized, professional campaign with a slate of candidates that are truly committed to creating “A Better Mount Gilead.”
Enough is enough. We want better. We deserve better. And God willing, we will be better.
Thank you for your time.
It needed to be said, and I’m glad it was said well. We can only hope that the same effort put into the speaking part of the interaction will be put into the hearing.
It’s very sad. This town could be so much better. I have always said the problem has been the commissioners. If you all let this town manager go, this town will surely die. He has big plans and moving forward. The commissioners are the ones need to be gon3
The town board needs to separate their individual personal opinions/feelings/desires and do the job they were elected to do by the people of Mount Gilead. The people do not work for you, you work for the people. In other words, we “hired” you and we will “fire” you if you are incapable of doing the job. Your job is simple, you listen to the citizens, you do what is best for them and for the town.
I don’t have a personal issue with any member of the town government, but I do have an issue with how some of the town board are conducting their service for the town. I can’t keep up with all the Town Managers we have went through in a very short time. They aren’t the problem, the Town Board seems to be. Perhaps it’s time for a few new faces.
Town board members who don’t like The Paw or any other legitimate Mount Gilead Business might do better to look at mending their own flaws or if not capable of that expend some effort to create an atmosphere around town that discourages illegitimate business, e.g. drugs, shooting folks around town. You know. The stuff that arrises from poor leadership. It would be lovely to feel safe in town … again.