Unfortunately, I was out of town during the June meeting, so I cannot add much to the Board’s summary which you recently received.

But please take a minute to read the following information on the nominating process; which will then be followed by one miscellaneous items.

Nominating Process

You have already received an email from the Nominating Committee with a time line of the process.  This timetable is extremely important in that it allows all residents to accomplish two objectives:

• First, it allows residents time to ask questions of the candidates to see where they stand on important issues.

• Second, and just as important, it allows for sufficient time to digest that information and then to decide whether or not to nominate write-in candidates.  You might be comfortable with the answers to your questions.  But, if not, you will have time to do something about it if you so wish.

This new time line was adopted by the Board earlier this year.  It ensures that the process is as open as possible and that residents can make informed judgments.  However, to do so, you will need to ask questions of the proposed candidates.  The Nominating Committee is asking for your input on these questions, and I encourage you to participate.

In the past, the Nominating Committee would ask questions of the candidates and post the answers on line.  However, the questions were so general as to limit the usefulness of the answers.  If you had specific areas of concern, the chances were that you did not get the information you wanted.

So, if you want to know where the candidates stand on issues you feel are important, ask specific questions.  If you found the questions I have used in previous years to be helpful, feel free to use those as a guide to come up with your own.  My previous questions can be found above in the Archive section of the site.  But please note that some of them may be out of date and not relevant to this year’s process.

According to the email that was sent to everybody, they will be asking for your questions during July.  Please watch for the committee’s email on this item.

I cannot guarantee what questions the committee will choose to use, but I have the impression that they will be more open to making the questions very specific.  And the more people that ask about a specific issue, the better the chances that it will be addressed in the questions submitted to the candidates.

And, if your question is not addressed, you should feel free to approach candidates directly.  I suspect that all the candidates would be responsive to questions asked privately.  (….and I will gladly answer any questions any resident might care to ask of me.)

The idea here is that, once people know where the candidates stand, it will be easier for them to determine whether a write-in candidate is appropriate.  This system has been designed to give you the ability to make well informed judgments, so please take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions.

Miscellaneous Item – Cub Creek Bridge

I know that many people are curious as to what has been going on with the Cub Creek Bridge project.  In case you missed it, check out the most recent E-News.  The “Ask the Manager” section (right at the top) contains a link to a good summary of the situation written by Mike Zmuda.

On a slightly related note, I was recently informed that there is a plaque on that bridge which recognizes Roy Thorton’s efforts in directing the first road project done in 2013.  I had no idea it was there.  Maybe I am the only one who did not know about this nice gesture.  But, in case I was not alone in that respect, I thought I would pass on the information.  A picture of it can be found here:  Plaque

It blends in with the stonework, so it is not easy to see as you drive by.  Please don’t try to view it from a moving car, because that might create a dangerous situation.

(Editorial Comment: I know that other efforts to recognize his contributions have been proposed, and I know that most all of them were politely declined by Roy.  He has made it clear on more than one occasion that he has done this work for the good of the community and does not wish to be singled out for special recognition.

Given what he has done, he brings new meaning to the term “self-effacing”.  We are extremely lucky to have benefited from his efforts.)