It's her style
Mar 13, 2008 - 12:48:06 CDT
Mayor Roberts had some strong feelings about a recent commentary from the Settlement Observor, who took her to task over some flower business. I assured her from the first time I heard from her that she could have more than equal space to answer the commentary. In the end she chose not to write a letter, instead discussing her points of contention with me — and I told her that I’d be happy to voice her response.
In the Feb. 28 issue of the Press, the Observor questioned the mayor sending flowers from her own shop to a couple events and then billing the city, all without prior approval or leading by the city administrator or council. The Observor, who shall remain unidentified here, talked about how the budget did not call for flower purchases.
While the budget doesn’t call for flowers, the mayor or city administrator have the right to spend a certain amount of money without asking prior permission of council. What the mayor did was not illegal in any way, but still her motives and methods were questioned.
“I did consult with the city administrator before sending two funeral sprays in 2007 on behalf of the city,” Roberts told me in a fax and then reiterated in person. “For the sake of their families, I’d rather keep their names confidential,” she said. But both instances involved people who had been affiliated with city government.
In defense of the Observor, I should make it known here that he (we’ll call the Observor a ‘he’ in the interest of making this commentary read more fluidly) did have verification of the flowers being billed to the city from the mayor’s floral shop prior to making any accusations. I know, because I personally made the request and received copies of the invoices. Had “he” made the request then “his” identity would no longer remain a mystery.
Roberts explained to me that sending flowers and memorials is just the type of person she is. “I simply wanted recognition for the city at visitation, knowing it meant a great deal to the families of city employees. For the same reason, I try to attend the visitations and funerals of these people,” she explained.
And, indeed, doing things to make people she cares about feel special is the reputation Roberts has earned for herself over the years. She has sent countless other sympathy sprays from her business to friends and well-known members of the community over the years at her own cost — not asking the city to pay the tab. She also bought a cake and decorations for a reception when a close friend retired from a city committee or board, and footed the bill for a Valentine’s Day party for city employees. She helped out with funding some events of the employees’ Christmas party.
The mayor doesn’t deny that she sent the flowers in question and her shop later billed the city for the cost. She wouldn’t deny it, and if she did the paper trail would tell a different story. Looking back, she admits, it wasn’t the way to handle things. “I am addressing these items of protocol in a council policy which I hope to have ready for the new council in April. I have learned much from this experience and will handle things differently in the future,” she admits. But she’s taking it one step further.
“To relieve all doubt, Botaniques will refund the city for these two invoices and refrain from risking the appearance of self-interest in the future. I will continue to represent the city with honesty and integrity in regard to these matters,” she said.
Admittedly this has been an uncomfortable experience for the mayor, and one in which she took some flack from strangers and some gentle direction from friends and confidants. “I thought I was pretty thick skinned, but (someone) told me I’d better get the sandpaper out because I wasn’t there yet,” she said earlier this week.
As for why I chose to write about this topic, after discussing it at length with the mayor I felt her perspective deserved to be told ... even if she didn’t wish to tell it herself. A very small number of readers have questioned the “Settlement Observor” being in the Press, but as I’ve explained before the allowance from time to time of an unnamed writer, or “voice”, to take on issues without the fear of retaliation is nearly as old as journalism itself. Announymous writers have routinely penned commentaries for newspapers big and small over the centuries, including the Farmington Press and its predecessors on more than one occasion in the past 75 years or so that I know of. I believe the views of the Settlement Observor have effected, or played a part in, some positive changes taking place in this community.
That said, the Observor obviously doesn’t have a corner on the opinion market. To that end, feel free to respond to anything written by him, or her, or any other columnist which appears on our weekly “Features” page. I will admit that I don’t always see everything eye to eye with the Settlement Observor. As for me, anyone who has ever talked to me knows that I’ll listen to your opinion, and I’ll even gladly print it ... even if I don’t agree. While I might always feel my opinion is correct, my wife has long since trained me to realize that it isn’t always the case.
The mayor and I have talked (a lot) in recent weeks. I listened while she talked. She listened while I talked. That’s how mature people handle things and learn from all of life’s experiences — the good ones, and the less comfortable ones as well.
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