Officials are held to higher standards

You are an elected official – doesn’t matter whether you are president of the United States or a borough council member or township supervisor, you can’t please everyone all the time. In fact, if you can please half of the people, you are doing a pretty good job.


Unless you are the president of the United States, who is pretty much shielded from public complaints, you, on the smaller level as a borough council or school board member or a township supervisor, you not only have a lot to do, but also are target of frequent critics for what you do or don’t do.

I’ve probably been to more public meetings than anyone in our town. Not only here in Columbia, but numerous other areas in York and Lancaster counties. I’ve seen it all, heard it all and left many meetings shaking my head as to what happened, what didn’t happen and what people, not only on the governing bodies said or what the people who attend the meeting say at meetings.

Sometimes I think because the meetings were being covered by not only the local newspapers, but others, it was grandstanding. Other times, I thought people who brought things up at meetings has legitimate concerns or questions. Yet, those concerns or questions got brushed aside because of who was speaking or the manner it was brought up.

I get to thinking sometimes how certain people can get away with what they say, not only from the head table, but the citizens as well.

I can say Columbia is unique in that respect. Over the years I’ve seen many times where governing bodies and the public tangle and be at odds. It’s gotten to the point where it has divided communities.

But the one thing at times I think is missing is respect. Respect for those in charge and respect from those in charge toward the citizenry.

Sometimes the governing bodies haven’t earned that respect from its citizens and other times they have.

What I don’t like however is when people don’t care their way and take their ball, so to speak, and go home. Sure, I’ll admit, there are times when it is tough to sit at a head table and get beat up all of the time, but that’s why people get elected to office. Sure, sometimes it goes overboard, but when an elected official doesn’t get his or her way, shouts an obscenity and takes their ball and goes home, its time for a change. You have to ask yourself as a citizen if that type person is one we want leading our community and also have to ask at the same time, if the comment from a citizen really needed to be made.

Either way, its not a good way for a community leader to act and some are questioning whether that person should be involved in the decisions of our town.