March 12, 2009

editorial

On the cusp

The 2009 Village budget, passed unanimously by Council on Monday night, offers many opportunities for pride in the village. This document is an excellent balance of caution and vision, keeping Yellow Springs stable in turbulent times while still moving ahead in new ways. And along with being proud of the product, villagers can be proud of the process involved.

First, Village Council deserves our gratitude. Council members put in long hours on top of their normal daunting schedule. And they were uncommonly thoughtful. This budget sparked controversy; Council members certainly got an earful. The situation could have turned divisive, but did not. Rather than escalating the rancor, Council seemed to listen well and respectfully to those who disagreed with Council’s direction. Not everyone will see their priorities reflected in this budget, but Council clearly heard the concerns of all sides, and promised to address them in the coming year.

Village Manager Mark Cundiff also gets kudos. It can’t be easy, especially in this opinionated town, to leap into the minefield of municipal budgeting soon after starting his new job. But Cundiff navigated this process not only with skill but also good humor, sometimes diffusing tense moments with his light touch. Finance Director Sharon Potter’s expertise helped keep the process on track.

And villagers should be proud of themselves. About 40 citizens showed up Monday night at the budget hearing, and many more wrote letters, organized petitions or made phone calls in the past several weeks. Those who spoke at the meeting did so with both passion and civility. As Council President Judith Hempfling said Monday night, engaged citizens are not only the foundation of democracy, but they also make Council do its job better. This budget process showed that to be true.

As one villager said at Monday night’s meeting, the village is on the cusp of exciting new things. That’s exactly how it feels.

—Diane Chiddister