Re; City keeping an eye on Hyack brouhaha, The Record, Aug. 28.
Unlike others with transparent agendas in the very public Hyack imbroglio, Mayor Wayne Wright has exercised the appropriate degree of restraint in not interfering in an internal personnel matter involving an individual employed by an independent board of directors. I am appalled how some Hyack board of directors' members can not only leak information to the press, but also refuse to properly address matters in an "in camera" setting that befits personnel matters. What part of their fiduciary duty, in positions of trust, have been set aside to further their own agendas?
The resulting brouhaha appears to be being fed by lack of information at best and misinformation at worst. Like the mayor, Hyack president Gavin Palmer and his executive has set the correct tone by not engaging in public debate while a faction of the board of directors feeds the press, and Douglas Smith's admirers, with a stream of propaganda reminiscent of those attempting to justify a palace coup.
The most disconcerting part of this whole affair appears to be a case of "the tail wagging the dog," whereby an employee seems to be trying to exercise power over the board that employs him. Mayor and council would not accept having their powers usurped by their civil service and neither should the Hyack board. Boards have to discipline employees whose power grasp is far beyond their job description's reach. It seems unconscionable that an executive director should be calling for sale of memberships to pack the special meeting being called for Sept. 10 or indeed anyone offering to pay for such memberships! Let's not sanction a similar fate for Hyack as the Hyack membership should be making some internal changes and continue to attract local, regional and national positive attention to the city.
E.C. "Ted" Eddy
Hyack member and volunteer
