For those who weren't watching at home, the meeting was largely uneventful. I was going to ask a question at the end, but Trustee Sussman raised the topic herself. At the last meeting, President Gorman said discussions about planning/strategizing/brainstorming about our current state of financial affairs, business affairs, and service levels would wait 'until after the holidays, in January or later'.
It seems odd to waste the couple of months now when ideas could be shared at board meetings. Given the open meetings act, Board members can't really have these discussions outside of scheduled meetings, short of one-on-one conversations. Plus, having discussions now might engage residents with their own ideas (e.g. the boardwalk, the garden club's volunteering to add landscaping, etc.).
So Trustee Sussman asked that some preliminary discussions happen now, in the board meetings before the formal 'strategy session' in January or February. As I think most people with experience in business and organizations know, such work is generative, and not well suited to one or two sessions.
A couple of other Trustees commented, but President Gorman put his hand up and essentially told Trustee Sussman to shut up. Rightly, she pointed out that since residents are allowed to speak at meetings, she surely is. He demured, but only momentarily, and then cut her off again. He fitfully said he made his decision, and there would be no more talk of it. (He was taking his ball home now, thank you!)
Since when is this an autocracy? We can't have a discussion about a discussion?
And more important, since when is it okay for a Board member to bully another Board member?
His reaction was so unexpected, it's hard to describe. If you want to see it on the recording, it's about 80-90 minutes in, during Trustee Sussman's presentation. It's after her presentation of the Arts Fair and before the parking lot.
