Poll: who cares about local government?

By DAVID HULSE and TOM KANE

REGION — Whether you’re talking about the school board, planning board or the township board, very few people attend meetings of the boards that create policies for our communities, oversee our kids’ education and spend our tax dollars.

Public officials readily admit their frustration at the poor turnout. “Most people only show up when they’re angry about something,” one said privately.

Last week, we asked a random sampling of New York and Pennsylvania residents, “Do you attend local municipal meetings like the town board and planning board meetings? And if not, why not?”

Most admitted they didn’t go and their reasons ranged from complete disaffection with government to an absolute certainty that elected officials would handle things properly without supervision.

Billie Duffek of Beach Lake said, “I have lost all confidence in government of any kind. America has lost its faith in God. They no longer follow the godly principles upon which the country was founded.”

But Ronald Bugaj of Dyberry said, “I have complete confidence in my elected officials, that they will do a good job.”

Some were simply apathetic. Craig Thurmann of Berlin Township said, “I’m not really interested in meetings like that.”

Connie Gill of Honesdale said, “I’ve never gone to any meeting. I don’t know why.”

For others who don’t attend, the problem was scheduling. Cathy Daboul of Barryville admitted she didn’t know the day of the town board’s regular meeting.

It was the same for Sonia Kramer of Dyberry. “I don’t know when the meetings are held or what they’re meeting about so I don’t go.”

Many others said that already full schedules keep them away. Robin Luckey of Kenoza Lake said, “I have kids and I’m very involved with 4-H so I don’t have time to go.”

“I don’t have time to go to these meetings,” said Fremont resident, Tom Schick

Barryville store owner Emily Oelkers formerly served on the Highland Town Board, but doesn’t attend nowadays. “Since they made the starting time earlier, it’s hard for me to get there,” said Oelkers, who works into the evening. “People really should go,” she added.

One Yulan businessman said he made his feelings known to the councilman of his choice and never felt he needed to attend personally.

It was the same for Ed Martin of Texas Township. “I see those guys all the time. I can call them on the phone. I don’t have to go to meetings to know what’s happening.”

We found some meeting regulars, too. Francie Brown of Damascus said, “I go often to my township meeting. I like to keep up to date.”

Damascus resident Hedy Kumstmann said, “I go because I like to know what’s going on in the town. It’s also an opportunity for me to meet my neighbors. The meetings are lively and interesting. If the people in Damascus have something on their minds, they’re not afraid to say it.”

Some people look for a special topic. “When there’s an important issue, I go. Like when they were deciding about the status of a junkyard,” said Gerald Bagdonas of Texas Township.

David Stanton of Honesdale Borough said, “I’ll go if there’s an important issue being discussed.”

But more than a few people said they had bad experiences dealing with town government that turned them off. “When I got no results from the township government, I stopped going. I had a grievance that they just ignored,” said Kathleen Borkowski of Beach Lake.

Donna Cahayla of Barryville works late, but following an incident with a prowler she took time and went to the town board to get information about the police response. “They went on and on forever. What does that tell you, when you go find about 911 and all they talk about are parks?”

Barryville resident Betty Speaker said she once attended town board meetings regularly, but has stopped going. “They don’t listen,” she said.