Is it time for Greenfield to move to a city charter? Part 2

By Pat Hays
Guest columnist

In my last guest post in April of this year about a charter for the village of Greenfield ( I asked if it was time for Greenfield to move to a “charter” form of government.

Since then, the November vote put the question of converting Greenfield back to a “mayor-council” (federal) form of government.

In my opinion, the main impetus for this reform was the removal of the city manager and a member of the village council. Facebook and other social media platforms have been full of hate, hatred and potentially slanderous comments directed at the village administration and, unfortunately, members of this community.

I’m not taking sides on the city manager issue. He resigned.

But I have a problem with abolishing Greenfield’s form of government just to get rid of one or two individuals.

Greenfield needs a change. Just not the federal plan. Greenfield needs its own charter that can address all the issues raised over the past year. And if this issue is resolved, Greenfield will have no chance of forming a charter for the next three to five years.

In a 2007 editorial, I wrote the following: “I have also found over the past 35 (now 52) years that the citizens of Greenfield are among the best in the state when you tell them the truth about issues, them will do the right thing for the city.

Let’s all work together, install good leadership in our elected positions and support our Greene County Towne.

I urge you to vote NO on Issue 4 and work diligently to place a charter issue on the ballot next year.