We were saddened to learn this week of John Lee’s decision to resign from the Parks and Recreation Commission (see story). For more than 20 years Lee has made enormous contributions to Harvard’s recreational programs. His experience and leadership will be hard to replace.
Our volunteer-driven form of town government depends on the experience and commitment of citizens like Lee and George McKenna, whose resignation from the town Finance Committee after another long tenure is noted this week in a letter from a former colleague. While it is inevitable that differences of opinion will arise among members of our town boards, leading to occasional table-pounding and passionate declarations, the town can’t tackle the complicated issues that await in the coming years unless its leaders can discuss them respectfully, and abide by the rules of order that keep meetings from jumping the rails.
This week the Boston Globe interviewed selectmen from several towns around the state and concluded that a lack of civility is a growing problem in municipal government. As the town prepares to resume its business in the next two weeks, let’s all vow that Harvard can do better.
