Ellen Moyer: Annapolis Mayor Buckley still learning the nature of public service

Mayor Gavin Buckley’s assessment of his first year in office was an interesting puff piece (The Capital, Dec. 4). The mayor did run into some hurdles which could have been avoided with a bit more understanding of the nature of public service.

The mayor has charm and a good sense of humor that has carried him forward on any number of endeavors throughout his life. He is an entrepreneur whose basic modus operandi is to pursue an idea and “get it done.” Public service is a bit different, to get it done requires collaboration and cooperation and thinking together on the how of things, listening to a variety of others with a variety of experiences in governing.

To engage multiple people In the doing is time-consuming … but that is what representative government of, by and for the people is all about.

Mayor Buckley brags about his new staff. They are indeed skilled in specifics but they also are lacking in public service people engagement experience which leads to a lot of bureaucratic head scratching frustrations.

Buckley has an ever-changing administrative staff, moving on or out as the case may be. This means the business of governing is disrupted, forever starting over.

One comment in particular in the article caught my eye. It was his reference to the new appointments to the Art in Public Places Commission, that “had not met in months.” Not so.

Where did this bit of fakery come from and why? I suspect it was bureaucratic shenanigans. The city for reasons unknown removed the professional recorder for Art in Public Places who had been documenting meetings for years. Since this body, under the code has some authority the commission members asked for her back. Alas that was not to be.

Notes of the meetings did not meet a bureaucratic format. However, meetings continued and included a city hall reception for the new Poet Laureate announced in June and art receptions for exhibits at Pip Moyer Recreation Center and City Hall as well as sponsorship of 19 concerts on City Dock during the summer.

True, Art in Public Places didn’t meet as a Board in August (by this time all terms had expired) neither does the City Council. Under some obscure notion, any action taken was declared invalid for the meeting in September as well as meetings prior to July.

Meanwhile, the contract for the coordinator of local art exhibits In the city’s three galleries due on July 1 was never executed. The new, unrecognized volunteer chair had spent hours meeting with members of the community to bolster a commission left with vacant seats.

Boards and commission members usually feel passionate about their interests. They dedicate time even money to fulfill their responsibilities . They definitely do not deserve to be thrown under the bus with fake statements dismissing their time and energy.

The mayor, consistent with his emphasis on One Annapolis needs to embrace dedicated volunteers, help them with the tools to be successful in their mission.

As the column notes, this year has been one of ups and downs for the mayor.

Despite the downs, the sins of omission, as the mayor learns the skills of governing, setting the tone for his staff, I am confident he will open the doors wider toward achieving his vision of One Annapolis.