The Townie is an opinion website. The views expressed in this piece belong solely to the author, do not represent those held by The Townie, and should not be interpreted as objective or reported fact.
I am not a political person by nature so when I retired several years ago, joining the City Council was the furthest thing from my mind. However, it proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I wish I had the opportunity to know what I know now before I joined the Council so, as I prepare to leave, I have some reflections and thoughts I’d like to share for residents and new Councillors.
My advice to new Councillors is this:
1. Take the time to get to know your fellow Councillors as people. Don’t assume that you know them based on your preconceived notions, nor how they think and feel about any issue. If you pigeonhole people before you get to know them, you are doing a disservice to yourself, them, and the residents that you serve. You will have to work with ten other Councillors so it is worth the time to understand them as people, not just colleagues.
2. While the executive branch runs the city operationally, the Council is every bit as important and represents the voice of the people. The city only functions well when there is respect on both sides and balance between the separate but equal branches of government. The Council exists to be the checks and balances of power and the Council must assert itself as such.
3. There is a lot of homework. It’s important to come prepared for meetings, do your research and not allow yourself to be easily swayed by the opinions of others. It will take a lot of time but you owe it to the people that voted for you.
4. Independent thinking may be the single most important characteristic of a good Councillor. Very few decisions are easy and you should talk to people on both sides of an issue before forming your own opinion. You are there to make important decisions that affect every resident of the city, not just your friends.
5. Don’t be afraid to change your mind. The whole point of doing your homework and talking to people with varying perspectives is to gain the facts to help you with your decisions. Don’t become entrenched in your opinions. Some of the decisions I’m most proud of changed over time because I became enlightened along the way.
A new Councillor also needs to know what their new life will be like. You can expect:
1. A lot of phone calls/emails/texts with residents that firmly believe that their issue is the most important thing in the city that day because it is that important to them.
2. Meetings on at least a couple nights a week so that the public can participate but invariably very few residents will show up.
3. A lot of guilt that you are not giving enough time to your partner, kids, friends, parents, work, community organizations that you care about, etc… It’s all part of what you’re signing up for.
There is very important work ahead for the next Council. The budget is an enormous challenge. Spending is up considerably, and while there are some residents that can afford it, there are also plenty that can’t. This year the city taxed the residents the maximum amount allowed by law while cutting 14 employees. Residents are paying more and getting less services. Something has to change. I have been very vocal about the enormous task of making our water supply more resilient in the face of climate change. It will be very expensive and is not at all sexy but it is also the lifeblood of the city. Basic infrastructure is the most important thing the city provides and it cannot be pushed off any longer. Waterfront West will likely come to the forefront early in the next term and the Council controls zoning so it will play a critical role. There are a LOT of opinions about what should be done there. It will take compromise from the city and the developer to get the best project for the residents.
If you are left with nothing else, please know this, it’s way harder and takes way more time to be a Councillor than anyone can imagine until you are in it. However, being a Councillor is also one of the most rewarding things that you can ever do because you are giving back to the community in a way that is tremendously impactful and that is why we do it.
I hope that every resident will take the time to realize how much Councillors (whether you like them or not) are doing for the residents of the city and the sacrifices that they are making. I also hope that you will also take notice that very few residents are tuning into the important issues that are facing the city and shaping your life and taxes. Please get more involved.
Newburyport is an amazing place to live. It is a reflection of all of us playing our part great and small. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead from the sidelines.
Connie Preston
Newburyport City Councilor, At-large
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