[Mpls] park board

[Chris Johnson]

Scott Neiman wrote:

>When I was first elected to the Board (1982), I certainly wasn't a part of
>any majority.  It took six years before I earned the trust and respect of my
>fellow Board members and was elected President.  
>
Thank you for revealing just how dysfunctional the boad is, and for how 
long.  Here I had thought it was just in the past 5 to 10 years.  Now I 
read that the lack of integrity, ethics and manners goes back 22 years 
to at least 1982:  It took you six years to earn the trust and respect 
of fellow board members?  Good grief!  Either they had been burned so 
oftened by double-dealing and back-stabbing, or you just weren't capable 
of earning anyone's trust.  I am betting it was the former.

Let me contrast that with a board I sit on:  it took me a couple months, 
at most, to earn the trust and respect of my fellow board members -- if 
that long.  It was probably more just a case of getting to know me.  My 
board always behaves in a civil fashion.  We all believe in our 
organization's mission, so when there is disagreement among board 
members, it is stated civilly and courteously in discussion.  Often even 
those who oppose a motion in discussion will vote "aye" when the vote 
comes, as they know their objections have been heard, and that they are 
respected and trusted, and there is no need to vote "no" simply to point 
out their belief in a better course of action.  I've been on this board 
for almost 5 years, appointed once, elected twice.  I'm currently the 
vice president.  At our next meeting, I will probably be elected 
president, a job I have not even asked for but instead am being 
"drafted" to take.

When I compare the hard-working, respectful members of my board to 
squabbling boards like that of the MPRB, I can't help but think I'm 
fortunate to be surrounded by honest, caring people of high ethics, 
instead of a bunch of self-centered,  power-seeking moral relativists.  
I wouldn't care, except that it's my tax money, my city and my parks 
that are being abused.

Angry, irrational shouting at members of the public, something both Bob 
Fine and Jon Gurban have been witnessed doing, is hardly conducive to 
earning respect and trust.  In fact, it's bullying and insulting.  It's 
wholly inappropriate.  Who would support such an out-of-control, 
unmannered person for any position of public service?

Chris Johnson
Fulton