Friends of Mill Valley

Dear Anne,

I thought that I would drop you a note, and if I could, put a few thoughts on the table with regard to the replacement of Rory Walsh.

First, there has been a great divide between what a good portion of Mill Valley residents would like to see, and those who have been in positions of authority over the last number of years. As both the town and its city government grapple with the concept of small town, and how to maintain that character, do you think it wise to continue to use the term, "Community Development Director"? I for one, if I saw that job title, would be of the opinion, that Mill Valley was interested in someone who could step into an ongoing operation who's objective was to develop this town. Is that what you intend?

Secondly, why are there no citizens on the selection and review committee? Is that because no one in city government thinks that any of us has the qualification to either run a corporation or business, and that we never search or hire new employees? Also, how do we know that those local city managers and planning directors selected to review respondents, will do so with the circumstances of Mill Valley fully in focus, and not bring their own version of their town to bear upon the choice for Mill Valley.

We need the city council involved. We need the citizens of Mill Valley involved. What we don't need is a rubber stamp to be hired who carries on the fail experiments of the recent past, because that is the line of thinking that is transmitted in the hiring process.

Lastly, the job market is in such turmoil that I would be careful to not hire someone who is so over qualified that they look at Mill Valley as a place to make their mark. That's usually done at our expense.

If we, the citizens of our town, see this coming and feel that we are being led down the path again, we will respond. But you already knew that to be the case.

George Gordon