To the Editor:

While I agree with Ms. Laura Martin that the discord among Knox’s leaders is troubling, I respectfully disagree that the members of the town board are not interested in what is good for the taxpayers, “and only what benefits their own interests.” Although I have had many confrontations with the town over the years and have disagreed with the supervisor, the board, and the advisory committees, I have always felt that the people who serve us in Knox are doing their best to represent all of our interests.

I lived in the South for several years, and, believe me, I saw elected officials doing things that benefited their own interests. We don’t have that here. Our leaders work hard to help make Knox a great place to live.

What we do have is an energetic new supervisor who has a lot of ideas (probably some better than others) and a desire to get things done, and a board with a long history in the town and in many cases a desire to examine issues, particularly new ideas carefully and within the context of who we are as Knoxers.

This is certainly going to create some consternation, and perhaps even leave some good ideas on the cutting-room floor (possibly to be picked up and dusted off later on). But it is also likely to allow careful consideration of other ideas and allow us to move forward, maybe more slowly than some would like, but with fewer costly mistakes.

That’s why the Founding Fathers created a separation of powers; it slows government down. One board member shared with me the opinion that Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis has made some good progress this past year. I would agree.

Not too long ago, many of Knox’s citizens came together to consider updating the comprehensive plan. While I don’t have detailed statistics, what seemed clear to me was that people like the rural character (hard to define) of the town. They value agriculture and natural resources. And they are interested in seeing more economic/business development in town.

To some, rural character and business development might seem contradictory. But it doesn’t have to be. What is important is that the government sets development goals that support and enhance the rural character of the town.

The suggestion I would have is that the members of our government focus on developing policies and programs that support the attributes that Knox’s citizens identified in the comprehensive planning process.  This will require considerable deliberation, research, and debate.

The energy of the new supervisor running headlong into the historical context of the town board will certainly generate conflict. But if our government adopts two principles — respect for one another, and being willing to compromise (without which comes gridlock) — Knox will move forward to become an even better place to live for all of its citizens.

Gary Kleppel

Knox