By announcing the dismissal of Fire Chief Daniel Brock during her inaugural address Monday, Westbrook’s new mayor, Colleen Hilton, displayed a flair for the dramatic and a keen sense of timing.
Her announcement was met with shock by many observers, and the inaugural night events caught headlines across local media. But the swiftness and direction of Hilton’s actions were in line with the bold promises she made during her campaign and since her victory in interviews with the American Journal, and come as no surprise to those who have followed Westbrook closely over the last three months.
Regarding city business in general, and the fire department fiasco in particular, Hilton has said consistently that she would move quickly to settle outstanding problems, and not hesitate to make major changes. The new mayor should be commended for following through so quickly and confidently on her campaign promises, and for taking steps that appear to be part of a clear vision for the future of Westbrook.
Hilton made the right move in not reappointing Brock, by all accounts a good man and firefighter whose quiet leadership style was not a good fit for a department in turmoil over the sexual harassment claims of two female firefighters.
And though the announcement of a new chief financial planner to be shared by the city and schools was hardly news – it has been discussed openly for months by Superintendent Reza Namin and City Administrator Jerre Bryant, and was approved by the City Council in December – Hilton is also correct in eliminating the city’s recreation director and finance director positions in order to pursue collaborations with the school system.
But while she has shown the ability to be decisive and resolute so far in her short tenure, a tough road lies ahead for Hilton. The first year of her first term – the one that will set the tone for her administration – will be defined by the fire department issue and the next budget.
The situation at the fire department, where firefighters Kathy Rogers and Lisa Theberge have filed suit against the city and have been on paid leave for more than a year, has dragged on long enough, and needs quick resolution. Hilton must use her position to negotiate a settlement, and the firefighters responsible for creating the hostile atmosphere need to be rooted out and dismissed, so the department can move out from under that dark cloud and get back to the business of being one of the region’s best public safety units.
As for the budget, Hilton has to continue to push reforms, like the collaborations between the city and its schools, or between the city and other communities, in order to find efficiencies that will save taxpayer dollars. The budget outlook for both the city and schools is grim, and real structural changes are needed to continue delivering services at the expected level.
Changes like those require leaders with foresight and flexibility, as well as the backbone to challenge long-standing traditions and assumptions. Hilton, in making her first public gestures as mayor, has so far demonstrated those qualities.
The test, however, is if the exuberance and strength of Hilton’s inaugural address can be sustained once the initial excitement dies down, and the real business of running the city goes on.
Ben Bragdon,
managing editor
Send questions/comments to the editors.
