Abuse of power

Posted January 19, 2006

This letter was sent to E. Winn Davis, Dukes County manager, and the Dukes County commission, by William C. Mill, who resigned from the airport commission Tuesday:

The actions taken by the Dukes County Commission in removing dedicated members of the Martha's Vineyard Airport Commission can only be viewed as a flagrant abuse of power. The County Commission members, unable to seat themselves as the Airport Commission, have sidestepped their way onto the board by throwing out any member of the airport commission who does not vote the county commissioners' way. It has become routine for this commission to say "our way or the highway."

It appears that the county commission has not learned from the expensive lesson taught by the recent court decision - a decision that will have them scrambling to pay penalties, damages, interest and court fees which will cost the county taxpayers penalties which are climbing every day closer to a million dollars - taxpayer dollars, and the meter is still ticking. This continuing disregard for consequences certainly adds fuel to the arguments of those, myself included, who question the worth of county government. Machiavelli wrote a book on how to govern and called it "The Prince." If he were to write one on Dukes County government he would have to title it "The Pauper."

It will be interesting to see how the Federal Aviation Administration and the Massachusetts Aeronautical Commission will view this latest effort of the county commission to assert control over the airport. The agencies have contributed huge sums of money for airport improvements, all depending on the county's assurance that they will not interfere with the airport management. The question now is whether the constant juggling act with airport commissioners falls into the definition of "interference."

I am proud of what has been accomplished during my tenure on the commission. In the meantime, I cannot in good conscience continue to serve while valued members are tossed aside. You may consider this to be my own resignation from the Airport Commission.