Introducing our new contributors

Gaining Depth in this Blog's Team

Courtesy of MS ClipArt

      I would like to take a few lines here to introduce our newest line up of blog contributors. I have invited each of them based on my experience with them and their  considerable observation and listening skills combined with their powerful ability to tell a story. My only requirement of them is that they keep their focus on "anything and perhaps everything Wrightsville Beach". Each has already been helping me behind the scenes getting this blog going with post ideas, facts and photos.

Our goal is to help build and maintain a high quality of life here in TOWB. That means helping property owners, residents, vacationers, visitors and last but not least our town government to understand and take their responsibility for the many aspects of life here at the beach.

"Communicate with an emotional component that will get your audience to think and act.."
Anonymous 

So here we go...

Ned Belmont - Has been a long term friend. He would describe himself as a very amateur photographer. He does not consider himself "artsie" just basic photos that have a story. He depends heavily on his phone camera and likes to terrorize his family and friends with his daily even hourly barrage of "insightful pic". He lives by the motto, "Pictures are worth a thousand words."

Mike Carpenter - I first met Mike after observing him in the neighborhood always working on odd projects. He is a very busy guy, the result of extensive honey-do and me-do-4-me lists. He is a Renaissance Man in so many ways, self made knowledgeable and wise beyond his years.What he doesn't understand he will work tirelessly to figure out.

Neal Briggi - Is a new found friend. I first came across him by way of his letters to the Lumina News. He defines himself as an advocate for quality of life here in Wrightsville. He has been an active citizen at TOWB meetings and is a strong advocate of open and responsible government.  He is a founding member of the Henderson Street League for the Environment & Responsible Government here in Wrightsville Beach..

Liz Daschell - I've known Liz for a very, very long time. She has a very keen view on style, food, shopping and especially adds the feminine perspective. Whatever you do, don't get between her and a sharks tooth laying in the sand  on the beach.

Noah Bridges - That's me...I am still learning who I am. I like to talk and write. I like to ask questions and listen for answers (especially answers to the question I asked). I like to use humor and analogy in making a point and I get especially frustrated when people don't take responsibility and accept the consequences for themselves.

"Writer's block......"
Copyright Ned Belmont

Please think about, act upon and enjoy our work. 



By All means please comment.


Thanks for reading.    Noah

Giant step for the citizens of Wrightsville Beach

Dear Readers,

I am happy to announce a "giant step for the citizens of Wrightsville Beach"

Late afternoon yesterday, at the Town of Wrightsville Beach Special Meeting called by the Board of Alderman to discuss recruitment of a new Town manager, a local resident and advocate, Neal Briggi took a long awaited step. He had bought a 32GB SD Card for his phone over the weekend. He came to this meeting (he is a regular attendee of the town meetings) with his kitchen stool and extension cord,. He plugged in his phone, set it on the stool in the front row and positioned it towards the Board. As the meeting started he hit record on the phones video camera.

Frustrated with the Boards recent line item budget cut for a previously approved and funded/earmark for video streaming  of the Town Meetings, he took matters forward. This issue has been raised numerous times in Town Meetings and covered by Lumina News in their reporting including Letters the Editor. The contentious issue here has been an ongoing voting block of three Alderman Collins, Mills and King (Mills and King being new to the BOA) vs. veteran Town Officials Mayor Cignotti and Alderman Sisson

Mr. Briggi has advocated video streaming as a means to increase the engagement of the WB Citizens especially property owners. He has also publicly stated and written about the need for greater transparency and the lack of reasonable explanation given for actions by the voting block,  "All our elected officials owe the citizens an explanation for why they vote the way they do, their rationale, they owe us to be prepared for items on the agenda and to engage in round table discussion of the issues, to find the common ground and sustainable solutions for our town.... it can't be left for just a few board members "  according to Briggi, this current Board has taken big steps backward and they are not working together, nor do they seem focused on a strategic agenda for the town.

When asked about the Video Stream, he stated "I am glad it's done... we can move forward and see what the future brings, there is no turning back, I won't apologize for the quality of the video.. it is what it is, my mobile phone sitting on my kitchen stool... which as you will see was a bit too short... oh and the acoustics in the room combined with Alderman with poor microphone etiquette makes for some tough to hear spots".

When asked about the mood of the meeting he added, "In the end there are no contentious moments, or votes that hijacked the future of WB, like at the budget workshops. Everyone seemed to be compatible and the important thing is they agreed on a process to find a top notch candidate to fill Bob Simpson's shoes."

When asked about the future..."I hope to be able to get some other helpful citizens to be part of video streaming, I hope to see more people engage with the town issues and participate at the town meetings... I hope a greater understanding of what's happening, what needs to be addressed, what's critical and to compel my fellow citizens to be involved, we can't bury our heads in the sand at the beach... which BTW will be needing renourishment."

As regards finding a new Town Manager he hopes to see the BOA use a similar process as was used in filling the Police Chief role, which was an open house with the final two candidates. "It was a great opportunity to talk with the candidates, pepper them with questions that help to surface their experiences and to understand ways they expect to approach their role, priorities, solutions etc. as an example, our new Chief Dan House was very easy to connect with and he has proven that in his reaching out to citizens in a dialog. That will be no less the case with a new Town Manager who is a first and foremost link to the citizens by our government and town staff... I hope they work the process this way... it should be a part of the measurement of the candidate, their desire and ability to engage with citizens."


With Permission from Neal Briggi an important local advocate for open and responsible government, hereby below is the link to the TOWB BOA Aug 27, 2012 Meeting.

Thanks for reading,  Noah

http://youtu.be/5QRC7j3rFtk

highlight link above, right click, select go to http at the bottom of the drop down menu

Breaking News Update ....Statue hunt a success

Final update

      The search for the Buddha Shrine  was slightly delayed today due to pending weather and a late morning bicycle ride. After initial probes starting at about 1045 EDT the search team working tirelessly located the hidden statue..."he was right where we left him". He was slightly wet but nonetheless in fine condition having been rescued from the micro-jungle that had consumed his space. A few garden snails were harmed in the effort (&%^$#@(&!!!) A little bit of fresh air and sunshine should bring all back to normal.

"Lost & Found"
Copyright Ned Belmont

      Now our mission is to contact TOWB Public Works and request pickup of our considerable garden cuttings, as they are prohibited from the trash can and are highly compostable. That's a good thing.

      Should TOWB residents need to have garden cuttings or tree trimmings collected by the TOWB Public Works you should simply call 910-256-7935

Thanks for Reading.      Noah

Breaking News....Update... Buddha Shrine Gone!

Dateline: Wrightsville Beach.....

      With Reference to the posting of August 13, 2012 "Where is Noah's Ark..."

......Official Weather Data taken mid island...August 25, 2012; 0828 EDT....Month of August accumulated rainfall at Wrightsville Beach, NC(Lat.34o 12'18.233"; Long.77o 47'37.897") totals 11.88 inches.... 

      After continuing rains, this morning we discovered our cherished Buddha Shrine just barely visible in the garden 12 days ago, has been fully engulfed by that belligerent sweet potato vine. At least we believe the venerated statue is still sitting comfortably under the canopy of vivid green. We will be sending out a search party later today. to determine his exact whereabouts

The comparison photos tell the tale. I thought you would want to know.

August 13, 2012
Copyright Noah Bridges

August 25, 2012
Copyright Ned Belmont

    


  


















Please subscribe below to receive updated postings
on this developing situation.
 
Thanks for reading,

    Noah

You're a good man Bob Simpson

A Farewell to a proven leader

      It was a bit of a surprise as to the timing,  but not so shocking to hear that Bob Simpson our Town Manager here in TOWB will resign his position effective Nov. 1, 2012.

Bob Simpson Town Manager Wrightsville Beach "at Work"
Photo courtesy of TOWB website

Bob Simpson the Leader

     For those of you who have seen Bob in action you have seen a seasoned public servant. His command of the issues facing TOWB is deep and broad. He has always had the situation at the tips of his fingers and quickly to the tip of his tongue. He has provided solid input and advice to the Board of Alderman. His engagement and energy in behalf of our town is laudable.

      “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more and become more, you are a leader.”       
John Quincy Adams

     He has been a strong advocate for the quality, performance and well being of our town employees. He has provided the level of forward thinking and anticipation that our town needs. His leadership in the budgeting process, especially in demonstrating fiscal responsibility for the short and longer term needs of the town has been critical and successful.

The Dark side of town politics

      He has also had to walk the challenging line of Alderman politics. That line is precarious and often demotivating. But his leadership has held true through those dark moments. It has been beyond frustrating to watch the pathetic disarray of the current Board of Aldermen. Their micro-management of staff, lack of strategic focus and individual agendas has created mountainous obstacles for the Town Staff and our Manager in particular.

      Time and again Bob has sought "guidance" from the BOA, only to receive a disarray of way off the mark babble.

      Bob is a seasoned leader through the course of 46 years of military and public service. He has learned and demonstrated that he can get beyond the trivial interference of an inept BOA. He can muster the wisdom to provide professional guidance to such individuals that don't prepare for agenda items, or despite admitting they don't understand an issue, yet balk or push back at Bob's careful re-explanation. Learning is a lifetime journey. It has been a grueling pattern of coaching and spoon-feeding those individual Alderman who are in way over their head. His coaching of the Board, about the consequences of actions or in-actions,  has often gone unacknowledged.

      "The leaders who work most effectively never say "I"  They  don't think "I"  They think "We" They think "Team" They understand their job is to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit....This is what creates trust...."
Peter Drucker

      In Bob's resigning, we lose a very capable, high impact player with the energy to deliver a team effort to a broad list of  critical issues facing our town, with the wisdom to see through the complexity and gain focus, with the outward appearance of  patience to tolerate fools on the Board and try to inform.

Some wisdom for the Board of Aldermen

     This is not Monday morning quarterbacking. As we don't have the modern day practice in TOWB of video taping the Public Board Meetings, we can't easily go back and see/hear how poorly the BOA operate. But for those who have seen the meetings, we well know the pathetic pattern of conducting business. Especially now in the powerful hands of the new voting block held by Aldermen, Susan Collins, Darryl Mills and Elizabeth King we need a BOA who can find and recruit a highly capable Town Manager, for the next chapter in our towns history. We do not want nor can we tolerate a malleable candidate who will accept the personal agendas of Board members. It is the needs, of our growing town on the edge of the ocean, that must be front and center.

Filling Bob Simpson's shoes will not be easy and can not be a political game!

They will be wise to engage, staff and citizens in the vetting process.

      If they wish to refute such criticisms, they simply need to approve the previously agreed funding for video recording & streaming of their proceedings, they need to come prepared as individuals to discuss agenda items and to explain their position and  to seek and to contribute to compromise in behalf of the TOWB. Their failure to-date to do this, points to their lack of professional sincerity as Alderman and their pursuit of their individual agendas.

Dear Board of Aldermen:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."     
Margaret Mead

"Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things."
Peter Drucker

"If you don't know where you are going you will end up somewhere else"
Yogi Berra

"Where there is no vision, people perish"
Proverbs 29:18

You're a good man Bob Simpson. 

Thank you for your service.

Dear readers,

      You can contact any of our TOWB officials to give your input:

Mayor and Board of Aldermen
David Cignotti, Mayor	910-256-5817	dcignotti@towb.org
Susan Collins, Mayor Pro Tem	910-256-5072	scollins@towb.org
Bill Sisson, Alderman	910-256-1898	bsisson@towb.org
Elizabeth King, Alderman	910-256-2260	eking@towb.org
Darryl Mills, Alderman	910-228-8552	dmills@towb.org

Thanks for reading,     Noah