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When I posted the video of the last council meeting held on January 12th I said that I would try to find time to write about what occurred and my thoughts on it. I realize there is no need, because the video speaks for itself.

I could easily write about the lack of councilpersons in attendance, the incomplete budget, the proposed spending, and other problems, but it is sometimes too easy to put the blame on the elected (or appointed).

The blame for our problems doesn’t lie with them, as much as it does with the residents of West Easton.

There was one statement, regarding lack of information, made by Council President Kelly Gross, during an animated exchange with Councilman Dan DePaul, that spoke volumes about the perception of residents and the council. (Found at the 13:00 minute mark of the video.)

“If anyone is curious – if it affected the quality of life – they would be down here complaining about it,” shouted Ms. Gross.

This was done in front of an audience of only 4 residents, that included myself. It was also in response to legitimate concerns that Councilman DePaul brought up.

Ms. Gross made the standard argument used by those with no better one. Politicians in higher offices have used the same canned response for years. If I hear no opposition, I assume the public is in favor.

Residents in West Easton don’t go to the council meetings to hear what is being proposed. With the exception of a few constants, residents don’t give the council their opinions, objections, or agreement of proposals.

Residents don’t take an interest in their borough’s business until they look at a sewer or tax bill and see an increase.

They don’t care about services they pay for until they pull out of their parking spots in the morning and find the roads unsalted, trying to make it the few blocks into neighboring Wilson, that pre-salted their roads in anticipation of a predicted freezing rain event.

Then they bitch to each other and their neighbors.

And participation by attending a council meeting doesn’t have to be all bad.

There can be kudos given for obtaining grant money for required sidewalk work and for conducting community events, such as the Halloween Parade. Accolades can be showered for withstanding personal attacks over the years, that went beyond civil disagreement. Even a simple thanks for doing a job that other residents don’t want to do.

The point is,  until residents fill the two dozen seats at each council meeting, business as usual will continue in West Easton, as will some of the arrogance that can be seen in that video.

Why else, when paying a sewer bill after the last increase and expressing my dislike of it, Kelly Gross told me, “If you don’t like it, move.” I didn’t take it personally. I just realized that she must have had difficulty finding a hat size that fit her that day.

Until those seats are filled, some on council believe it’s a Pollyanna borough with residents in agreement with everything they do.

Why shouldn’t they? After all, it’s more important for residents not to miss Monday Night Football, or a favorite TV show, than it is to find out what will happen in their borough, before it happens.