It was with much sadness that I learned last week of our town manager's resignation and quick departure. Over the last several years, I've had the opportunity to work with Pat on a number of town committees, and although I have more than once disagreed with her on certain issues, she always left me feeling motivated and appreciated as a town volunteer. No one is perfect, and I won't pretend to know all the details about what happened, but I do know that Pat made a very positive difference for me and many other town volunteers.  

Active volunteers are the backbone of any town, but our antiquated system and complicated web of committees and personalities can sometimes scare away new recruits who do not have a background in our town meeting form of government.

As Selectman Don White often reminds us, what we have here in Camden is "democracy in its purest form."

It sounds lovely, and it is, but it's easy to forget that things in their purest form are also sometimes messy, unrefined, and difficult to swallow. Committees and boards are run by volunteers who occasionally lack patience for those less experienced in the process. They are also sometimes unresponsive, rude, or flat-out wrong. Citizens can easily end up feeling alienated, unappreciated, and discouraged.

If not for Pat's gentle and diplomatic encouragement, I may have fallen into that camp and thrown my hands up the first time my feelings got hurt. Luckily Pat care enough to trot out after me at a Mid-Coast Solid Waste meeting to provide some much needed perspective. It did the trick and I've sought her insight many times since then.

I went into the town office on Friday, Pat's last day, and was lucky enough to catch her.

I serve on the Personnel Board, the Budget Committee, and the Camden Conservation Commission and I know many of us felt like Pat has helped move many things forward, especially this year.

Starting over and getting to know another town manager felt daunting and tiresome. I was even questioning a bit whether my letter last week in defense of the Select Board was misplaced. I still feel that we are owed further explanation from our representatives, but true to character, Pat managed to persuade me that the Select Board does in fact deserve my praise, and that this is for the best.

I left her office, one last time, more convinced than ever that Camden is a special place and that this messy form of government is worthwhile.  

There were many days when Pat followed up her normal work day with a series of committee and board meetings that lasted long into the night. Some were part of her job description but others she attended in order to support town volunteers, even when she could have said no.

Her love of Camden is irrefutable and I sincerely hope she remains part of our community. 

Alison McKellar lives in Camden