A “dumpster fire” is defined as an utterly calamitous, chaotic, or mismanaged situation that is out of control and unsalvageable. Today’s situation regarding the Camden Select Board and town manager is a fire that has been steadily growing over the past years and is now fully involved.

No matter your political persuasion or particular stance on an issue, I think we can all agree that town leadership has been woefully lacking in recent memory.  In particular, they have been a lightning rod for controversy and general town discord. 

It seems that whatever issue the Select Board / town manager touches, blows up into a mess. Typically apolitical folks are suddenly gobsmacked by what they are witnessing and those more historically active politically are similarly dumbfounded by the wild genuflecting of some Select Board members to the town manager’s questionable whims. 

And it’s not just the Select Board — it’s the Planning Board and other town committees, too.  Town government leadership starts at the top, with the town manager, just like any other organization with its chief executive.  At present, this leadership is not working optimally for our town.

Town government, like any successful business, association or civic group, does its best work when not rocking the boat.  They succeed by doing the hard work methodically, responsibly, and without much fanfare.  Maybe I’m naive, as I remember when town government chugged along and things got done and folks were generally happy and there was relatively little controversy. 

Remember Roger Moody? 

Remember John French or Leonard Lookner? 

Remember Lowrie Sargent on the Planning Board? 

Sure, an issue here or there would be contentious, but nothing like what we have witnessed in the recent past — sewer squabbles with Rockport, the Montgomery Dam fiasco, the harbor/dam “bridge to nowhere”, the 39 Main Street charade, bogus STR inspection and fee program, town budget ballooning out of control, fighting with our sweet Children's House Montessori School (yes they did!), and now with our insane Camden Police Department debacle. 

Oh yeah, and paid parking and those 30 ugly kiosk monoliths around town shrouded in green tarps for the winter.  Seriously, what gives…!?

A “train wreck”, a “sh*t show”, a “clown show”, or a “dumpster fire”— no matter what idiom, analogy or slang phrase we use to describe the current state of Camden politics, I think we all can agree that it’s not working for the people and our town is suffering accordingly.  To our elected officials—WE DON’T FEEL HEARD!

So, what’s the solution?  I guess we all need to pay attention, get involved, and change the things in town that we don’t like.  Show up, write letters, sign petitions, and make your voice heard and please VOTE.  Let’s all pray that Camden can get “back on its feet” and “back on track.”  I, for one, will do my part. 

Alex Cohen lives in Camden