Beware buyer

Last week, it was disturbing to hear that Windham taxpayers overpaid for parts used to repair a school bus. This week, it’s disturbing to hear the town council is considering putting one person in charge of purchasing for the town.

Two weeks ago, Councilor Kaile Warren got a list of recent expenditures and did some comparison shopping. Last week, he asked the town manager to look five purchases of $1,300 each for parts that could have been purchased elsewhere for $300 each. An investigation is now under way to determine whether similar purchases were made.

While centralizing duties seems a reasonable solution, the answer is not adding another staff member to serve as buyer or to add the duty to an existing staff member. The current system of department heads making the bulk of purchasing decisions with the town manager and town council as overseers should continue.

But, the system, as Warren has made clear, only works if we have department heads who are purchasing wisely and frugally. If we have buyers who care little for the taxpayer, they should be let go to make way for someone who does.

Why centralize buying with one person? It seems the more staff members involved in the buying process, the better. Everyone can add something. Look what happened when Councilor Warren got involved. It just proves that more eyes on government makes for better government.

Music such a Thrill

Music on the Hill, the July tradition that the Windham Hill United Church of Christ puts on each year, is as good as Windham’s music scene gets. This year’s edition, its 10th anniversary season, is no exception.

The four-week run started off July 7 with Along Four the Ride, a female singing group from Maine. Cindy Bullens, a self-described rocker who sang back-up for the legendary Elton John, is on tap this weekend. Next Saturday, July 28, Trent Austin and Thomas Snow will end the series with instrumental jazz.

But last weekend, July 13-14, may have been the highlight of the four-week series. Local musicians, all of whom grew up in Windham, attended Windham schools and performed with the Windham Chamber Singers, teamed up for the seventh time in a row to bring concert-goers “A Night of Broadway.”

In an era when taking part in community activities isn’t the highest priority for many young people, it is heartening to see these young performers sing and play their instruments in front of a local crowd. Matthew Small, Kelly Caufield, Daniel Strange, and Bryan and Jennifer McLeod are certainly some of the best musicians Windham has produced in recent years, so it is nice they give back to the community that supported their musical talent.

They obviously enjoy performing together, are good friends, and grace us with their presence each time they come to perform. Let’s hope it’s a tradition that will last at least another seven Julys.

-John Balentine, editor