Bill Earngey [Order this photo]

We are a town run by well-intentioned volunteers who are charged with the duty of minding our public health, pubic safety and general welfare.

  For a town of about 2,300 this is no big deal. For a tourist town of about 800,000 annual visitors, it's a big deal due to the math of a cliff-clinging, eight-month economy.

  Our infrastructure (water, sewer, streets, etc.) and general services (police, fire, ambulance, etc.) are trying to support a population of about 100,000. And, folks, there ain't no way.

  How we have dodged jumping the track this long is a tribute to the wits of our paid city employees and to our unpaid volunteers (mostly commissioners) whose numbers are beginning to dwindle without replacements at an alarming rate.

  Let's start with the Council. It effectively has four voting members out of six, which means there must be a consensus, all four votes, to pass a motion (to do business).

  Note: The following membership statistics are provided by the official City Web site.

  The Planning/Zoning Commission will have, come July, four voting members out of seven; again, a consensus vote of four.

  The Historic District Commission has six of seven members now, but in November it will have only three out of seven, which means it cannot pass a motion, period.

  Essentially, the three most important volunteer governmental bodies will be, by November 2008, either still relying on a consensus vote of four or out of business. One "no" vote can kill any motion. Does "contentious" ring a familiar note?

  Now what? Well, the present consensus-contentious Council stays in office until January of 2009. The present mayor can nominate members to the two commissions, but the present council must approve the nominations by a majority vote of four. Politics as it is, good luck.

  Attention political activists: Cross your fingers, folks, bring plenty of food and your insurance card, because this is going be a long, messy fight and somebody might get hurt.