Dear editor,
Nobody is perfect. But when you go around town today and hear thoughts about the firing of Judy Brigham you know that her record, from a public perception, is about as perfect as you will find. There are negative comments but most are based on speculation precipitated by the council action. Under ordinary circumstances, possibly not one in a hundred people would have a negative comment about Brigham.
Our city council found her guilty of something by a majority vote. Majority vote must be the rule in general business decisions, even though the majority is often found wrong in hindsight.
In a situation as serious as this there should have been no possibility of failure by hindsight. If there had been a unanimous decision to consider dismissal then Brigham should have been notified prior to any public disclosure and had the opportunity to be accompanied by an attorney in a closed-door session with the council.
If the council decision was not unanimous then it should have been dropped. Now we have hindsight but there was the opportunity for foresight. Hopefully this thought will be a lesson that sticks with our council.
Ray Shannon
Iola, Kan.
Dear editor,
One last thought regarding Judy Brigham.
An executive session is like a trial since behaviors are evaluated and consequences can be imposed.
An executive session is NOT like a trial. The defendant doesn’t have to be told what her offense is or even that she is on trial. She has no lawyer to help her. She doesn’t even have a chance to tell her version of events or the reasoning behind her actions.
Human bias is such that we all filter our perceptions through the mesh of our own beliefs. Our disregard of others’ outlooks becomes more rigorous the more emotionally invested we are. An “injured party” is almost incapable of presenting a fair account of events. Yet in an executive session that is the only account that is heard.
Prosecutors would have much higher conviction records if juries voted without hearing the defense.
Executive sessions are why teachers need a union and tenure laws to protect them. City administrators might need them, too.
I hope the city council is fair enough to reconsider their actions.
Mary Ann Dvorachek,
Iola, Kan.
