Council's missing president needs a technology lesson

So easy a child could do it.

Troy City Council President Rodney Wiltshire has, for the second consecutive year, missed the all-important municipal budget vote due to his preference for being out of town on vacation rather than facing head-on a crucial, controversial topic in the community he is sworn to serve.

Wiltshire once again has excuses for being AWOL, of course, but there really is not a legitimate one in this era of high-tech communications. Despite being away, he nevertheless could have attended -- and fully participated in -- the Council sessions via real-time electronic means such as Skype, iPad's Facetime, etc.

The City Charter does not preclude that, nor does common sense. Should Wiltshire not have such technology available to him, surely someone could have loaned him the necessary device. Modern businesses use such remote communication all the time. Matter of fact, so do children who can't stand to be separated from their friends. It is not a radical notion.

Wiltshire says the 5-3 vote that was cast shows his attendance would not have made a difference in the outcome. That could be interpreted as him admitting he does not have any influence over Council actions despite his leadership position. Perhaps he is right.

The embarrassing, endlessly-squabbling council Wiltshire will not or cannot get under control, and his callous dismissal of his responsibilities say a lot about both his performance in office and his attitude toward his civic role. Unfortunately for the residents of Troy, he has at least another year in office. 

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