Crofton always has been a little different. This is, after all, the western Anne Arundel County special tax district that employs its own psychologist to provide counseling to anyone living within its community.
But now that the counselor has been given notice that her job is likely to be terminated, her services appear to be needed more than ever, at least by the town fathers. In recent weeks the Crofton Civic Association's board of directors has become mired in a budget dispute that reflects the tensions coursing through this affluent bedroom community.
The board can't seem to agree how to spend its money. Although a final budget plan for fiscal year 1995 is supposed to be submitted to the county executive by Jan. 31, the board is still deliberating between two different plans and Town Manager Barbara Swann may be asked to draw up still other versions.
Some members of the board want to increase funding for the public safety committee so that another police officer can be hired to give the town 24-hour protection.
Some directors want to give more money to the maintenance committee to plant trees and build new gateways into the community.
Meanwhile, more than a few citizens think the board ought to stop wasting money and simply give the residents a tax break.
Nearly 200 people have signed a petition that would prevent the board from increasing its budget at all without winning residents' approval.
The board was scheduled to approve the budget last Monday, but residents and board members started bickering and the meeting quickly disintegrated.
The board then tried to settle its dispute behind closed doors, but was unable even to reach agreement to vote on the spending plan.
The residents of Crofton deserve better representation than this. Lively debate is essential to democracy, but debate works only when people stop talking long enough to listen to each other.
We would advise Crofton's board members to seek help with the counselor while she still works for them.
Then, after they've punched a few pillows and diffused all their pent-up anger, maybe they will be able to reconvene and work together to pass a budget that addresses the needs of the community's residents.