City solicitor David Kuhn said the city must engage in long-range planning and set goals to stop what he calls a negative attitude in Portsmouth.
“In order to determine these goals and to begin planning, it might help to have some positive input presented at City Council meetings,” he said in a statement. “For example, at one meeting each month an invitee could spend 10 to 15 minutes discussing successes and accomplishments which have occurred and are occurring in the city and county.”
He said the Southern Ohio Growth Partnership, the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, churches, civic organizations, newspaper editors and publishers, and farm bureaus could be among those providing the information.
Kuhn referred to a letter to the editor submitted to the Portsmouth Daily Times asking why complainers don't get along.
“Better yet,” Kuhn said, “why don't we who are committed to improving our community and our government demonstrate strong leadership by giving our citizens some positive and constructive things to talk about?”
Kuhn also said a negative attitude has permeated the area and dominated the thoughts of its citizens and non-residents.
Kuhn is running for re-election this year and is facing a challenge from attorney Mike Jones.
Portsmouth City Councilman Bob Mollette said Kuhn is moving in the right direction. But he said he wished Kuhn would have added citizens to the list of those with ideas.
“I think it's a political year,” Mollette said. “But I'm glad he's agreeing with the ideas.”
Mollette said one idea the city should follow through on is televising City Council meetings.
City Councilman Jerrold Albrecht agreed with Kuhn.
“I think that we need a positive attitude in town, too,” he said. “Everybody wants to put their heads down and not pay attention to what's going on. We've got a lot of good things going on, and we need to pass that on to other people. It seems that the people in the city have an ‘I-don't-care attitude.'”
JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.
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