Rail board members defended

The two Marin representatives appointed by our Board of Supervisors were attacked for perceived "conflict of interest" at the latest North Coast Rail Authority board meeting in Petaluma. No matter how one feels about freight rail,
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Bernie Meyers and Tom MacDonald are attempting to serve carefully as NCRA board members: attending the meetings over long distances, doing their homework, and for the first time ever, giving Marin a voice in the future of transit shipment strategy in Northern California.
It is the job of the Marin representatives to work with care and prudence on any board, and these men do this. Questioning the conduct of the NCRA board does not constitute a conflict of interest. Board members often disagree with board actions and state their opinion publicly. Meyers served eight years as a city council member and is a respected jurist. MacDonald has served on Novato's budget committee, the Marin civil grand jury and is a financial consultant. Marin is fortunate that they are willing to serve on the NCRA board and attend its meetings in Eureka, Ukiah, Healdsburg and Petaluma.

The NCRA should respect the contribution these two board members have made. A mark of true effectiveness always brings dissension and debate on our boards, but in the end, it is worth it.

I want freight supporters and that board to remember that trust must be earned. Treating our representatives in such a fashion hurts Marin and further reduces an already damaged credibility for the agency in our county.

Charles McGlashan, president, Marin Board of Supervisors

from marin ij wed