Gray seems to have a set of problems that is consuming its citizens, but other towns and cities in Maine also have problems uniquely their own. Gray is wrestling with a change in zoning to allow new businesses; Portland is wrestling with the issue of allowing birth control for elementary school students.

Creating and following a game plan for the future of a town or city is the way to overcome problems as they arise. A good game plan leads to a thriving, prosperous town, while poor planning leaves a town in chaos.

Towns in Maine have several choices for self-governance and must either create a town charter as a guide, or follow rules laid out by the state. Gray uses a town charter that was first approved in 1969.

Under that charter, day-to-day operations are handled by the Town Manager, who acts much like the CEO of a corporation. The direction for the town's future and major policy decisions are set by the Town Council, much like a board of directors will guide a corporation.

The Town Manager answers to the Council as a body, not to individual councilors. This allows towns such as Gray to hire a professional to run the town instead of depending solely on elected officials who often have little experience with town government.

In Gray, voters can affect the future direction of their town by speaking to Town Council members about issues that concern them. This is especially important with Gray's Council-Town Manager form of government that sees councilors setting policy for Gray's future. And ultimately, the Town Council answers to the voters, who can express their opinions in person at the twice-monthly meetings or by phone or e-mail. And, of course, at the polls.

Gray is unique in Maine with the addition of an annual town meeting a provision for initiatives and referendums. Other towns with a similar Council-Town Manager government leave the Council to make final decisions. Gray's decisions about major items like the town budget are set at the town meeting.

Sitting on the Maine Turnpike halfway between Portland and the twin cities of Lewiston/Auburn, Gray is finally experiencing a change from a rural community to a suburban town. With no place else to build south and north, homes and businesses are springing up in Gray.

Rite Aid is moving to West Gray Road, Hannaford Bros. hopes to build a store across from the Public Safety Building, and there is talk of a big box store going in at the former Auto Auction property.

Towns such as Brunswick and Cape Elizabeth have enjoyed the services of their Town Managers for more than 20 years each. Falmouth recently hired a new manager to replace one who left after 25 years in town hall.

A long-term manager brings stability to a town, and can lead a town through steady and controlled growth. While the Town Councilors as the "board of directors" are tasked with guiding this growth, they ultimately must trust to the experience of the Town Manager as "CEO".

Over the last couple of years, we've seen our Town Council shy away from diversity. We've seen a councilor show a great lack of respect for fellow councilors, volunteers, and the public. And we've seen a sad lack of guidance for our future with the removal of our Town Manager, the removal of our town planner, and the retirement of our long-term Town Controller.

We can change all that by telling our councilors they must listen to the voters. As voters, we can insist our councilors represent everyone in our community, not their own personal interests. Email addresses and phone numbers for each of the councilors are listed on the Town Council page of the town website, www.graymaine.org .

The agenda of the Town Council must be our agenda.