It was said of the Bourbon kings who were overthrown in the French Revolution that they never learned, and they never forgot. The same might be said of the four Elmwood township Board members who are holdovers from the previous administration. On the one hand, they have steadfastly refused to learn, either from their own mistakes or from the suggestions of their critics. And they never forget a grudge.

The latest instance of this unfortunate combination was on exhibit at the Elmwood Township Board meeting Monday night, when the four holdover members declined to reappoint to the Marina Committee current members Dave Darga and John Melichar. Darga and Melichar have been energetic and constructive advocates for the reform of the troubled Elmwood township facility. So why were they not reappointed? Although there were some vague claims of conflicts of interest, the real reason seems to have been that the holdovers on the Board of Trustees don’t want to see the marina investigated or reformed. They have voted time and time again against plans and measures that would bring a measure of accountability and even handedness to the way the marina is run. And so in place of Darga and Melichar, the holdovers exercised their working 4-3 majority on the Board to install two additional boaters from the marina. Talk about the inmates running the asylum!

It’s sad to see the little bit of progress that has been made at the marina set back in this way. The marina belongs ultimately to the residents and citizens of Elmwood Township, and should be run on their behalf in a responsible, business-like way. The attitude of the holdover members on the board toward their constituents seems to be “Let them eat cake.” Perhaps they should take a lesson from the French aristocrats and reflect that such attitudes are not a recipe for long-term political success.