Over 50 years ago, before he was president, John Kennedy wrote a classic book that profiled “senators who defied the opinions of their party and constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions.”

Over 225 years ago, a group of men came together to hash out details of what would become a brand new country. These men sat down to “justify a revolt against the British.” It became a moment of truth, especially for the crafters and signers of the document that would become the “declaration” of Independence … a breakaway from the past.

Last Monday evening in Columbia, the elected public servants who serve on the borough council, for the most part, exhibited a similar strain of courage.

The courageous councilors in attendance, for the most part, shared their perceptions, thoughts and positions about a decision that would impact Columbia’s future. We were impressed with the leadership of councilors Barry Ford and Kelly Murphy as they pushed the sewer system sale to a decision point.

Equally impressive was council’s overall civility and recognition that this departure from parochialism represented a step away from insular thinking. While two councillors cast “nay” opinions, the process was a micro-version of the negotiations that happened over 200 years ago.

Differences of opinions will always be part of a represented democracy; open, transparent, candid examination of issues leading to the common good are essential to community and personal development.

Knowing that a vote was promised to the citizens of the community, most of those around the “decision tables” had done their homework. They’d done the due diligence and they had documents and comments at the ready to justify their decisions.

Some appeared to vacillate or stumble about coming up with new questions … questions that ought to have been posed during the diligence process period.

Those disruptive practices existed 200 years ago, too. One of Pennsylvania’s representatives to the discussion of a new nation, delayed for over three weeks as he sought “constituent endorsement.” “Many members felt that it was hypocritical to have argued so forcefully and so long for Independence, only to vote against it when the occasion came.”

We applaud the councillors’ courage of conviction and, ultimately, movement toward positive growth and progress for the citizens of the community and the communities around Columbia.