Wendell's newly-elected leaders - there are three of them - all have said they want to work together to mend the relationship between the mayor's seat and the town board.

We're glad to hear that and we have a few thoughts on how that might happen.

First, we recommend restoring the traditional mayoral powers back to the mayor's seat.

It was a bad idea when commissioners pulled that political maneuver two years ago and, as far as we can tell it hasn't helped Wendell a bit.

Newly-elected mayor Tim Hinnant should be able to play a significant role in setting the agendas and guiding the work of the board.

One chief and five Indians always works better than five chiefs and one Indian. Hinnant should not be hamstrung the way his predecessor was for the past two years.

Hinnant will be expected to represent the town of Wendell to outsiders and it goes without saying that, if the town commissioners want him to be effective in doing so, the mayor needs to have a hand in how our government operates.

It's not a fiefdom, to be sure.

We do not advocate that the town board meekly do what the mayor directs them to do.

Our government - any government - works best when all those elected are able to perform to their fullest capabilities. The Making Wendell Better Initiative, trumpeted so loudly two years ago, merely served to make Wendell a laughingstock in the region and the repeal of many of its elements would go a long way toward capitalizing on all the best attributes of our elected officials.

But we do believe the mistake of marginalizing the mayor is detrimental to Wendell and it should be an idea consigned to the dust bin of history.

If commissioners take that step next month, they would send a strong signal that they are putting their money where there mouth is.