How Do We Get Qualified People in Local Government?

We are posting the following article from Anonymous.


"Those of us who have worked in the business world or service industries, as professionals or skilled laborers, are accustomed to a hiring process that typically considers an applicant’s experience, skills, educational background, references, and other criteria. And usually this process results in an appropriate match between employee and the job.

But small town government in New Hampshire is structured by law to rely on people who are elected and/or volunteer for the various boards, commissions, and committees. The only legal requirement that I know of for these positions is that the members are legal residents of the town.

So how do we get qualified people (at volunteer prices) in our town’s positions? How do we get the Water and Sewer Commission to fill their vacant seat with a qualified person? [In this instance of filling a vacant position until the next election, it is entirely the responsibility of the remaining members of the commission.]

Part of the solution lies with the commission itself. The Commission needs to acknowledge that it is responsible for running what is essentially a large business. The commission members must be able to understand and analyze complex financial data, and make fiscally responsible decisions based on that data. They need to understand legal contract language, and abide by state and federal regulations. They need to assess short-range and long-range needs and develop strategic proposals and plans to address those needs. The commission needs to communicate (orally and in writing) clearly with its ratepayers and Ashland citizens and conduct all of its own business in a timely, open, consistent and legal manner. If the Commission were to establish these high expectations as their standards, then they would also be part of their thought process in selecting a replacement commissioner until the next election.

Part of the solution lies with us as voters, citizens, taxpayers and residents. We have to go to the Water and Sewer Commission meetings. We have to listen, ask questions, request information, read minutes, challenge them when issues are not dealt with – and we must do this regularly, over and over. We need to let the Commission know that we expect them to be proactive and responsible in making thoughtful decisions on all issues.

It is also our responsibility as voters and residents to ensure that the most qualified people are put in place to run our government. Can we legally require that citizens who run for an office or volunteer for a position possess certain qualifications? Unfortunately, we probably cannot. But that makes our responsibility as citizens and voters even more crucial – we must make wise choices in who we elect or appoint to run our local government. And we must let the Water and Sewer Commission know that we expect them to make a well-thought out choice in the replacement commissioner to serve until the next election."