Dresden debated two proposed changes to the town government’s structure at a public hearing Oct. 17.
The first change would see the Board of Selectmen expand from three members to five. The second would make the Town Clerk, Excise Tax Collector, Town Treasurer, and Property Tax Collector selectmen-appointed positions rather than elected officials.
The Dresden Board of Selectmen called the public hearing to determine whether there was enough public interest to have the two articles voted on during the annual town meeting in June or through an election in November.
The debate was moderated by First Selectman Phil Johnston.
The suggestion to expand the Board of Selectmen originated with Mary Haven, who broached the topic in a letter.
Since moving to Dresden in 1976, Haven said she has seen times when the three-member Board had functioned very well and times when it did not function well at all.
Haven pointed to the period following the resignation of First Selectman John Rzasa. Rzasa’s sudden resignation, Haven said, placed an undue burden on the remaining two selectmen.
“The town should take action so one or two people are not put in this position again,” Haven said.
Johnston won an election in June to replace the seat vacated by Rzasa.
Despite Haven’s concerns, the Board of Selectmen and many of those present at the town meeting expressed opposition to the proposal.
Many of the concerns were outlined in a handout given to those present at the meeting by the Board. The difficulty of attracting qualified candidates to fill the seats and the cost of hiring more board members were among the criticisms.
Guy Getchell, who previously ran for a seat on the RSU 2 School Board, said that increasing the size of the Board of Selectmen to five members would lead to bad candidates.
“I’d rather have three super qualified people than take a chance with having five poorly qualified ones,” Getchell said.
None of the current members on the Board of Selectmen came out in favor of the proposed changes. Selectman Allan Moeller Sr. said that Dresden’s town officials made running the town easy even with only three selectmen.
“We’re alright with three,” Moeller said.
Selectman Dave Probert, however, said he was on the fence about the issue.
“I can see the pros and cons on both sides,” Probert said, recalling the difficulty of preparing a town budget with only two selectmen.
Johnston said clearly that he was not in favor of expanding the Board.
The second issue of the night, whether to make town officials selectmen-appointed rather than elected, stoked fierce debate.
Johnston opened the discussion by revealing a chart that displayed the pros of changing the policy.
According to the chart, appointed town officials could potentially save money and make the town government more efficient.
The chart also stated that it may take much longer to remove a town official from office and elect another than it is to fire a poorly performing employee and hire a new one.
The chart displayed only the potential payoffs of changing the rules, much to the chagrin of some townspeople. Johnson insisted, however, that the Board of Selectmen did not intend to push any agenda.
“It was not intended to be Freudian,” Johnson said.
Much of the opposition to the proposed changes stemmed from a fear that democracy was being eroded.
“I don’t like you three guys getting more power,” one man said.
Some however, believed that hiring town officials could produce more skilled, honest officers.
One townsperson, Ryan Cote, said that the selectmen may be better equipped than an average voter to evaluate a potential town clerk, treasurer, or other official.
Another suggested that the process of hiring a town officer, which would include a background check, would create more honest officials.
The Board of Selectmen will determine when or if the two issues will be voted on at their regular meeting Oct. 24. The issues will be addressed alongside a request to use town money to fund the Richmond Food Pantry, another potential ballot measure.
Cote said the pantry was in desperate need of aid.
Though it is located in Richmond, Cote said that the pantry services two-dozen families in Dresden.
“Hunger has no border here,” Cote said.
Cote said he was hoping for a $2000-$3000 donation from the town. Every penny raised for the pantry goes to direct aid.
While there was some grumbling from townspeople about the cost of such an endeavor, particularly when it was revealed that it would cost the town $500 to hold a meeting to vote on the issue, most voiced their support for the Pantry.
“I am against spending money, but it’s a good cause, “one man said. “We can spend $500 for a meeting, and add $1000 for the Pantry.”
