By Kathy Onorato
Whitefield Town Clerk Aaron Miller (left) and Whitefield Board of Selectmen Chairman Dennis Merrill work to bury the remains of an indigent Whitefield resident at the Coopers Mills Cemetery Sept. 3. The town’s board members and staff often perform tasks outside the scope of their everyday duties to save the town money. (Kathy Onorato photo) |
Selectmen in all towns conduct basic town business, which includes proposing budgets, calling elections, making policy, appointing committees, supervising employees, and other administrative tasks; however, not too many will bury dead people, clear brush, and catch rodents to save taxpayers money.
Aaron Miller, who serves as Whitefield’s administrative assistant, treasurer, assistant tax collector, and registrar of voters, says the town’s board of selectmen goes above and beyond the scope of work required of selectmen. Before coming to Whitefield, Miller was a newspaper reporter and covered selectmen’s meetings in towns throughout the state.
“I have never seen a group of more dedicated individuals,” Miller said.
Board Chairman Dennis Merrill and Selectman Frank Ober are often found working together on projects around town that save the town considerable tax dollars. Their volunteer work has included repairing the garbage bin outside the town office, cutting down tree limbs, and other repair jobs as needed.
“We enjoy doing this kind of work and have the time and energy to do it,” Ober said.
Miller recalls a time when the town’s recycling center needed a new door. Merrill and Ober dug out a garage door being stored in Merrill’s barn, then the two installed the door at the recycling center themselves.
On Sept. 3 Merrill and Miller went to the Coopers Mills Cemetery to map out a plot, dig a hole, and bury an indigent Whitefield resident, as well as set a headstone marking his placement at the cemetery.
At the Coopers Mills Cemetery, while digging the grave, Merrill said, “Community service comes with the job.”
“There is no job description for selectmen,” Merrill said.
Ober, who has been a selectman for nearly five years, said Whitefield is full of people willing to lend a hand when needed.
According to Miller, there is a groundhog causing some damage at the town office, Ober recently brought in a Havahart trap so the rodent could be caught and taken away. He also helped install the town’s sand and salt shed.
Selectman Tony Marple is often seen on his tractor, bush hogging and brush cutting on town property. He has volunteered many hours of trail work on the Marr’s Ridge Trail.
Miller recalled a time recently when a clogged gutter at the town office was causing rain to pour down on town office customers. Miller said he held the ladder for Marple, who climbed up to clear the gutter.
“My jobs have included arguing with Dennis, which is backbreaking,” joked Marple.
Marple is also a frequent contributor to the Whitefield Newsletter. Selectmen Merrill and Sue McKeen, Planning Board Chairman Jim Torbert, and other Whitefield residents helped start the newsletter to help keep residents informed. The publication is funded through Torbert’s efforts with advertising sales.
With McKeen’s efforts, Whitefield Day has become an annual event that brings the community together for a day of fun, which features art, music, crafts, games for children, a flea market, and food. This year the event will be held Sept. 13.
“She is also very responsive to general assistance requests” and will sometimes meet with applicants in their homes, Miller said
Selectmen Lester Shaeffer, is the only board member still working 40 hours a week, but has rarely missed a board meeting, Miller said. Shaeffer spends a lot of time working on policies behind the scenes.
“He speaks for the common man, who wants to see his taxes kept down,” Miller said.
According to Miller, the Whitefield selectmen also spend a considerable amount of time on administration. They will drive the roads themselves to examine conditions and prioritize repairs and meet with general assistance applicants regularly and help them find ways to save money on their utility bills, Miller said.
Miller said the services the selectmen provide for the town far exceed the stipends they receive each year.
“You can tell that they actually enjoy it. It’s clear that they don’t do this work for the money,” Miller said.
Miller, hired to do a variety of administrative tasks, has also been noticed for going beyond his job description by shoveling walkways, painting the interior of the town office, installing a new thermostat at the town office, and helping people put on their new license plates.
“I’m a firm believer that as public servants, we should go above and beyond in our jobs. Yes, I do have a job description, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go the extra mile,” Miller said. “People appreciate that kind of service and that makes me feel happy.”
Ober said he couldn’t be happier with the town’s paid staff, who make the selectmen’s jobs so much easier.
“Aaron jumped into the role and is a great gift to the town. He is willing to help wherever he can,” Ober said. “We could not do our job without the skills of Aaron, Laurie (Mullins), and Robin (White).” White serves as the town’s deputy administrative assistant and Mullins also works in the Whitefield town office.
“It’s a great town, and a lot of great people help out,” Ober said.
