Spring brings out Town Meeting and Citizen Government

Spring is in the air. Sure, much of the country is still buried under feet of snow and other parts of the country are still in the grips of colder than normal weather. (Just where is Global Warming anyway?) But the calender says March and in New England, especially here in New Hampshire, that means Town Meeting time.

Yes, Town Meeting is a New England tradition and it marks the near end of winter and ushers in the hope of life renewed in the form of Spring. Town Meeting is one of the purest forms of democracy in this world.

Towns all over New Hampshire will begin having their annual Town Meetings this month. Many towns and villages across New England do not have mayors, or counselors. The towns in New England don't have Aldermen. What we have is a board of Selectmen. (Yes even if you are a woman, you are still called a Selectman. I guess New England forgot that part of political correctness.)

A board of selectmen can be as few as 3 or and many as 12 but most towns have somewhere between 4 and 8. At least that seems to be the case here in New Hampshire, the state in which I currently call home.

These people are responsible for pretty much the day to day operations of the town or village. They help form policy, hire and fire the town personnel such as fire chief, police chief, highway dept chief, etc. They work on and submit the town budget for vote and they oversee many articles that end up on ballots at this time of year.

But with all of that, being a selectman is a very part time job. Most towns boards meet only once per month unless there is some pressing or urgent business before the town. These selectmen, who are elected by the town folk, have full time jobs or own their own businesses. They can be mothers, military reservists, gay, straight, black (although I do not know of a single minority selectman in the state of NH) liberal, conservative or your neighbor.

They are just everyday people who run the towns in which they live for the betterment of the entire community. But their power is limited and they must bend their own will to that of the people. Besides, if you piss off enough of your fellow town folk, they just might show up at your front door. This brings a whole new meaning to the statement “all politics is local.”

At Town Meeting, there are usually a number of articles that the town gets to vote on right then and there. Usually by a simple show of hands and a simple majority. I have seen this form of self government in action numerous times and believe it or not...it works.

Town budgets are usually fat free. Things that need to get done within the town don't get studied to death and usually happen quickly and in a timely manor. The only time things slow down is if there is a state or federal law or mandate that gets in the way.

People are free to voice their opinion at Town Meeting and all who attend get a fair shake at the podium. In fact, it is not unheard of for Town Meetings to last until 1AM or be adjourned and finished on a second day.

If you think the regular folk of a town don't know what they are doing, think again. These people, the ones who take the time to participate, are well informed, articulate and know their stuff. They definitely have an idea of what they think would be best for them, their families and their town.

If you visit New England, look at the small towns you drive through or visit. Notice everything about the town. Then understand that town is a well run machine and overseen by just every day ordinary people.

No this is not mob rule and it is rare that things at Town Meeting get out of hand but people do have their opinions and they can be strong. But for the most part, people are civil and they accept the final vote of the towns folk.

Citizen government at its best. That is what Spring time in New England is all about. That is why I know that the snow will soon be gone and warm weather will soon be at hand. Town Meeting. The way our entire government should be.