The Savoy Select Board has accepted a second resignation from a member of its board. Rita Pierce joined Peter Kelleher,(who resigned a week ago), in notifying the Town Clerk that she also will resign her post. She states health problems as her reason for leaving. Her resignation will become effective as of November 1, 2005. Mr. Kelleher left on August 31st.
Plans to include the second Select Board vacancy on the ballot at the Special Election scheduled for November 8th, have been cleared with the Secretary of State’s Office. Individuals considering running for either of these seats must be residents and registered voters of the town. Candidates must take out nomination papers if their names are to appear on the ballot. The papers are available now through Friday, September 16th. The Town Clerk’s office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5PM. You can also call the Town Office and request the forms and they will be left for you to pick up. At least twenty (20) signatures of registered voters of the town are required to get your name on the ballot. Nomination papers are due in the Registrar’s hands by Tuesday, September 20th for certification.
The remainder of the current term for each of these seats must be filled. Peter Kelleher’s term will end in May of 2007, and Rita Pierce would have completed her term in May of 2008. Candidates should consider the length of service to complete these terms before they can run for a three year term. Emile Mazur, the remaining Selectman in office, will complete his current term in May of 2006. At that time his seat will also be up for re-election. For more information call the Town Clerk (743-3759) or the Selectmen (743-4290). From the Town Clerk


So, you want to be a Selectman? A Short course in Town Government 101:
It is no secret to this community that the current select board has not been one of our best. Departures by other town officials due to the problems within the select board have contributed greatly for some time now to the difficulty in keeping the town running smoothly. It has not been an easy time for the voters, nor has it been a pleasant time for the individuals serving the town. As Town Clerk, I see most people on an individual basis as well as collectively at town meetings. I try to impart to those who ask about a particular town office the importance of knowing why they want to serve and what that responsibility is.
Not everyone is cut out to be a Selectman. It is a time-consuming, often stressful and constantly thankless job. The monetary compensation is a few pennies above zip and the satisfaction for a job well done is the lonely experience of the individual and is rarely expressed by the voters and other townsfolk who often find everything wrong with the way the town is run the fault of the Select Board. It can also be a rewarding experience and a great feeling of satisfaction of having served your community. When projects and plans turn out well and to the benefit of the community, it is the Selectmen who can usually take credit for what has been accomplished.
Who makes a good Selectman? Not everyone, that’s for sure. A person with a personal gripe against the Highway or Fire Department, the School Board or any individual is not a good candidate. A personal agenda is a waste of time and is the cause of many problems in town government. An individual who thinks the selectmen run the town is also on the wrong planet and if that is the reason for seeking the position, it will be a very difficult awakening once in office.
The ‘TOWN’ = the voters. The Town elects certain individuals to perform tasks we, as voters, do not have the time to do ourselves. In simple terms, the Tax Collector takes the money we pay for our property and keeps a record of it. The Treasurer invests that money for the good of the town and works with it to better serve the needs of the town. The Town Clerk records the history of the town and keeps the town records safe. The Assessors value our property. The Planning Board works to keep laws of the town current and able to cope with new ideas for the community. The Conservation Commission must deal with the laws of the state concerning environmental issues in the community. The Select Board oversees the business of the town. It is their job to prioritize the demands that come into the town office and present it to the voters at town meetings. When the voters decide what should be done by a vote, it is the Selectmen who must work with the state, the budget, the workers, other towns and other town boards, in order to accomplish what the voters want. Often, they find themselves literally between the proverbial “rock and a hard place”. It is not an easy job.
There are a few members of the community who have actively campaigned to have one or all of the current select board removed. This activity was well underway before any resignation was submitted by a select board member. If it contributed to one or more of the resignations, it is not for me to say. I will say this; if there are some who feel they can do the job, please step up and be counted. Put your actions where your mouth is, to be blunt. Prove that you can do a better job. For those of us who did not find this board effective, good for the town, whatever….remember they, at least, were willing to try to serve and should be given some credit for that. It is very easy to find fault with others, especially when we are not willing to do the job ourselves.
This community needs the help of its people. It especially needs the input from younger residents. The future of the town belongs to a younger population and the offices and officers serving should reflect that. Those who constantly criticize the way the town is run should step up and take a chance at doing the job. You may find it a very rewarding experience and the town could benefit from your involvement. a personal reflection by the Town Clerk