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Patty and Allen Two Months In
Selectmen. This week The Nantucket Independent spoke with them about how their views of their roles and the board's most important issues have changed since the April elections, and how the time required for their work has affected their lives. We asked both of them the same questions with the exception of one which is geared specifically to their individual situations. ALLEN REINHARD Middle Moors Ranger for the Nantucket Conservation Foundation Are you finding that it takes more or less time than you previously thought to prepare for meetings? "I would say it's about what I had anticipated. I had asked some of the selectmen and former selectmen about the time commitments. It is a lot of time. I found it sort of replaces other things that I do. I've read a lot of reports, so it's a lot of reading and a fair number of meetings." Is that time or the meeting schedules having any impact on the time needed for your job or personal life? "As far as cutting into personal or job time, I have to say I'm fortunate that my job has a lot of flexibility. It allows me to go to an afternoon or morning meeting - as a ranger there are specific times when I do walks [with the public], so I can schedule meetings around those walks and my days off are Tuesday and Thursday. For example, we're doing goals and objectives and we schedule a time when all five of us can be there." Now that you are on the board what do you see as the most pressing issues it faces? "I would have to say the long-range planning that includes the projects that are underway like the Wastewater Treatment Plant - that needs to be overseen by the selectmen. And we want to examine the Department of Public Works to see if their resources can be better utilized. Before I ran for the board I hadn't really looked at coastal management, but there is a need to make a plan for our coastlines. That is something that has become more pressing as a result of what's happening out in Sconset." Has your view of the selectmen's role or of the difficulty in deciding on issues changed since you were elected? "Yes. The way that it has changed is that I've seen the role as being more important than before I ran for it, as far as the responsibility and leadership that is required. That's the biggest change in my perception of the job. What I'm realizing is that every week when we meet there are issues that affect people, whether it's the taxi drivers or the inn owners who want to serve alcohol. I realize how people look to the selectmen to recognize issues, and there is a real expectation of leadership." How do you feel you have contributed so far to improving the board? "I would say one of the strengths I've brought to the board is the ability to listen to other people and present their ideas and issues, and I like to think that I'm prepared. I think that helps the positive atmosphere that the board has created." Are you finding any unexpected obstacles to the board's ability to reach consensus? "No. I can't think of anything. I would say the opposite. We have some very strong discussions and I would say we all get along very well together." Do you have different opinions now on points affecting selectmen raised by the Town Government Study Committee, such as limiting the hours a selectman may be employed by the town? "No. I would say if anything it has confirmed my thinking coming out of the Town Government Study Committee. I see more clearly now the potential for a conflict of interest with a town employee serving on the Board of Selectmen. There is a very distinct difference when you are on a direct [town] payroll. Using the example of a person who is employed by the DPW, you have a person who has regular hours for that particular job. First of all, there is the time commitment and many of the meetings are during the day. What impact does that have on your fellow town employees? And that town employee [as a selectman] is the boss of the town administrator and the town administrator is the direct boss of the head of the DPW. That same model would apply with the majority of town employees." What are you enjoying most about being a selectman? "It's a fascinating learning experience. I have read several different reports on the Sconset Beach preservation, about the bulk fuel facility, I've learned about gasification and wind power. That's a very positive thing, and to learn that many problems facing the community can be addressed. It just takes a clear plan. I believe government on Nantucket is capable of making the changes necessary." Is there anything you would like to change about the way the board functions? "There is nothing I would do to change the way the board functions. One of the things I'm most pleased about is the way the board works together as a team and with the town administrator and assistant town administrator. I've come to see the town administrator and assistant town administrator as key members of the Board of Selectmen as a team, and [projects administrator] Diane O'Neil does a lot of the legwork after we have our meetings." Are you glad you made this commitment? "I am definitely glad I made this commitment. I was very apprehensive as to whether to jump into this. I'm now at the point of saying, 'Wow - this is a great job.'" I PATTY ROGGEVEEN Executive Director of Nantucket Community School Are you finding that it takes more or less time than you previously thought to prepare for meetings? "I guess I'm not surprised either way. Having gone through the campaign three times I got a sense of how much time they were spending." Is that time or the meeting schedules having any impact on the time needed for your job or personal life? "No. I've been doing this attending meetings and trying to keep up with issues] for a while, and I am fortunate that the Community School is open from 6 in the morning to 9 at night, so the flexibility of hours is not 9 to 5 and if the selectmen have a meeting in the morning I can do that." Now that you are on the board what do you see as the most pressing issues it faces? "I think the first issue of concern to the board and myself is the whole fiscal piece. While the town has done a lot to catch up there is still considerable work to be done, and now our auditors have gotten to a point where they say it is critical and we need to bring the audits up to date and develop a management plan. I believe that in our goals we've been working very hard and will be defining policy areas - generally speaking, on the issue of housing - employee and workforce housing, and in the area of infrastructure, our sewers and roads. I've had a lot of people talk to me about our sewer rate increases." Has your view of the selectmen's role or of the difficulty in deciding on issues changed since you were elected? "I believe there is a certain amount of homework to be done in terms of making a decision, and that homework is the more I need to know. We deal with issues from the landfill to roads issues. But in my short time already, the town administrator and department have been really helpful." How do you feel you have contributed so far to improving the board? "I do think that the chemistry has been a positive one. There has been a sense of respect and I think that's important. I hope I've brought some of that respect for one another to the board and the voice of someone with a family." Are you finding any unexpected obstacles to the board's ability to reach consensus? "I don't know if we have been confronted with a question yet that would be divisive. That's been good because it has allowed us to work together and learn how to work together. I think there will be times when we disagree, but not having that happen has been useful to us to get our sea legs together." How do you respond to criticism of you voting on Historic District Commission appeals because your husband Dirk is chairman of that commission? "It is perfectly legal within the state ethics laws. I checked twice and was told it was not only legal but totally appropriate. I have responsibilities to the electorate to present a perspective, and I feel strongly about that perspective. The ethics department issues revolve a lot around financial gain, and this does not involve financial gain. I was told it would be worse if my husband was a builder on an HDC appeal. Then, one could see a potential financial gain. Finally, and this is the most important - this insinuation presumes my husband and I agree on everything or I'm told what to do." She added, laughing, " I never listen to him, anyway." What are you enjoying most about being a selectman? "I really love it - I really love learning new things. The scope of what we do is so broad, and I'm enjoying getting to know people. I'm having a lot of good discussions with the members of the board and people outside the board, whether they be in town administration or otherwise." Is there anything you would like to change about the way the board functions? "The table. It would be nice if we could face each other. We've had some really good workshops on the goals, and I know people have very busy schedules, but if we could somehow work on reaching out [more to the public] that is something I'd like to do. It's not that we don't, but we can always do better." Are you glad you made this commitment? "Absolutely. I do consider serving on the board as one of those life changing events. It is a positive one and enriching for years, for sure." I |
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