With nine openings available, only one candidate is seeking a seat this year to Buxton’s Budget Committee.
The lone candidate, Larry Miller, who has lived in Buxton 32 years, took out nomination papers for a three-year term on the committee. Miller, who is retired, views serving as his civic duty.
In recent years, there has been a declining interest in running for a seat on the Budget Committee. “I should be involved,” Miller said. “Someone needs to do it.”
Selectman Jean Harmon said Miller had once been appointed to the Budget Committee. “He did an excellent job,” she said.
She was dismayed over the lack of candidates for the Budget Committee. “It’s unfortunate that people don’t have the interest,” she said.
Harmon, a former Budget Committee member, said the Budget Committee helps oversee requests for money from town department heads and non-profit groups.
But the Budget Committee is not a finance committee, she said, and it doesn’t make decisions. “They do make recommendations,” Harmon said.
Both the Budget Committee and selectmen make recommendations for budget items that appear on the town’s warrant at the annual town meeting. The town’s voters have to approve the budget.
Miller said the process gives voters a chance to see any differences between the two recommendations and ask questions. “I think the Budget Committee is a necessary check and balance,” Miller said. “It’s a good service to townspeople.”
The Budget Committee has 12 seats. Harmon said they begin meeting in December and wind up their business by April. “It’s not a 12-month commitment,” Harmon said.
Serving on the Budget Committee could pave the way for seats on other boards. Barbara Elwell, a former Budget Committee member, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board and is seeking election to a two-year term on that board this year.
For Harmon, the Budget Committee paved the way to being elected selectman. Harmon said her first year on the Budget Committee was “eye opening” and serving as a member helped her understand the town’s finances. “That’s how I got started in town government,” Harmon said.
Harmon said the present Budget Committee members are Sheridan Bennett, David Hall, Brian Dyer, Corinne Linscott, Cheryl Emery, and Peter Burns, chairman. Linscott and Hall, whose terms are up in June, hadn’t taken out papers by Tuesday.
Harmon praised the work that the present Budget Committee has accomplished. She said they have been faithful and consistent. “That makes a huge difference,” she said.
Some people, she thought, had misconceptions about qualifications and have been intimidated. Others might view serving on the Budget Committee as a thankless job. Harmon said serving does represent work, but that work doesn’t go unnoticed. “We appreciate the work that they put into it,” she said.
Available seats on the Budget Committee are four three-year terms, two for two years and three for one year.
Nomination papers are still available in the town clerk’s office for all elected town positions. The deadline for submitting nomination papers is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 1. The town election will be by secret ballot on Tuesday, June 13.
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