Shelby voters urged to keep town clerk and highway superintendent as elected positions

Editor:

The Town of Shelby Board would like you to vote to make the town clerk and the town highway superintendent’s positions appointed by them, as opposed to the current process of electing them.

This proposal by the board stems from disagreements between the current board and the people currently holding those positions. It has absolutely nothing to do with their qualifications for the job or their accountability. True leadership on the board would be able to work with anyone in those positions.

But more important than that leadership issue, is the fact that the elected clerk and elected highway superintendent’s positions are the only checks and balances over the board itself.

The clerk is responsible for protecting the records of the town. If the board appoints the clerk, there is nothing to keep board members from accessing those records, or disposing of records they might not want preserved, without the clerk’s oversight.

The highway superintendent would become a board bobblehead if that position were appointed by the board. Without constructive conversation, and differences of opinion, creative solutions aren’t possible. If the board is unable to function with those differing opinions, then maybe they should not be board members.

Taking the choice away from the voters is never a good answer.

Respectfully,

Wendi Pencille

Shelby