Up Close and Personal on

UP CLOSE &

PERSONAL On the Board

Dennis Shanahan

Do you know someone who deserves to be profiled in a future edition of New Hampshire Town and City magazine?

If so, please contact the New Hampshire Municipal Association at 603.224-7447 or tfortier@nhmunicipal.org. W elcome to Up Close and Personal is designed to give readers a closer look at NHMA board members. In this issue, we hope you enjoy meeting one of our newest board members, Dennis Shanahan, City Councilor in Dover. Dennis was elected this November to serve on NHMA’s board of directors.

TC: What are your duties and responsibilities as a City Councilor?

DS: I am entering my fourth term as a City Councilor in Dover. I represent Ward 5, on of the more rural areas of the City. I also serve as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of COAST, am on the Board of Directors for the Strafford County YMCA, in addition to several other boards and commissions.

TC: What is your biggest challenge in performing your duties?

DS: The biggest challenge is balancing the demands of the City as it continues to grow, with the need to keep the property tax burden manageable. A growing city such as Dover has widely varying perspectives among its citizens, finding a middle ground is an ongoing challenge.

TC: How has NHMA helped you to do your job?

DS: One of my roles as a City Councilor is to bring updates on the activities in Concord to my fellow Councilors. The frequent and detailed Legislative Updates from the NHMA has been invaluable in this effort.

TC: Give us an example of a problem you solved or a dilemma you faced and overcame in the line of duty?

DS: Early in my first term as a City Councilor, I dealt with a strong community desire to eliminate potentially hazardous pesticides from use on public property. My first attempt fell short, as I did not tap into key resources that were available. I quickly learned to engage with City staff and other Councilors and developed a solution that has led to important programmatic changes for the City.

TC: What is the public perception about your job and how does it differ from the reality of your job?

DS: Many people feel the role of a City Councilor is partisan and driven by allegiances to outside interests. These people are often surprised when they discover the position is in essence a volunteer role, and that we are neighbors that share the same challenges as they do.

TC: Has your public position changed you personally?

DS: Dealing with the public, both in person, by way of print media, and on camera, has vastly improved my communication skills. I have become much better at concisely delivering important information in a way most can understand.

TC: What lessons about human nature have you learned in your municipal role?

DS: I have learned that the best communication method is face-to-face, eye-to-eye. Often, remote communications, i.e., phone messages, email, social media, lack the depth to effectively deliver a message. I have found that direct, personal contact ensures understanding of a position or opinion, even if it may not change someone’s mind.