Up Close and Personal in the Field: Ken Mills

UP CLOSE &

PERSONAL In the Field

Ken Mills

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 – In the Field, a regular column in New Hampshire Town and City dedicated to giving readers a closer look at staff from New Hampshire municipalities and other political subdivisions. In this issue, we hope you enjoy meeting Ken Mills, Select board member in the Town of Carroll.

TC: What are your duties and responsibilities as a Select board member?

KM: The ‘book answer’ is managing the prudential affairs of the community. As it appears—it is a vague and broadly encompassing role a person functions in as one of three Select Board members in Carroll, NH. I have come into the position with the understanding of executive level decision-making, but deliberated by three members. Putting the town’s (residents, employees and businesses) overall wellbeing first in our decision-making drives it.

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

KM: This is my first year in this role. As I have been out of work from my normal job; I have had the opportunity to make good use of the time in getting my feet under me and learning the ropes in this role. Many residents, other elected officials and the town employees have been essential to my work in serving the community as effectively as time and resources permit.

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

KM: For one thing NHMA has been great at clarifying the variety of roles in public service as well as the resources available to town officials. I have learned the benefits and limits NHMA is able to provide. This has prompted my continuing effort to ‘do my homework’, or research if you will with the various sources of information and data before engaging in public discourse or in decision making.

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

KM: First, I would say I hesitate at taking credit for too much of any actions as there are always a number of people involved. A recent event is indicative of this kind of solution. When faced with the question of whether the town should continue to allow sledding on a hill near our new town hall complex due to questions of safety, liability issues, past practice and town tradition; the Select board—under the advisement of public safety and highway department heads shut the sledding down as an immediate action. Within forty-eight hours the town had come to a solution that limited the liability, greatly increased the safety of sledding on the hill by way of a snow fence donated by a local vendor and we were able to continue the tradition of folks being able to enjoy a winter recreational activity.

TC: Tell us a story about an unusual experience you have had while doing your job. KM: With the construction of our new town hall, part of the aftermath was needing to sell the former fire station. This isn’t an often-occurring event. My curiosity drove me to kind of take up the mantle of how the town would want to consider this transaction. I was challenged to find the best modality to follow and bring it to the board for consideration. As one of the board members was also going to be a bidder (thus have to recuse from all deliberations) the challenges mounted. In the end, the other board member and I opted for a public auction. We were able to sell the property for a good price and put it back on the tax rolls. In the end, it is my opinion that most residents were happy with the result.