The Haines Borough Board and Committees Fair, an event scheduled to raise awareness of the various ways to be involved in local government, drew few interested residents Tuesday night, but borough clerk Alekka Fullerton says she’s not worried about filling empty seats.
More than 45 seats are open on 15 borough committees and boards including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission and a new Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee. Such boards typically meet monthly in an advisory role to the borough assembly.
“I’ve probably got 28 applications,” Fullerton said. “I’m not worried. It’s good to get people moving around to different committees, not having them all on the same ones. Diversity is our biggest strength. I would love to see a lot more work going on at the committee level.”
On Tuesday, representatives on various committees were at the library to inform the public on their role and what’s expected of them as a volunteer.
Asked about the lack of attendance, Solid Waste Working Group member Tom Morphet speculated that the borough is possibly “over-committeed” and that many people in Haines are volunteering for the myriad nonprofits and other volunteer organizations in town outside of borough government.
“If you have any interest in Haines, you’re probably on some board or commission already and you feel you’re doing your part.” Morphet said. “It’s always tough to get people to serve on government committees. I would get rid of a couple of them because I think we’re a little bit over stretched.”
Nik LaCroix, 29, one of the few attendees on Tuesday night, is a recent arrival to Haines. He moved here last October and said he was glad to see young people recently elected to the borough assembly.
“I’ve realized the importance of becoming involved,” LaCroix said. “Seeing young people get into the assembly is inspiring. I just figured if I’m going to be here, I should get involved.”
He applied for seats on the Planning Commission and the Tourism Advisory Board.
Diana Lapham, a former assembly member, has long volunteered on local boards. She currently sits on three. When asked why some people might not wish to serve, she said apathy and burnout are to blame.
Assembly member Debra Schnabel said she’s heard some residents say they don’t want to serve because discourse often becomes vitriolic.
“I think apathy may be a part of it, but I also think there are a lot of people that are fearful about serving because the community, not just in Haines, is often cruel and mean and hurtful to public servants,” Schnabel said. “I know a lot of people who could say, ‘I could never serve in a public position because you get criticized so much.’ You can’t go shopping. You can’t go to the post office (without hearing something.)”
Lapham agreed.
“I have lived it. I know that it’s true,” Lapham said. “It comes with the territory unfortunately. You’re never going to please everyone. There are going to be people who want nothing more to do with you. It’s too bad.”
Fullerton said the biggest hurdle to getting people to volunteer that she’s heard are complaints that borough assemblies won’t heed their advice.
“There have been assemblies in the past who, when people took a lot of time and recommended something at the committee level, didn’t even talk about it. Nobody’s saying they need to necessarily follow what an advisory committee says, but I do think they owe an obligation to talk about it and go through where they ended up and how they ended up there.”
Morphet, who has also served on the assembly and advisory boards, said it’s a long-time concern.
“That complaint from those committees has been around for the 35 years I’ve been here,” Morphet said. “It just calls for more communication between the assemblies and the committees.”
He added that newly elected assemblies should check in each election cycle with advisory boards to ensure there’s clarity about goals and objectives.
Advisory board seats are mayor-appointed positions. Residents can complete an application for board appointments on the borough’s website or find applications at the clerk’s office.