This week's Tele-Talk question is: Should vacancies on town and school boards be filled by appointment?

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This week's Tele-Talk questions is: Should vacancies on town and school boards be filled by appointment? Eighteen readers responded. Selected responses are printed; some responses have been edited.Karen Umberger must think we don't recall that she was once appointed even though Catherine Woodall received the second most votes in a spirited campaign against Jac Cuddy. Catherine was a victim of the "insider's" manipulations and back-room dealings. Now here comes Umberger to tell us that it is not appropriate to appoint someone. North Conway.To suggest that there is a power, or an advantage, given to an incumbency is to say the people are not able to make a decision based on other things, like issues, abilities, et cetera. For any elected official to suggest otherwise and to base their vote on this misguided notion is an alarming indication of where their priorities are. In this case, their primaryconcern is not the school district or thetown, but the next election. They should be reminded politicians are concerned for the next elections, but statesmen are concerned for the next generation.The school board's flip-flop position on this matter removed an option for them to consider and clearly was a move that politicized the process. Yet, worse the manner by which the board of selectmen handled Ted Sares' generous offer to serve the peopleon the board was callous. Tedstated he would not run in April if appointed and to donate his selectmen's salary to a charity. Even if the selectmen did not want to fill the vacancy, they owed Mr. Sares the courtesy of discussing his offer while he was at the meeting, instead of waiting until after he left. Now, about 25 percent of this year will pass before the people have full representation. This is another example of the alarming trend to disregard the will of the people and to limit the official authoriy to the limited few. I support filling the vacancies now by appointments and I encourage many to apply for these seats. There are many many issues that require full representation. A most disturbing week for democracy in the town of Conway. Mark Hounsell, Conway Village.I do think boards should replace vacant seats with appointments. If the concern is that there are not knowledgeable people available or that the appointed person would use the position to run for election, these can both be addressed and I do not think they are valid concerns. There are many qualified people who have served on various town boards previously and may be willing to give their time but have no interest or are unable to serve a full term.Dave, North Conway.Positions in local government should always be filled after the death or resignation of someone. The reason for an odd number is to have one break the tie and move the process along.The unfortunate death of Dick O'Brien has created a great vaccum and it has given the opportunity for an honorary dean to step forward and fill out the term(s). Ted Sares is such a person, along with Mark Hounsell. One would think after witnessing first-hand the results of a municipal board (NCWP) not complying and operating within the framework of law, the Conway Board of Selectmen would be the last public body in Conway to go down this path. However, they apparently must have overlooked or forgot to read N.H. RSA 669:63 which states, "Vacancies in the board of selectmen shall be filled by appointment by the remaining selectmen." The statute does not say may, it says shall! Now, I realize the board of selectmenprobably did not have to consider that Ted Sares had a genuine personal from the heart yearning to fill the seat of afriend Ted had spent countless hours with driving to and from cancer treatments, and to whomTed had devoted much of his personal time up to andincluding the day Dick O'Brien passed on.These reasons would have placed the selectmen in an awkward public position,and accusations would have flown ridiculing the selectmen for making a decision based on compassion. Imagine beingridiculedfor being compassionate! Or they could have just viewed the offer as it was clearly stated to them by Ted Sares, whois serving the town on other boards and committeesand discussed with Ted their thoughts and intentions concerning an appointment until the upcoming election.The selectmen have an obligation to insure the the citizens of Conway are fully represented by a five-member board evenwith electionsjust down the road. The school board should also review N.H. law regarding the filling of vacancies. Gary R. Chandler, North Conway.Well, if it was good enough for Karen Umberger, it should be good enough for others. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.Unless you get somebody to promise not to run. If you get an appointee who promises not to run in April, then I would not make an appointment because it's too late in the game.No, they should not be filled with only two months to go. Saturday's paper reported four months to go, but in reality, it is two before the deliberative portion and three before the actual vote. There's too short a time period to try to get somebody up to speed with the current issues and put him or her in an awkward position for the deliberative portion, with only two months of experience at the most under his or her belt. So definitely not. Under N.H. State Law Chapter 197.26, the Conway School Board must fill the vacancy left by Dick O'Brien. The school board should review the law and make the correct decision. Hopefully, the board will find someone with good common sense and not choose somebody that has an agenda. It's clear Kovalik and Fredette were button-holed by other board members in the SAU behind closed doors. Why else would they change their minds so fast? Think for yourselves, please. What an insult to Mark Hounsell! He would have been perfect. Is he too thorough for the SAU? Does he ask too many good questions? That board should stop treating the Conway voters as if they were stupid. If Mark filled the seat now and they didn't want him, they wouldn't elect him. Appearance of incumbency? What a stupid, stupid reason not to appoint him.Yes, I believe the vacancies should be filled. They always have been in the past and I can't see why there's any harm in it if they're not afraid of something. I did have great respect for the selectmen of this town. I always have, but now I'm beginning to wonder if they have caught the same disease that the North Conway Water Precinct has got. If there's an opening, it should be filled. It's the law. I know you think you believe you understand what you heard me say, but I'm not sure if what you heard is what I meant. This is Dave in North Conway. Rumor has it that Ted Sares offered to be considered to replace Dick O'Brien until April and give his monthly salary to Dick's favorite charities such as Project SUCCEED, the recreation center, NCCC, and others that benefit our children. He also promised that if appointed, he would not run in April. From what I understand, they did not even acknowledge his offer. If this is true, I would not like to be in his sights if I were a selectman. I hope he runs in April. Center Conway.I am extremely disappointed in the reversal of votes by school board officials George Fredette and SherylKovalik, who voted not to fill Dick O'Brien's position. It is particularly disturbing that chair Pat Swett and Deb Deschenes voted against filling this vacancy without public discussion and without giving consideration to Mark Hounsell or the people of this community. Having complete disregard for the law, the present and past actions of our school board are not just troubling, but selfish and questionable. Failure to offer "we, the people" any opportunity to participate and help improve the quality of the board further substantiates the need for new blood on the board. N.H. law states, in section 197:26, vacancies, "The school board shall fill vacancies occurring on the board, and in other district offices, except that of moderator, until the next annual meeting of the district. In case of vacancy of the entire membership of the board, or the remaining members are unable to agree upon an appointment, the selectmen, upon application of one or more voters in the district, shall fill the vacancies so existing until the next annual meeting of the district." Section 47:4, powers of selectmen, vacancies: "At a like convention, held by request of either branch of the city councils, they shall fill all vacancies that shall exist in the boards of assessors, overseers of the public welfare or school board, until an election shall be had, and all vacancies in any office to which they have power to elect." Yes, fill the vacancies as soon as possible! I applaud Ted Sares, who graciously offered to volunteer his time to serve on the board of selectmen for Dick's remaining term. To the board of selectmen: Shame on you for the lack of respect given to Ted Sares and his kind offer. Your behavior was inappropriate and unacceptable.We elected a certain number and that is the number we should have. What's so difficult with that? Why even bother? I say no, unless it can be taken out of politics. The board will pick someone who represents special interests, like Valley Vision, the Economic Council, the chamber or the North Conway Village Association. Conway Village.Absolutely and without a doubt. I can't wait for the next election.