By Joseph Edgerton
Staff Writer

The filing season for town and school officials has begun, and there are important offices available in both Goffstown and New Boston.

Filings may be made until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3.

Goffstown

Goffstown has two selectman positions available this year, and each is a three-year term.

Goffstown town administrator and deputy treasurer Susan Desruisseaux said a general familiarity with the town is critical when running for office.

“Candidates should have a sense of community, and they should have a knowledge of their constituents' opinions on local issues,” she said. “Experience on other boards or committees is always a plus, and knowledge of state laws and general laws that outline typical duties is important.”

Selectmen are charged with setting the town policy, gathering the input of citizens through public hearings and ensuring that the town is adhering to state law.

“A selectman must also know about all the services a town offers,” said Desruisseaux. “They have to be familiar with the police department, the fire department and schools in the area.”

Also this year, there is an opening on the Goffstown zoning board, Desruisseaux said.

The position, which has a threeyear term, will be elected for the first time.

“Last year, the members of the board were appointed,” she said. “There are five members, and one expired term. As each term is up, members will be elected rather than appointed.”

Other positions available in Goffstown include five budget committee openings. Three of them are three-year terms, one is for two years, and one is for one year.

A cemetery trustee position for three years is available, as are two library trustee positions for three years apiece.

Two planning board positions are open, as is a sewer commission position and a position as trustee of the trust tunds. These are all three-year terms.

The town moderator position is available this year, which has a term of two years.

The deliberative session of Goffstown Town Meeting is scheduled for Feb. 8, with a snow date of Feb. 9, and the election is to be held on March 14.

Goffstown has six available positions in the school district. Three are school board openings, with terms of three years. The school district is also seeking a clerk, a moderator and a treasurer. Each term is effective for three years.

New Boston

In New Boston, there is one opening for a school board member, a three-year term.

In town offices, there are several openings.

There is one position available on the board of delectmen. David Woodbury, a twiceelected selectman, said the position requires candidates who are interested in broad forms of town government.

“Sometimes people get elected and have try to solve one issue,” he said. “Often they can't do it, and they get burned out or discouraged.”

Woodbury also said a candidate must take interest in employee relations, town revenue and finances, and the tax rate.

He ran in 2001, was elected in 2002, and after his first time ran again in 2004.

“In my opinion, it takes a few years before you really understand what the job is about,” he said. “To do a decent job, you should run two times, if not longer.”

Other offices open in New Boston are town clerk, a three year term; cemetery trustee, a three-year term; three fire wards for three-year terms; two library trustees for three-year terms; and one library trustee position for a year.

Those interested may also run for trustee of the trust fund, a three-year term; town moderator, a two-year term; and supervisor of the checklist, a six-year term.

New Boston's deliberative session of School District Meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m., at the New Boston Central School. The snow date is Feb. 9.

The deliberative session of New Boston Town Meeting is Monday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. The snow date is Feb. 7. The town vote and election is March 14 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the school.

Editor's note: Weare offices were listed in the Jan. 12 issue of The Goffstown News.