Editorial
Interviews should help determine appointments

Elected officials carry heavy responsibilities for their public service to the community. These include determining the wisest ways to allocate taxpayer funding, envisioning future needs while laying the groundwork today and putting the most qualified people in place - whether employees or appointed personnel - to serve the interests of the citizens.

The power to appoint can be a heady experience. People chosen for boards and committees should be selected without bias, based only on merit for the required tasks. This can be tough in a small community.

In January the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors made switches for several appointed seats. Four people who served on the Antrim Township Municipal Authority, Planning Commission and Vacancy Board were replaced. Three had verbally expressed interest in retaining their spots, the traditional way of communicating such through the years.

The board invited residents interested in serving to send a letter of interest. Three did. Another said he was willing to serve when personally asked by a supervisor. Those four received appointments.

If there was a problem with the performance of the incumbents, with their years of experience, it was never publicly mentioned. The supervisors did not interview any of the candidates. One wonders how they reached their unanimous decisions.

At the Greencastle Borough Council level, a vacancy on the Zoning Hearing Board was filled in January. Two people had expressed interest. One was selected with no interview process.

We encourage transparency in these appointments. Perhaps the most qualified people are seated to represent the public. We don't know how that was determined but we sure hope it is true.