With the wealth of activities that center around the College, Dartmouth becomes a miniature city for its residents, and it is easy for students to forget that they live in Hanover, too. The town is an independent governing body that is capable of making decisions that affect the entire community -- including the College.
The town of Hanover, which encompasses 10,000 people and also includes the village of Etna, is governed, as its charter established, through a town meeting system. At the meetings, which take place the second Tuesday in May, all citizens act as the legislative body and vote on town officials, the budget, and any other issues concerning the town.
To be eligible to vote in the town meeting, Dartmouth students must declare Hanover their permanent residence. This means obtaining a driver's license in New Hampshire and giving up the right to vote in local elections at home.
"During national election years, we usually have a rash of Dartmouth students who register to vote here," Town Manager Julia Griffin said.
Even students who are not voters in Hanover can still attend the town meetings, though they cannot participate in the discussions or voting.
The town's major elected officials are the Selectmen, the Treasurer, the Town Clerk and the Moderator.
The Board of Selectmen is a five-member group, elected for staggered three-year terms, that implements Town Meeting decisions, appoints the members of boards and commissions and draws up the agenda for the Town Meeting, known as the Warrant.
"Being a Selectman is a good window into the way the community functions," Selectman William Baschnegal said. "It is also a way to represent the views of individual voters."
The Board of Selectmen also hires the Town Manager. The Manager can be likened to the CEO of a corporation. Job descriptions include helping the Board of Selectmen conduct their business, hiring personnel and serving as the administrative head of the town's departments.
Town Managers usually have experience in city administration, as Griffin does. She was involved in the city governments of New York and Santa Monica, Calif., and was the Manager of Concord for several years.
"I wanted more balance between work and family, and Hanover has the attributes of a town and a city," Griffin said. "It is a great community to work for."
The Treasurer, currently Michael Ahern, serves a one-year paid term and is responsible for receiving and spending town funds. Ahern also handles the short-term investment of any excess.
The Town Clerk serves a three-year term and coordinates elections and meetings. The Clerk's office is also responsible for all official records.
"We handle all deaths, marriages, births, driver's licenses, dog licenses and boat registrations," Clerk Sallie Johnson said.
The Moderator, elected for a two-year term, presides over the town meeting and appoints Finance Committee members. The Moderator for this year is Dr. Richard Bird.
One of the benefits of a town-meeting government is the influence it gives each voting member of the town.
"At a town meeting, you can make your voice heard," Baschnegal said. "It is a tremendous amount of power."
