By Gail Peckler-Dziki/Correspondent
During the April 15 annual meeting, the 55 electors unanimously requested that the town board should create a committee to investigate the possibility of incorporating the town into a village. The motion was made by elector Kyle Christensen and seconded by elector Tim Squier.
The issue was discussed at the April 21 Committee of the Whole meeting. Town chairman Diann Tesar said that she had received only two letters of interest and town clerk Cindi Ernest said she had received none.
Town administrator Pat Casey told the board that they needed to decide how to recruit committee members.
The board discussed letters of interest with a paragraph of biographic information. Information will be posted on the town website, press releases sent to news outlets. The town will either send information in the June newsletter or send out a special mailing.
Town supervisor Dennis Faber said that learning something about committee members was very important to him, stating, “Did you know there are some people in this town who won’t tell you anything about their past?”
Casey suggested a number somewhere between nine and 15, with no more than 15. “You need an odd number,” he said. “And if there are more than 15, you won’t get anything done. And you need to decide how to choose a chair.”
Tesar commented that she had a number between 10 and 15 in mind. The board also discussed having two board members on the committee, with the rest Salem electors.
“We need to have a good representation,’ Tesar said. “We need a housewife and an engineer. And we should have people on the committee that are in favor and not in favor. We want to get objective information.”
Anyone who is interested in sitting on the committee must be a Salem resident. Letters of interest with biographic information or a resume can be sent to Tesar or the town clerk, Cindi Ernest.
The last day in June was discussed as the deadline for letters of intent and other information to be accepted from any interested Salem elector.