Residents approved a petition warrant article in March to require Planning Board members to be elected rather than appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Resident Peter Buckingham, who drafted the petition warrant article, said it was the best way for citizens to have control in developing their community. The change calls for five board members instead of seven.

The Planning Board currently consists of seven members: Stephen Sloan, Diane White, Chairwoman Gretchen Gott, selectman representative Jonathan Wood, selectman alternate Paul E. Brown, John Chadwick, Jim Ken, John F. Page Sr. and alternate John Moore.

If these Planning Board members, except for Brown and Wood, would like to continue work on the board, they must run for re-election. All five positions are open.

Town Planner Craig Wheeler said this is the first elected Planning Board he’s worked with in his 20 years as a planner.

Other positions open for re-election in March are two seats on the Board of Selectmen; town clerk/tax collector, now held by Doris M. Gagnon; and town treasurer, now held by Catherine Grant.

Selectmen Brown and Wood are up for re-election, but only Wood has intentions of running for a second term. Brown has announced he does not intend to run again.

Gagnon, who has been the town clerk/tax collector for 10 years and has worked at the town office for 18 years, said she will probably seek another term. Before becoming town clerk/tax collector in 1995, she was the deputy town clerk/tax collector.

Residents interested in running for the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, town clerk and town treasurer must file an application at the town clerk’s office between Jan. 19 and Jan. 28. The cost for filing is $1, except for Planning Board candidates who are not required to pay the fee because it’s not a paid board. Residents vote for candidates for these positions during the March meeting. These positions are for three-year terms.

Positions on other town boards and commissions do not need to be voted on by the voters in March. Those positions, open in March 2005, include two seats on the Budget Committee, two positions on the Ethics Committee, trustee of the trust fund, one position on the library board of trustees, two seats on the Cable Committee, one seat on the Historic District Commission and one seat on the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.

There are also two alternate positions available on the Zoning Board of Adjustment in March 2005.

To volunteer for one of these town board or commissions, residents must attend three meetings of the board; let the chairman know they are interested in serving; get a letter of recommendation from the board; and bring information to selectmen Secretary Kathy Cramer, who in turn puts an interview with the Board of Selectmen on the agenda. Selectmen then decide whether to make the appointment.

Town Manager Rick Bates said it’s extremely important for Raymond residents to get involved in the development of their community.

"Many times people think involvement in town government should be at the selectmen or School Board level, but there are many other positions that are equally as important that deal with more of the day-to-day things that need to get done," Bates said. "We still (rely) a lot on people who are volunteers and they have a huge part in how the town government works, and we can’t operate without them."