Meet Volunteer Daniel Rawlins
Serve with him on the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee
Daniel Rawlins joined the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee in 2017 and continues to serve as an out-of-town representative. Other out-of-town volunteers are needed.
“I think it’s important to be involved with it,” Rawlins said. “I like knowing what’s going on, especially with all the development around town.”
The Water and Sewer Advisory Committee has seats for in-town and out-of-town water customers. It discusses public information, operations and finances and makes recommendations related to the management of the Water and Sewer Fund, which pays for water and sewer system maintenance and improvements. The committee especially needs out-of-town customers to fill two vacancies. To apply, fill out the online application.
“It’s important that we have people outside of town who live in the jurisdictional area on the committee because they bring a different way to look at things,” Rawlins said.
When Rawlins and his family relocated from Ohio, they moved to a home inside town limits. Eventually, they bought a house outside of town where they continue to be water customers, paying nearly double the in-town rate for water services each month. Rawlins said he and his wife and their four children are careful not to take long showers to help keep the bill in check.
“Out-of-town customers don’t get to vote for the town board, so we really don’t have a voice in the government," Rawlins said. “This is our only place to sound off about water costs. So, I think it’s important to have out-of-town people on the committee so we can be heard.”
Water and Sewer Advisory Committee members take turns attending the meetings of the Hillsborough Planning Board and Hillsborough Board of Commissioners to listen and report relevant news to the committee.
Experience with water and sewer operations is not necessary to serve on the committee, although Rawlins has some related professional experience as a mechanical engineer. He is now an attorney.
After more than six years of volunteering, Rawlins says he still enjoys being on the committee and informing his friends firsthand about development-related discussions that take place.
“I understand the town needs to grow because the state is growing and there are a lot of opportunities for jobs and employment here,” he said. “I just want to keep my finger on the pulse of what’s going on.”
The Water and Sewer Advisory Committee meets every two months at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of February, April, June, August, October and December. The committee also meets jointly with the Board of Commissioners. This year, it will attend the board’s work session on Aug. 26. Meetings are held in the Board Meeting Room of the Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St., and are open to the public.
