Dave "Doc" Westerling. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Dave Westerling, better known around town as “Doc,” has had a distinguished career as a civil engineer, including numerous leadership positions at state and federal levels, but he is proudest of his role as teacher. He is currently on sabbatical from Merrimack College, where he is an associate professor in the Civil Engineering Department and where he has been teaching since 1985. Early in his career, Doc worked in heavy field construction, and later utilized the skills learned on the job to provide expertise on a number of municipal projects. He spent 15 years with the federal government in soil and land use, hydrology, and fish and wildlife.

Other than eight years on a farm in Westminster, Doc has lived in Harvard since 1971, with his wife and two children—Bromfield graduates. In Harvard, Doc has served on the Finance Committee and as a tax assessor, and is currently town moderator. He sits on the boards of Freedom’s Way and Citizens to Protect Residential Harvard and was previously on the board of the Harvard Conservation Trust. In his spare time, Doc likes to work on two old Mercedes-Benz he owns and to sail his Columbia 26.

Press: What has inspired you to run for election and reelection?

Westerling: When (former Moderator) Bill Patton had a conflict of interest and called on me to take an article at town meeting, it seemed to work pretty well. Then when he was stepping down, it seemed the logical thing to do. I thought (former Moderator) Dick Cronin was a great guy, a very fair and upstanding citizen.

Press: What do you see as the role of moderator?

Westerling: Maintaining the integrity and the civility of town meeting. (Here he shows the interviewer Town Meeting Time and Manual for Moderators.)

Press: What skills do you bring to the position?

Westerling: Negotiation skills in general—I learned these through construction where you needed a solution with no clear winner. Communication—I’m best when I’m listening. People on the sidelines have a lot to offer and that to me is the heart of town meeting.

Press: Where do you stand on the citizens’ petition [to elect rather than appoint Finance Committee members] that’s going before this Town Meeting?

Westerling: I use the guidelines from the Manual for Moderators and it seems to work well. I keep a file of résumés and names, some that people email me. The citizens’ petition is good and it’s good the selectmen accepted it. I’m flexible—whatever the Town Meeting wants.

Press: If the petition fails, would you change the appointment process? If so, how?

Westerling: If there’s something better, let’s find out and weigh the options. It’s hard to do on town meeting floor, so have a group study and list options. In 1992 it was changed from appointment by the selectmen because people felt it must be independent.

Press: Do you think the moderator should limit the length of debate on an issue?

Westerling: It depends. You’re balancing the freedom to debate versus the integrity of the meeting. Set the stage ahead of time. When there has been repetition, ask if anyone in line has anything new to say. Err on giving people time to speak rather than be a slave to the clock.

Press: Do you have a personal statement of mission that would guide you in the role of moderator?

Westerling: Making sure that everyone has ample time to speak and does not feel threatened. If you lose civility, you lose the meeting—why would anybody come? Try to maintain Harvard’s tradition of participation—it’s so good and it’s the most important thing to me.