There’s an expression Leon Kenison tells himself frequently.

“It’s about how to disagree and not be disagreeable,” said Kenison. “That’s a good slogan to try and follow. I try to remind myself that that’s what I should be doing.”

The Bow Board of Selectmen chairman uses the expression as a way to make sure the members of the board have a chance to give input and have a healthy discussion without going too far.

According to members of the board, it is having that discussion, and often disagreement, that is best for the town.

“You focus on the issue. People can have disagreements about the substance of what you’re talking about, but you don’t make it personal,” said Selectman Jack Crisp. “Town government in New Hampshire is best when that’s the way people do it. By and large that’s the way we’ve done it in Bow.”

Selectman Tom Keane came onto the board with a bang, as his proposed municipal budget cut was accepted at Town Meeting the day after he was elected in 2007.

At the beginning of his term, Keane said he was skeptical how well he would be received, but has since been pleasantly surprised with the attitude of board members.

“To say that I walked into a group that was less than hospitable would probably be an understatement,” said Keane. “The first few meetings I went to were extremely difficult and I felt extremely discouraged at times.”

Thanks in part to the leadership of Kenison, Keane said the board has become a place where he may disagree with other members, but each person gets the same input.

“I feel like I get my fair say,” Keane said. “Originally, I wondered if I would get a chance to express myself. I’ve felt under Leon that I get the chance to do that. At least we get the chance to get those ideas out on the table.”

Selectman Eric Anderson, who has been on the board for 21 years, said the key for board members is knowing they won’t always win an argument.

“You have to be able to go along with the give-and-take and what you think is right,” said Anderson. “That doesn’t mean everyone else thinks it is right. You have to allow for some compromise. Your position doesn’t always get support from the other four.”

Over his 21 years, Anderson said he has most been proud of his involvement with issues such as the building of the high school and the close relationship that was developed with the School Board during that process in the 1990s.

One thing Anderson said has changed during his tenure has been the amount of participation from community members in both the selectmen’s meeting and other groups in town.

“I can remember early on, I used to maintain a binder, and it was full of volunteer application forms,” said Anderson. “When a vacancy used to come up, we would have 10 names to call right away. Now, we don’t have that binder anymore.”

While attendance at board meetings may not be high, Crisp said the overall volunteerism of community members in town is impressive.

“It’s the people. The people that work for the town, volunteer for so many different boards, commissions, organizations,” said Crisp. “The volunteerism in town is incredible. Whether it’s the garden club, youth soccer or the people who make use of the library. It’s gratifying.”

Keane said he doesn’t mind having residents on the opposite side of an argument as him, it’s the input that is important.

“A lot of seats were contested (during this year’s elections), which is a good thing for the town. There was a very different set of opinions, and people had choices,” said Keane. “People don’t have to agree with me, but just show up at meetings and let their opinions be known.”