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Select Board names members of African Meeting House procurement work group
Summary
The Select Board appointed members to a work group charged with selecting a vendor to review a prior investigation of the African Meeting House incident. Two at-large community members were chosen by ballot.
The Nantucket Select Board on March 19 appointed members to the African Meeting House Investigation Procurement Work Group, the group that will recommend a vendor to review how a prior investigation was carried out.
The board emphasized the group's narrow charge at the outset. Chair Moore said the work group's “purview is solely to determine to make a recommendation to the select board as to who will perform that review.” The work group will not re-open the underlying investigation, the chair added.
The board appointed by acclamation three designated members: Cliff Williams as the appointed representative of the citizen group that filed the town-warned article; Dr. Noel Trent of the Museum of African American History; and Select Board member Malcolm McNabb, who will chair the group.
Four applicants sought two at-large community seats. Each applicant was given time to speak. Abby De Molina, who said she had attended events at the African Meeting House, urged that “we do a thorough process” and asked the board to consider including a community member. Rocky Fox spoke to his record of local service and said he wanted “closure” and that having “someone who looks like me on this committee” was important for community optics. Brooke Gibbs said her family helped build the building and urged the board to seek justice.
Select Board members voted by paper ballot. Rocky Fox received five votes and, after a tie-breaker round between Luke Thornwell and Abby De Molina, the board appointed Luke Thornwell to the second at-large seat. Chair Moore read the ballots: “Chair Moore gave her votes to Rocky Fox and Luke Thornwell; Mr. Dixon, Abby de Molina and Rocky Fox; Mr. Fee, Brooke Gibbs and Rocky Fox; Ms. Holgate, Abby de Molina, and Rocky Fox; Dr. McNabb, Rocky Fox and Luke Thornwell.” The board declared the appointments and said Dr. McNabb will coordinate meeting logistics with town staff.
The Select Board noted the work group's meetings will be recorded and made available on the Town's YouTube page; Dr. Trent is in Boston so initial meetings may be Zoom-only.
Members appointed: - Cliff Williams (designated representative of the citizen group) - Dr. Noel Trent (Museum of African American History; designated member) - Malcolm McNabb (Select Board; designated member and chair of the work group) - Rocky Fox (community member; at-large appointee) - Luke Thornwell (community member; at-large appointee)
The board said the work group's limited assignment is to recommend a vendor to review the prior investigation; any further action would come later if the review produces recommendations for the Select Board to address.
