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Longtime Needham disabilities commission chair announces departure; cochair nomination delayed to next meeting
Summary
The Needham Commission on Disabilities chair announced she will step down after nearly 29 years and said she will remain until a replacement is found. Commissioners asked that the nomination of Karen to be cochair be added to next month’s agenda to avoid an Open Meeting Law violation.
Jeanne, chairperson of the Needham Commission on Disabilities, announced at the May 20 meeting that she has decided to step down after nearly 29 years of service and will remain on the commission until a successor is appointed.
The announcement came during the commission’s chairperson’s report. Jeanne said, “I have decided to step down from Commission on Disabilities,” and explained she will re-up for the next term but serve only as a member if a replacement is found; her formal term ends in June. Carol and Jeanne told the commission that Karen has agreed to step up as cochair, but the nomination was not voted on at the meeting.
Commissioners raised a procedural concern: because the nomination was not on the posted agenda it could create an Open Meeting Law problem if voted on immediately. Karen moved to nominate the cochair at the meeting, but other members advised caution and requested that the nomination be posted and voted on at the next meeting to comply with the 48-hour public notice rules.
Commissioners said they plan to recruit a replacement and to hold a celebration for Jeanne in September. Jeanne said she will remain engaged until the commission fills the vacancy.
The commission accepted the April 15 minutes by roll call vote earlier in the meeting; that procedural approval preceded the membership update.
