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Sudbury Select Board, school committee discuss interim appointment timing for vacant seat; legal question about pre- or post-election vacancy remains
Summary
After the Jan. 28 meeting the school committee and Select Board discussed filling a vacancy created by a resignation; the committees disagreed on whether an interim appointment should occur before or after the March 31 election while they await a legal clarification.
The Select Board and the Sudbury School Committee are coordinating to fill a temporary vacancy on the School Committee created by a recent resignation. The Select Board was informed Jan. 28 that the School Committee prefers an appointment made after the March 31 election, citing concerns that appointing an existing candidate to the interim seat could confer an unfair electoral advantage.
Under state law the School Committee had 30 days to request joint action with the Select Board to make an interim appointment. The town manager reported the statutory provisions are not yet clear on whether the appointment must be completed before the annual election or whether it may follow the election; the School Committee is seeking clarification from counsel.
School Committee leaders told the Select Board they would be comfortable continuing to operate with four members until the appointment can be resolved. The Select Board said it would await legal clarification and scheduled the matter for follow-up in advance of the statutory deadline.
The board asked staff to relay the School Committees concerns and to confirm the legal timeline so the Select Board and School Committee can plan a joint meeting if required.
