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Select Board discusses resignation of member Day; weighing special election vs. leaving seat vacant
Summary
A Select Board member submitted a resignation effective Friday noon; the board said it will decide next meeting whether to call a special election (which requires 65 days' notice and an estimated $10,000–$15,000 cost) or keep the seat vacant until the regular election.
The Select Board announced it received a letter of resignation from member Day effective at noon on the previous Friday and discussed procedural options for filling the vacancy.
The board's chair said the town will follow Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41, Section 10, which governs how local boards fill vacancies. Board members agreed not to accept the resignation at the May 5 meeting and instead to take up formal acceptance and the question of how to fill the seat at the next meeting to allow time for the outgoing member to reconsider.
Board members discussed the logistics and costs of a special election. The town clerk must have at least 65 days' notice to schedule a special election; the town's estimate for the cost of a standalone special election ranged from roughly $10,000 to $15,000. Board members noted the option of delaying until the regular town election but said combining with another municipal special election may not eliminate the town's share of cost.
Why it matters: a Select Board vacancy affects quorum and the board's capacity; the board must decide whether to hold a special election, which would be costly and take months to schedule, or leave the seat vacant until the next regular election.
Next steps: the Select Board expects to vote on whether to hold a special election at its May 19 meeting and will coordinate with the town clerk on scheduling and cost estimates if the board opts for an election.
