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Select Board hears debate over charter edits that would limit Town Manager appointing authority for elected boards
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Summary
Residents and Library Trustees urged preserving the Library Trustees’ supervisory authority over the library director as proposed charter edits clarify the Town Manager’s appointing power; the Board discussed historical practice and election/town meeting date changes were also raised.
The Select Board on Feb. 23 held a public hearing on general bylaw and charter amendments that included edits clarifying the Town Manager’s authority to appoint and supervise department heads. A primary point of contention centered on proposed edits to Article 5-1b that would affect departments with elected boards.
Padma Choudry and several Library Trustees argued the Library Trustees should retain appointing authority over the library director, saying the trustees are elected specifically to oversee library leadership and follow training aligned with Massachusetts General Laws. Choudry and supporters said the proposed language should explicitly limit the Town Manager’s authority to avoid diminishing the elected board’s independent supervisory role. Town Manager Matt Hanson and Select Board members discussed historical practices and how the amendment would or would not align with past approaches.
Mark Siegenthaler raised a separate concern that changing dates for the Annual Town Meeting and the election could schedule the two events too closely together; Select Board member Paul Mortenson explained the rationale and the limits of the Select Board’s proposed authority over dates. After public input and board discussion, the Select Board closed the hearing (vote 5-0).