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Select Board approves revisions to town Appointments Policy to clarify engagement and process
Summary
The Select Board voted 5–0 to adopt amended Appointments Policy language clarifying consultation with appointed boards, renaming sections for consistency, simplifying notice to expiring members, and setting a process for Select Board member participation in interviews, subject to Town Counsel editorial review.
On Jan. 6 the Wellesley Select Board approved amendments to the town’s Appointments Policy aimed at clarifying how the board and staff engage with appointed boards and applicants.
Colette Aufranc, presenting the Policy Subcommittee’s draft revisions, outlined changes that include renaming a section from “Broad Community Engagement” to “Consideration of Other Town Service,” removing language that suggested holding multiple positions is inherently beneficial, clarifying the consultation process between the Select Board chair or liaison and appointed board chairs about needs and qualifications, simplifying procedure step 3 to focus on notifying members whose terms are expiring, replacing the term “Underlying Board” with “Appointed Board” for consistency, and revising procedure step 6A to clarify whether and how Select Board members participate in interviews and establish a process for members to request additional information via staff.
Ms. Aufranc moved adoption of the amended policy; Mr. Ulfelder seconded. The board approved the Appointments Policy as amended by a 5–0 vote, with a directive that final editorial and Town Counsel review be integrated at the Policy Subcommittee meeting and that the policy be returned to the Select Board if additional changes are necessary.
Board members emphasized that while the Select Board retains ultimate responsibility for appointments, appointed boards should have appropriate input on needs and qualifications.
