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Selectmen approve ethics‑board appointment amid dispute over nomination process
Summary
The board approved the appointment of Jim O'Keefe to the Board of Ethics but faced prolonged debate about appointment fairness after a recommendation for another candidate (Gina Foster) was not placed on the agenda; members differed on charter interpretation and party representation.
The Board of Selectmen approved the appointment of Jim O'Keefe to the Board of Ethics for a term expiring July 31, 2030 during its June 15 meeting. The appointment drew extended discussion and a motion to table from one selectman who said a previously recommended applicant, Gina Foster, had not been added to the agenda for consideration.
Selectman Jonathan (name used in exchange) pressed that the Republican Town Committee—s recommended candidate had not been scheduled for consideration and called that omission unfair: "We recommended Gina Foster to the board of ethics a couple of weeks ago and she's never been considered or added to the agenda," he said. Other selectmen replied that appointment scheduling is a board discretion and that the charter's "minority representation" language is intended to prevent a single party from holding more than a bare majority rather than guarantee seats to a specific party.
After debate and an attempted motion to table, the board voted and appointed Jim O'Keefe; several members recorded abstentions on other items. The board also reappointed Dan Lambertton to the standing building committee and handled other routine appointments. Selectmen said procedural questions about vacancy timing (120‑day guidance in the charter) and formal resignation letters should be handled administratively going forward.
