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Londonderry Selectboard outlines accountability steps after wave of resignations
Summary
After interviews with departing volunteers, the Londonderry Selectboard laid out goals to improve transparency and committee oversight, and directed monthly reports and clearer committee charges to address concerns about communication and unused grant funding.
The Londonderry Selectboard on March 17 reviewed findings from interviews with recent resigning committee members and announced a package of steps intended to restore trust and improve town governance.
Selectboard member James Ameden summarized the interviews, identifying themes including strained relationships between the Selectboard and committees, a history of money and grants not being fully utilized, management of information in the public sphere, and meeting management problems. Ameden said the board "will be working harder to hold each other accountable," and outlined goals to represent every perspective, foster unity and improve transparency.
The board adopted concrete follow-ups: monthly representations from committees to the Selectboard, clearer committee charge documents that define expected scope and outcomes, and an emphasis on open-meeting compliance and public access to information including an updated town website. Taylor Prouty said the review exposed a need to support each other as Selectboard members while acknowledging differences in position.
Members of the public who spoke during the meeting urged the board to maintain momentum. Pam Spaulding asked about the tone in town amid the challenges; Heather Stephenson thanked the board for conducting the interviews and noted the many resignations by longtime volunteers. Martha Dale encouraged the public to offer suggestions for specific action items.
The board framed these measures as internal accountability and communication reforms rather than immediate policy changes; several are procedural and will be implemented through committee reporting requirements and clarified charge documents.
