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Select Board weighs special election cost, timeline and appointment options for open seat
Summary
Board members debated holding a shortened special election (earliest date Sept. 22 under the compressed process) versus appointing a candidate, with staff noting a special-election minimum cost of $2,000–$3,000 and several procedural steps including nomination and absentee-ballot timelines.
The Select Board discussed options to fill an open select board seat, weighing a shortened special election against appointment procedures.
S9 (Staff member) explained statutory timing and costs and said a shortened special-election process could allow a September 22 election if nomination papers were made available immediately and absentee timelines were met. S9 estimated the minimum cost of a special election at "between $2 and $3,000 minimum" and noted the office would need to close an extra day to run it. Board members questioned whether the public would have sufficient notice to participate under a compressed schedule.
S3 (Vice Chair) suggested appointing the runner-up from the previous election or accepting applications and appointing someone instead of holding a fast special election, saying it might be quicker and easier. Board members and staff noted charter constraints and the need to meet statutory requirements for nomination paper availability and absentee ballots, and some members recommended tabling the matter to continue discussion at the next meeting.
