Clarksburg Board Member Leaving at Year's End
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board was nearly two members again but by the end of Wednesday's meeting, was three — at least until the end of the year.
Select Board member Kimberly Goodell, elected on a write-in campaign in 2017, had proffered her resignation to the board effective Aug. 31.
"I think it needs to be held by somebody who can put more time into it and effort," she said, citing increased obligations and her father's death last year as diminishing her capability and desire to serve. "I think it needs to be held by somebody who can put more time into it and effort."
Her departure meant the board would again be back down to two members, a consistent problem in recent years. Officials have struggled at times with having only two members — new board member Karin Robert, for example, is the third person serving in an existing three-year term. Goodell is finishing out a term from which Linda Reardon resigned.
Chairman Ronald Boucher motioned to hold a special election that was supported by Goodell. Robert, however objected to spending on a a special election, estimated to cost $2,000 to $3,000.
"Why have the extra cost of an election when we let Chip's seat go for a whole year," Robert said, referring to Carlyle "Chip" Chesbro Jr., who resigned months into the second year of the term Robert is completing (that he won after William Schrade Jr. stepped down after one year).
"That was the old board, this is the new board," responded Boucher. "I like to have three people. ... I think it's a minimal cost because you could go deadlocked on a lot of different things that are important issues to this town. I like that third body.
"We're only two months into this term."
Boucher related his own frustrations representing North Adams on the Hoosac Water Quality District, which is made up of four members evenly split between the city and Williamstown that was often deadlocked. Clarksburg had run into a deadlock a couple years ago when the only two board members at time couldn't agree on hiring a town administrator, leaving the town without one for months.
Town Clerk Carol Jammalo said the election could fall around November's Election Day but that it would be difficult to run alongside the state election. Also, it wasn't just posting the election but making sure there was the appropriate time for citizens to take out nomination papers and order ballots. She said she'd have to look it up to be sure but thought it was at least 65 days. Avoiding the statewide election would push it into December.
Robert said if a special election was pushed into late November or December, it was just months before the next annual town meeting was held.
"Would my staying on until December make a difference?" Goodell asked.
Both Boucher and Robert agreed that would work, leaving less than five months before the next town election. Goodell amended her resignation letter and Boucher rescinded his motion.
All three board members agreed to put off a vote on a Proposition 2 1/2 override for capital projects until at least the next town meeting. Town Administrator Carl McKinney had hoped to schedule the vote in late November after having the override approved for the ballot by the previous Select Board.
"I understand your end but I think it can wait until town meeting and election," Boucher said. "I want people to understand exactly what this is all about, what it's going to do and what projects it's going to encumber."
Robert said her biggest concern was that citizens be able to see a prioritized list of projects with estimates before any vote.
"Nobody is going to vote for a 2 1/2 override if they don't know where their money is going," she said, and referred to the "debacle" of the failed school project vote a year ago. "I think it's too big a decision to rush ... we need to proceed with caution."
McKinney said project estimates could vary from actual costs and noted that he's been pursuing a number of grants to aid in renovations and repairs. Robert said the grant possibilities as well as the projected costs should be laid out for voters so they fully understood what the town was trying to do.
In other business, McKinney reported that Senior Center director's position has been posted; that another mosquito has been discovered carrying West Nile virus and that residents are asked to take precautions (eliminate standing water, use bug repellent); that the town has to initiate a self-evaluation of its compliance with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act; that the town has applied for a $21,500 economic development grant toward state-required capital improvements to the Briggsville Water System (master meter, raw spigot for testing, generator for backup) and that he has met with a potential operator for the system.
McKinney said he has discussed the development of the town's website with Jason Morin of BerkSites and that he is awaiting word from the Department of Revenue about putting the information technology department under the Police Department. Police Chief Michael Williams is the keeper of the passwords and has experience with the town's software. If approved, McKinney said he would bring the board an agreement for Morin to develop and maintain the site in compliance with state and federal regulations. He estimated the cost at $1,000 a year.
The board also voted a new policy that requires approved and signed meeting minutes to be delivered to the town clerk within 48 hours. The policy was made after the board was unable to find approved meeting minutes from a Select Board meeting earlier this year.
Tags: override, resignation,
