MATTAPOISETT — Three months after Town Meeting approved to expand the Mattapoisett Select Board from three to five members, Gov. Maura Healey signed the bill into law on Friday, Aug. 22.

“As soon as it was signed by the governor, it became the law,” said Rep. Mark Sylvia, who jointly filed the petition article with Sen. Mark Montigny after it was approved at Town Meeting.

He noted that the law is now in effect, and Mattapoisett will convert to a five-member Select Board and that the next step is now implementation.

“We will be a five member board come May of 2026. That’s the law,” said Nicki Demakis, who submitted the initial citizens petition to increase the Select Board to five members.

Sylvia noted the town will “inevitably follow” a process to fill seats in the Annual Town Election next May.

During the 2026 election, the three candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to the Select Board. The candidate with the most votes will serve for three years, the second-place candidate will serve for two years and the third candidate will serve for one year.

According to Demakis, this process is done for stability and to ensure only two seats appear on the ballot each year following the 2026 election.

“There’s only going to be two people who are up for reelection at any given time because they serve a three year term,” she said.

Healey signed the bill into law amid efforts to hold a Special Town Meeting to maintain a three member board and rescind the vote taken at Annual Town Meeting.

Paul Criscuolo, who started the citizens petition to potentially rescind the vote taken at Annual Town Meeting, said he found it “amazing” that the petition went through the Legislature in three months, noting that the process can often take close to 12 months.

He attributed the quick process to efforts made by Sylvia and Montigny, but noted that “this is not what the folks want.”

On Friday, Aug. 22, Town Clerk Catherine Heuberger certified Criscuolo’s petition, which garnered over 280 signatures at the time of submission, according to Criscuolo. He also noted there are more signatures to send in.

To hold a Special Town Meeting, the petition had to receive at least 200 signatures.

However, with Healey having signed the bill into law, there is some uncertainty on whether a Special Town Meeting will be held.

“[Town Counsel] is going to have to advise the Select Board on the petition that’s in front of them now for a [Special] Town Meeting and whether or not that’s germane now that the bill has been signed,” Sylvia said.