Hurry up and wait: Mattapoisett Board of Health member yet to be elected

MATTAPOISETT — Postponed for two months already, the Mattapoisett Select Board has yet to elect a new member of the Board of Health. 

The Select Board held a meeting Thursday, Oct. 30 to discuss and vote in a new member of the Board of Health for a temporary role until the election in May, when residents will vote on a candidate who will fill the seat for a full term.

Residents and members of the Select Board and Board of Health ultimately could not agree on a candidate, ending the meeting without an elected interim member to fill the spot.

At an Aug. 26 Select Board meeting, all three board members supported Doug Schneider, a civil engineer and land surveyor of 40 years versus Kathy Eklund, who has been in the public health field since 1975. 

At the Oct. 30 discussion, Board of Health member Michele Bernier and multiple residents have pushed back against support for Schnieder, claiming he might have a conflict of interests since he worked for a local engineering and land surveying firm. 

Don Flemming, a Mattapoisett resident, claimed the Select Board only supports Schneider since he has shown more interest in politics. 

“The sole reason for the Board of Selectmen to support one candidate was the fact that he ran for office,” said Flemming. 

Bernier and residents also voiced that Eklund is more qualified for the role, having worked in public health and at the Forsyth Institute for over 40 years. 

The Select Board did not come to a conclusion on who to elect on Oct. 30 due to one Select Board member, Jordan Collyer, missing the meeting and Board of Health member Carmelo Nicolosi refusing to support either candidate. 

“I will not be supporting either applicant … As far as I'm concerned, it can go to the town ballot and the people can vote on who will sit in that position,” said Nicolosi. 

Select Board Chair Tyler Macallister and Vice Chair Jodie Bauer did not second a motion put forth by Bernier to elect Eklund.

Since there was no majority to elect either candidate, the vote has been postponed again. 

The Board did not decide to reschedule a meeting to vote with both the Select Board and Board of Health fully present or to wait for residents to elect the official in May. 

If a candidate is not elected before May, the town will vote on who will officially fill the position.