Mattapoisett Select Board navigates expansion at first post-election meeting
From left: Town Administrator Michael Lorenco and Select Board members Frances-Feliz Kearns, Jordan Collyer, Jodi Bauer, Nicole Doyon Lynch and Judy Mooney at the Tuesday, June 9 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
From left: Town Administrator Michael Lorenco and Select Board members Frances-Feliz Kearns, Jordan Collyer, Jodi Bauer, Nicole Doyon Lynch and Judy Mooney at the Tuesday, June 9 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
MATTAPOISETT — With three newly-elected members joining the Select Board after the May 19 town election, the board reorganized its structure during its first post-election meeting.
During the first meeting of the five-person board on Tuesday, June 9, the board approved Jodi Bauer as chair, Jordan Collyer as vice chair and newcomer Judy Mooney as clerk.
While the measure was unanimously approved these new roles, member Nicole Doyon Lynch asked for a reconsideration in six months to reflect voters’ interest in expanding the board and bringing fresh perspectives to the group.
“I don't want to disappoint people who were pretty again strong about having some new voices in the mix,” Lynch said.
While Collyer offered to relinquish his vice chair nomination, Lynch said with so many new members she thinks it benefits the group to have experienced members in leadership positions.
Mooney said having a chair and vice chair with years of experience “will be crucial for us” as the board navigates the expansion.
Collyer said while the title is a formality, and is mostly for administrative purposes, he supports taking another look at who serves in the three roles in the following months.
He said an expanded board of new and old members alike will be learning together.
“The five of us need to sit here and learn from each other,” he said. “We're not going to agree on everything — God willing we don't agree on everything — but this is what we need to be doing.”
