Opinion: Supporting the expansion of Mattapoisett Select Board

To the editor:

As our Town Meeting on May 12, 2025, approaches, we urge your support for the Citizen's Petition to expand our Select Board from three to five members.

Why Expansion Makes Sense Now

Mattapoisett has evolved significantly, with changing demographics and increasingly complex issues. Our current three-member structure is no longer adequate for addressing our community's diverse needs:

Improved Decision-Making
With only three members, just two individuals can make major decisions. Five members would ensure broader consensus and more diverse perspectives.

More Effective Governance
Our current Select Board members all maintain full-time jobs while serving the town, limiting their capacity to address growing priorities. Five members would allow better distribution of responsibilities, preventing burnout and ensuring more effective follow-through.

Enhanced Communication and Collaboration
Massachusetts Open Meeting Law prohibits a quorum from discussing town business outside official meetings. With five members, two could collaborate between meetings without violating this law, improving governmental efficiency.

Greater Stability During Conflicts
When conflicts of interest require recusals, a three-member board is left with just two voting members, creating potential deadlocks. A five-member board maintains more stable governance even with recusals.

Following a Well-Established Trend
Mattapoisett wouldn't be pioneering this approach. At least 36 Massachusetts towns have successfully expanded their Select Boards from three to five members, demonstrating this is a well-established governance trend in our Commonwealth.

Our town deserves governance that reflects our community's diversity and addresses our evolving needs efficiently. Expanding the Select Board represents a practical, proven step toward more responsive and representative local government.

Thank you for considering this important matter.

Sincerely, Anne Layton, Nicky Osborne, Jeanne Hopkins and John Bernardi