Petition moves forward to increase Mattapoisett Select Board size

MATTAPOISETT — After a contentious debate that nearly saw the postponement of a citizens petition to increase the Select Board size from three to five members, Town Meeting approved of expanding the Select Board in a voice vote, which will go into effect after the state Legislature approves.

Nicki Demakis, who submitted the citizens petition, argued at Town Meeting on May 12 that a larger Select Board can “leverage more perspectives and skills, enhancing the depth and breadth of decision making.”

She added that it would create a “robust system of checks and balances,” ensure greater oversight and accountability, “foster a more sustainable and balanced workload,” and also promote a more “democratic and inclusive governance process.”

Several people at Town Meeting expressed their concerns with the proposal, including Chuck McCullough, a member of the Community Preservation Committee, who questioned how a five-person Select Board would affect the role of the town administrator.

He also suggested the motion to postpone the citizens petition, which was met with some opposition, including from former longtime state representative Bill Straus, who said that in his experience, “no matter how it’s described, motion to postpone is a euphemism to kill it.”

Several voters questioned why the size of the Board is suddenly an issue, including Art Leclair, who has lived in Mattapoisett for over 50 years.

“It reminds me of people that are trying to get more people on the Supreme Court,” he said. “What’s the point? It’s not needed.”

Deborah Abelha argued that increasing the Select Board to five members would “bog down the system.”

“It’s that saying, ‘too many cooks spoil the broth,’ because you’re going to have too many opinions,” she said. “I don’t see the justification for it, and I don’t see passing the cost on to the taxpayer.”

According to Demakis, Town Administrator Michael Lorenco told her that increasing the Board would cost the town $15,000.

“For a budget of $35 million, that’s a drop in the bucket, and that can be handled out of free cash,” she said.

Those in favor of increasing the Board size included Board of Health member Michele Bernier, who said she has firsthand experience because the Board of Health is a three-member board.

During her three years on the Board of Health, one member has had to recuse themselves for what Bernier believed to be around 30 times a year due to a conflict of interest with an engineering firm that often comes before the Board.

She pointed to a recent example where this Board member had a conflict of interest and the other member got stuck in traffic, which prevented a public hearing that had been duly posted from being held.

“If we were a five member board then that engineering firm would have been heard that night,” Bernier said. “We would have reviewed the plans, and we would have gone forward.”

Elizabeth Dicarlo, who said she rarely speaks up at Town Meetings, questioned why people seemed to be scared about letting other people into conversations and matters regarding the town.

“I think that people need to respect the fact that there are many people in this community who have a lot to offer,” she said.