Selectmen get cracking on appointments

Jun 19, 2019

MARION — As Selectmen approach the end of the fiscal year when many appointments expire, they have made a number of appointments to various committees and subcommittees at a June 18 meeting.

After interviewing three Planning Board candidates, Selectmen appointed Margie Baldwin as a full voting member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and William Tifft as an alternate member.

They also appointed Dr. Edward Hoeffer to the Marion Cultural Council.

Four applications came up for the Council on Aging, from Paul Naiman, Madeline Cook, Eric Pierce, and Nancy Moore. Selectmen approved all four applications.

Selectman John Waterman wondered why the Council on Aging was able to attract so many applicants when other committees struggle to fill positions.

Town Administrator Jay McGrail theorized that it was because “there is professional staff that supports that board. So they feel supported,” joking that “we need more Karen Gregories [the Director of the Council on Aging]” to make the town more efficient.

A full list of positions up for reappointment is two pages long, but Selectmen decided on Tuesday that they are most interested in interviewing six members from the Conservation Commission, Marine Resources Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals.

They hope to be able to interview the candidates at a July meeting, and vote on the appointments in August, giving the public time to comment.

Selectmen also issued a blanket approval of staff reappointments in the Building Department, Police Department, Constable, Harbormaster’s office and Emergency Planning.