During the August 26 meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board, the issue of ethics with respect to a short-term appointment became a flash point. The agenda listed “Action Items discussion and possible vote on Board of Health Interim Member to the Board of Health.” The appointment would fill a vacancy expected on the board before the end of Alexandra Nicoloci’s term ends.
It has been the practice of the town to fill short-term postings with residents willing to provide short-term assistance. But there was resistance to the board’s selection of Douglas Schneider who was a candidate for the Board of Health ultimately defeated in the last election.
Select Board member Tyler Macallister advocated for Schneider’s appointment saying he was qualified and had shown obvious interest in the position. But current BOH member Michelle Bernier lobbied for a replacement with a public health background, Kathy Eklund. Eklund had submitted a multipage curriculum verte that outlined her many years working in the public health sector.
There ensued a period of discussion that included questions about the number of times Schneider, a civil engineer will need to recuse himself due to business relationships a common occurrence with the current board given that the BOH chairman, Carmelo Nicolosi is also a civil engineer. Resident Donald Fleming, commenting from the floor, pointedly asked Nicolosi how frequently he recused himself from voting on matters brought before the BOH. He wasn’t sure possibly four times a year.
Bernier stated that it was sometimes difficult to vote on projects brought before the BOH because of Nicolosi’s affiliation with Charon and Associates. Naming another local engineer might not be prudent she believed. Bernier said that although the BOH deals with a number of septic related hearings, public health is also a large part of their area of responsibility.
Nicoloci said he had spoken to the state ethics board but when pressed by Fleming said it wasn’t a written opinion. Fleming said, “… this whole thing seems to be evolving about ethics.” The need for board members to recuse themselves from some matters due to their personal or business relationships requires the members to “self-report” town administrator Mike Lorenco said.
Resident Nikki Demakis said that even the appearance of a conflict was problematic. “…they have an obligation under their appointing authority.” She said, “It does not make sense not to appoint her (Eklund).
The Select board ultimately decided to take the matter up with legal counsel.
Another hot button item discussed was a citizen’s petition to hold a Special Town Meeting specifically to hear voters in the matter of another citizen’s petition that passed at the Fall Town Meeting. The petition, authored by Nikki Demakis sought to determine the public’s appetite for increasing the Select Board from 3 to 5 members. It passed the Spring Town Meeting. Now the voters will be asked whether or not they wish to overturn that vote and leave the Select Board as a 3-member board. The Select Board will check schedules to determine viable dates to hold this one-article Town Meeting and will post that date one week before holding the meeting.
In other matters, the town received a check from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) in the amount of $57,500.
They tabled a request from the Marine Advisory Board for a reduction of voting members from seven to five citing the difficulty in achieving a quorum especially during the summer months. The board will ask the Chairman Carlos DeSousa to weigh-in before taking any action.
Also on the agenda was the official appointment of members to the Open Space and Recreation Steering Committee. The mission of the OSRC Steering Committee as noted in their charge is to advise the Select Board on matters related to open space and recreation. They will facilitate the development of the OSRC plan document which reflects and supports the committee’s priorities and goals. It will establish goals that will examine issues for the future of open space and recreation. It will also establish a timeline for achieving goals.
The committee consists of nine members representing the Conservation Commission, the Bike Path committee, the Mattapoisett Land Trust, one member of the recreation staff, and four members from the general public. The committee’s volunteers are Nathan Ketchel representing the Planning Board, Barry Lima representing the Conservation Commission, Richard Grahn representing the Bike Path committee, Marissa Hughes from the Mattapoisett Recreation Department, Kristen McCormack from the Mattapoisett Land Trust, and from the community at large Robin Lepore, Frank White, and Janice Robbins.
The committee is charged with working with town staff officials, the public and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development in the establishment of goals and objectives, action items and review of all materials including the review of public feedback from surveys and public meetings. The synthesizing of all materials into coherent actionable strategies will be a key element of the OSRC’s work.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00 pm in Town Hall or on Zoom.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell