DUMMERSTON — Just in time for budget season, the Selectboard has appointed Lewis White as an interim board member.
In late October, Rachel Glickman, who was serving a two-year Selectboard term, tendered her resignation because she and her family moved out of town, which disqualified her from continuing to serve on the board.
The remaining members searched for someone to step in, they found a few viable candidates, and at the Nov. 21 board meeting they voted 4-0 to appoint White.
Selectboard member Hugh Worden spoke in favor of appointing White, a former board member.
“He can step in and begin doing [Selectboard] work immediately,” Worden said.
Board member Maria Glabach agreed, and said, “I want someone with background and experience.”
Town Clerk Laurie Frechette confirmed Lewis “was first elected to the Selectboard in March of 2006 and served until March of 2009. He took a year off and was re-elected in March of 2011 and served until the 2015 Town Meeting.”
Selectboard Chair Zeke Goodband worked to assuage concerns about having an unelected official participating in the budget process.
“We're not the Supreme Court,” he said, and added, “we'll spend the next three months writing the budget. At Town Meeting, that's when we present it. If people don't like it, they can amend [it], they can add, they can giveth, or they can taketh away. But we're not writing this in stone.”
Goodband encouraged voters to “get involved and turn out at Town Meeting.”
He also urged residents to run for the Selectboard, and noted the town will need another lister and an auditor.
Because White is filling a vacancy, his term will end at the 2019 Town Meeting. If he chooses, White - along with other potential candidates - can submit a petition to get on the ballot for Annual Town Election.
In March, three Selectboard members' terms will end, including White's, leaving open one-, two-, and three-year seats.
Worden told his colleagues that he will not seek re-election.
“I've enjoyed this,” he said, but he noted that he needs a break.