Letters to the editor: Keep Select Board at three members

Expanding Select Board has consequences, positive and negative

I was surprised to see the negative reactions in the Dec. 19 edition to Moderator Hastings’ very rational ask for willing Select Board candidates to raise their hand(s). Anyone who has volunteered for Weston town government knows it’s a real struggle to fill volunteer vacancies.

Being on the Select Board requires incredible dedication and commitment. Most recent SB elections have been unopposed or with limited competitive fields. Hence, as Town Moderator, Hastings did the right thing – highlighting that just expanding the size does not guarantee there are volunteers willing to fill the slot!

Separately – one positive feature of the current three person size, in conjunction with Massachusetts Open Meeting law, is the complete transparency we have in the Select Board’s work and decisions. No side conversations or side deals are made, since all discussions take place during the meetings (that are open to all and on video). There is a real risk that a five person board turns into factions, whereby two members (or more) reach decisions after offline discussions.

I prefer the current transparent discussions and decisions.

Carl Stjernfeldt, Westland Road

Resident questions need for Select Board expansion

Is three bigger than five? Here’s a new angle on Select Board expansion.

The initial, 2022 vote was arguably an angry response to malfeasance by a then-Select Board member. But expanding the Board doesn’t stop malfeasance.

Information and transparency stop malfeasance. Just 307 residents heard at last May’s Town Meeting why a working group unanimously recommended staying at three members. That’s why a few of us – some three-fans, and some five-ers – recently tried to mount a town-wide panel discussion to more fully inform residents. Speakers for the three-side were plentiful, but everyone we invited to represent the five-side declined to speak publicly. “Everyone” is the five folks (four from Focus on Weston) suggested by multiple sources. Why is informing our residents unimportant to the five-side?

Evenhandedness stops malfeasance. We didn’t solicit Board members for the panel because they said they were not taking a public position. But then, Lise Revers, Board chair, sent out her snail mailing. That piece looks (accidentally?) like an official town mailing, which confers on it unearned weight. And, it takes a public position, signed by Ms. Revers with her Board chair title.

On any important issue, I would like our Select Board to thoughtfully discuss pros and cons, even while making a recommendation. Why is evenhandedness too much to expect of our elected officials?

Resident involvement stops malfeasance. Historically, Weston has leveraged working groups of knowledgeable residents to tackle projects, under Board oversight. Ms Revers tells us that now, every Board member is in every working group. No wonder today’s Board feels overworked. Imagine if five Board members were on every working group? Why accept this forced reduction in resident input – and dangerous consolidation of power by the Board?

I’m voting to stay at three. Five doesn’t solve the original problem, and introduces new ones.

Stefania Mallett, Plymouth Road