Letter to the editor: Keep Select Board at three members

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Weston residents will vote in a Special Town Election on whether to expand the Select Board from three members to five. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Town Hall Auditorium.

I urge residents to participate—and to vote against the proposed expansion.

As Chairman of the Town Governance Study Committee (TGSC), I led a year-long, data-driven review of this exact question. The committee conducted extensive research, gathered public input, and analyzed governance structures in comparable towns. Our conclusion was clear and unanimous: Weston should not expand the Select Board at this time.

Shortly after the committee issued its findings and following the Town Meeting vote, the TGSC was disbanded by the current Select Board without public input or discussion. This decision was made by Select Board members who support the proposed expansion, despite the committee’s evidence-based recommendation to the contrary.

There are substantive reasons behind the TGSC’s conclusion.

First, transparency would be reduced. A five-member board allows two members to meet privately without triggering Open Meeting Law requirements. Weston’s three-member structure ensures that nearly all deliberations occur in public.

Second, candidate recruitment remains a concern. Civic participation in Weston is low, and no candidates have stepped forward to run for the additional seats. Expanding the board without a demonstrated pool of experienced, willing candidates risks weakening governance.

Third, diverse viewpoints already have a voice. Every Select Board meeting includes a public comment period where residents can share ideas and concerns. If broader input is the goal, increasing engagement—not adding elected positions—is the better solution.

It is also important to consider how this issue reached the ballot. At the May 2025 Town Meeting, only 274 residents voted, with 171 in favor. This represents a small fraction of the town and should not be viewed as a mandate for permanent structural change.

This special election allows the broader electorate to weigh in. I encourage residents to vote on Jan. 13 and to reject the proposed expansion, consistent with the TGSC’s findings.

Harvey Boshart, Radcliff Road