Letter: Retain three-member Select Board

I will be voting to retain a three member Select Board on January 13.

Back in the 1980’s I served on the then Board of Selectmen for nine years.  There was not a town manager.  Ward Carter was the highly respected executive secretary.  The Selectmen had additional responsibilities such as approving the weekly warrant to pay the town’s bills and negotiating across the table with the unions.  We had a regular meeting every week.

Each of us was responsible for developing and maintaining a strong relationship with one of the department directors.

With the addition of a town manager to take over part of many of these tasks, the Select Board members can focus on other responsibilities.It doesn’t seem to me the job is that much more demanding and increasing the size of the board might require more time.

I strongly recommend that the board be kept at three members

Jean Thurston, Fiske Lane