SWAMPSCOTT — Peter Spellios is the new chairman of the Board of Selectmen, succeeding Naomi Dreeben, who has spent three years in that role.
“I’m really ready to step down (as chair) and give another member an opportunity to lead our board and continue the great work that we’ve done,” Dreeben said at last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting. “I have truly enjoyed this leadership role.”
Selectman Patrick Jones, who will serve as vice-chair, nominated Spellios for chairman, saying he has put in an immense amount of work in helping administration and the board, which has included being a real leader in wading through town finances.
Before accepting the nomination, Spellios, who was elected to a second, three-term on the board last month, said he had a list of conditions. Acknowledging Dreeben’s tenure in the role, he said he would never serve as chair for three years.
“If there is a fourth year in you, now is the time to convince you, because you really have really taken a lot of the brunt at times, and a lot of the work to do it,” Spellios said. “My real condition is that it needs to be a collaboration of five people on the board.”
Spellios said there needs to be more time spent on trying to figure out how to activate each of the board members on different things. He wants to decentralize meetings, and spread the burden and opportunity to do things among each of the selectmen.
Spellios joked that he suspected Jones thought by nominating him for the role, it would cause him to speak less.
In his new role as chair, Spellios said he won’t be able to make motions anymore, but did make one on Wednesday to reciprocate by nominating Jones as vice-chair of the board.
Spellios said the vice-chair role would be an opportunity to elevate Jones’ voice on the effort for a new consolidated K-5 elementary school to replace the town’s three neighborhood elementary schools.
Later this month, Town Meeting members will be asked to approve a $750,000 feasibility study for the proposed school. The town’s last effort for a consolidated elementary school was rejected in 2014.
“Effective town leadership was missing from the past school discussion, so I think having that and elevating that is something I think (Jones is) passionate about,” Spellios said.
Jones said he appreciated the nomination. He will succeed Selectman Laura Spathanas.
“There’s no question it is a passion of mine in terms of the school and how that’s been evolving, as well as other capital projects,” Jones said. “I think that’s sort of where I gain my energy.”
Jones said he thinks the board can improve on communication, not just between board members, but also in terms of informing the community.
Spellios and Jones were unanimously approved as chair and vice-chair respectively.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said Dreeben has done a terrific job as chair and that it was great to have her a leader, but he was also looking forward to working with Spellios and Jones.
“I think the work ahead is going to be really exciting,” Fitzgerald said.
