SWAMPSCOTT ― The Swampscott Select Board has a new face, and her name is Polly Titcomb.
Titcomb was appointed as chair of the town’s Select Board after Peter Spellios officially stepped down as chair. She has only been chair for three weeks, but she has already shared her excitement and goals for the upcoming year.
“I hope to start establishing annual goals for the board, for the board as a whole to establish annual goals while also having individual initiatives.”
An Ipswich native, Titcomb started her tenure in Swampscott governance on the town’s Finance Committee, where she served for five years In 2019, she ran for a seat on the Select Board in a six-candidate run for two available seats. Her swearing-in made the board into a female-majority for the first time in 167 years, along with the presence of former members Laura Spathanas and Naomi Dreeben. Neither ran for reelection the following year, which ended that short run. She was named chair in the final year of her first term.
One thing Titcomb is excited about starting is a land-use summit for open space. The local attorney said she wants to plan a day-long retreat with various committees and staff that are invested in open-space initiatives, which will allow for communication between committees and boards.
“Open space is definitely a priority as well,” Titcomb said. “Preserving the open space we do have, and acquiring open space when we can by setting the town up financially. So if, and when, open space does become available, we are able to find a way, with Town Meeting approval, we will be able to fund that.”
She is also looking into affordable housing throughout Swampscott. She stressed the importance of making housing both equitable and accessible in the town.
“It’s not about whether to develop affordable housing, it’s how we develop and where we develop affordable housing,” she said. “Because it’s absolutely a very strong priority for our board and town administrator.”
She also hopes to be hiring a new police chief, library director, and human resources director for Swampscott very soon.
Titcomb went to University of Vermont for her undergraduate degree and to Northeastern University for law school. As the owner of her law practice, Titcomb has been able to make time for her family as well as work the hours she wishes.
“Being a mom is a huge priority for me, and one of the benefits of this type of job is it gives me time to be a professional, a mom, and on the board,” she said.
Titcomb has two children: Her son Ellis is 10 and daughter Elena is 7. They enjoy camping at Acadia National Park, visiting Maine, hiking, and skiing.
So does Titcomb. She said her favorite hiking location is Harold King Forest in Swampscott, because it is local ― and also a bit challenging.
Titcomb is excited for the year to come, especially the opportunity to continue to work with the familiar faces on the Select Board, she said.
“We are so individual and have a great dynamic on the board,” Titcomb said. “I feel very grateful for that, we balance each other out really well, I think.
“We are able to have honest dialogue that’s not too sterile, but I feel like there’s a respect between us that allows honest and sometimes hard conversations ― and humor.”
