MARBLEHEAD — The Select Board on Wednesday formally began the process of filling the vacancy on the School Committee created by the resignation of Vice Chair Emily Barron last month.
Select Board Chair Moses Grader said the board was obligated to fill the vacancy, citing Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41 Section 11, which dictates that “if a vacancy occurs in any town office, other than the office of selectman, town clerk, treasurer, collector of taxes or auditor, the selectmen shall in writing appoint a person to fill such vacancy.”
At the meeting Wednesday, Grader said the board was “implementing” the law, and a joint press release would be issued announcing the process of filling the vacancy.
Based on the timeline set by the board Wednesday, letters, and resumes for candidates interested in serving on the committee must be submitted by the close of business on Nov. 30. Grader suggested that the Select Board and the School Committee would hold a joint meeting the following week, on Dec. 7, to interview candidates and make an appointment to fill the vacancy by way of a roll call vote.
School Committee Chair Sarah Fox and committee members Sarah Gold and Meagan Taylor attended the meeting Wednesday evening but did not speak.
Barron resigned after a conflict of interest regarding her work as a residential designer came to light when she appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals in August on behalf of a client.
When the conflict came to light, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission told Barron the only way for her to continue her service was for the designation of School Committee members to be changed from regular municipal employees to special municipal employees.
Barron took that proposal to the Select Board, which did not take any action, as Grader said he didn’t think it appropriate to do so without a recommendation from the School Committee.
Now, the committee is set to vote on whether or not to make a request to the board on the employee status of its members at a meeting Thursday night.
