SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board voted unanimously to withdraw an article from the 2024 Town Meeting warrant that would have amended the town’s charter by designating the Board of Assessors as an appointed group instead of an elected one.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald originally proposed the change, and noted that many other communities have already done so.
“Most folks don’t know who is on the Board of Assessors, and I’m not being critical. It’s just a board that people generally don’t think about,” Fitzgerald said. “And so we don’t know who’s running and we don’t know their qualifications… and when we look at the fiduciary responsibilities, we have to get that right.”
During public comment, resident and Select Board candidate Danielle Leonard warned against moving forward with the article.
“I would just personally suggest that we really look closely at that and try to avoid the perception that would inevitably come that we’re taking power away from the people,” Leonard said. “I think that to make such an abrupt change is a serious decision and would require a lot of thought.”
Some members of the board made similar points and argued that a decision of this magnitude needs more time for deliberation.
“We’ve actually never heard why the town administrator really wants to do this and what’s going on,” Select Board member Peter Spellios said. “I’m going to recommend that we pull it from this warrant.”
Spellios alluded to “specific concerns” Fitzgerald expressed to him about certain internal activities of the Board of Assessors, but added that they do not justify bringing the article forward to a forum such as Town Meeting.
Select Board member MaryEllen Fletcher serves as board’s the liaison to the Board of Assessors, and told Fitzgerald that she would like to be notified of any similar proposed changes to its structure in the future.
“I was very disappointed to see this article in this warrant,” Fletcher said.
