Boscher elected as chair in Selectboard reorg

BELCHERTOWN – Following the annual town election, the Selectboard reorganized and Selectboard Chair Ed Boscher was appointed to the position in a three to two vote.

Selectboard members Jen Turner, Lesa Lessard Pearson and Ed Boscher were in favor and members Peg Louraine and Ron Aponte were opposed.

During the discussion of the next chair, Selectboard members discussed the tradition of electing the former vice chair as the chair of the board. In the last iteration of the board, former member Jim Barry served as chair and Aponte as vice chair.

Louraine nominated Aponte to be the next chair of the board, which was seconded by Aponte.

Turner nominated Boscher to be the next chair of the board.

“When Jim assumed the chairmanship, (Boscher) would have been in line to be the vice chair last year but he got kicked off the rotation somehow,” she said. “That’s where my heart is right now, I think Ed would make a good chair.”

“Mr. Barry got kicked off the rotation several months previously,” Louraine said.

Boscher said he believed Barry wasn’t kicked off the rotation, but that it was delayed for several months.

Selectboard member Lesa Lessard Pearson said she was unaware Boscher was bypassed.

“They would both be excellent chairs, but I believe Ed should have his turn,” said Lessard Pearson.

Bochser said that in the past there were many people who were passed over during reorganizations of the board, replying to Louraine.

Following his appointment to chair, Boscher nominated Louraine as vice chair, which she declined. She stated that she has only been on the board for six months and wouldn’t be able to take it.

Aponte was then nominated as vice chair to the board by Turners, which was unanimously approved by the board.

Louraine was reelected as clerk to the board for a second time.

The board members opted to avoid reorganization of thecommittee liaisons for the time being, citing the change from town administrator to town manager form of government.

Turner said she believed when the board discussed the change that there was a conversation about changing the structure of the liaisons.

“We talked about liasionships for operations departments, so are we changing the structure?” she asked.

Louraine said she informed the boards they could request a liaison, which is what the board agreed upon.

“If they want one they should have one,” Louraine said.

Aponte said for the next year, they would do away with the operational liasionships, such as those for fire or police, and keep the committee positions.

Lessard Pearson asked how the board determined the liasionships. Boscher said the board would indicate their preferences for different boards and committees.

“In the next week, I will call and see where your interests lie and see if there would be a match,” he said.

Board approves Pride Month flag raising, proclamation

In her first meeting as Lessard Pearson proposed a second year of pride month in Belchertown, including a flag ceremony and signing a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month. There may be a program in the works, but Lessard Pearson said there wasn’t a finalized plan yet.

She added that local officials including Aaron Saunders expressed interest in being part of the event.

“All I’m going to say is that its Pride Month, and we want to fly the flag,” she said.

The board unanimously approved the motion to recognize June as Pride Month.

Last year was the first time the town flew the pride flag.