KENT—The Board of Selectmen last week discussed whether the third selectmen should be a voting member of the Park and Recreation Commission.
A selectman has filled that position since 1999. A 2021 legal opinion from town counsel affirmed the selectman could be a voting member.
But now Park and Recreation is rewriting its bylaws and the issue has been raised again. Park and Recreation Director Matt Busse met with the selectmen Wednesday, June 26, and discussed the proposed changes in the department’s bylaws that would require a new ordinance.
“There is no reason our ordinance isn’t legal. It’s really up to us to make a recommendation and update it.”
—First Selectman Martin Lindenmayer
First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer noted that Park and Recreation is the only town commission that has a selectman as a member. It was suggested that the unique situation stemmed from the hiring of the first full-time program director back in 1999 when the town felt “some oversight” was needed.
The first selectman is always an ex officio member of boards and commissions, but in a non-voting capacity.
Lindenmayer said he had conferred with Town Counsel Randy DiBella and was advised that the selectmen presence would not upset minority representation. “There is no reason our ordinance isn’t legal,” he reported. “It’s really up to us to make a recommendation and update it.”
Selectman Lynn Mellis Worthington, who is currently liaison to Park and Rec said she would like to hear “how you guys feel—if it’s a good thing? If it doesn’t matter? …” Worthington has been an active member of the Park and Rec board, leading the search committee for the new director. “I enjoy being a member, but I understand what you are talking about,” she said.
Lindenmayer said he doesn’t see the necessity of the double coverage and Busse agreed. Busse argued that having a selectman on the commission could weight how the Selectmen vote on recommendations from Park and Rec if the liaison selectman disagrees with the opinion of other commission members.
Worthington noted that Park and Recreation is also the only commission where members are appointed by town meeting vote. She asked if they should be elected, as are members of other commissions. “Another thing that has been brought up to me,” she added, “is that it might make sense when there is a vacancy that we reach out to the [appropriate] town committee for candidates.”
Lindenmayer agreed, but said the final decision on seating new members should remain with the commission.
