Middleboro Select Board appoints five residents for Water Commission charter review
Select Board member Brian Giovanoni at the Monday, Sept. 22 board meeting at Middleboro City Hall. Photos by Grace Roche
Select Board members Thomas White and Teresa Farley at the meeting.
Select Board member Brian Giovanoni at the Monday, Sept. 22 board meeting at Middleboro City Hall. Photos by Grace Roche
Select Board members Thomas White and Teresa Farley at the meeting.
MIDDLEBORO — After amassing inquiries from 15 town residents over the past two weeks, the Middleboro Select Board has appointed five people to serve on a charter review committee to determine if a separate water commission will be created to oversee the town’s water supply.
Richard Oakley, Nancy Kefalis, Edward Medeiros, Neil Rosenthal and Lincoln Andrews were chosen for the Water Commission Charter Review Committee at the Tuesday, Sept. 22 Select Board meeting.
The appointments follow a motion Select Board member Brian Giovanoni made at a meeting two weeks ago, after a study group appeared before the board recommending the creation of a separate water commission.
This group will review Middleboro’s governing document to examine if the commission is the best course of action. This would shift the responsibility of maintaining the town’s water from the Select Board to a commission solely focused on water issues.
He recommended Rosenthal — a former selectman — and Andrews because both have served on charter review committees in the past, and Medeiros because of his past involvement with several boards and groups in the town.
Select Board member Thomas White said the five individuals bring “a wealth of knowledge” and will work well together to better Middleboro.
He added that he appreciated everyone who expressed interest in serving on the committee even if they weren’t selected to join it.
“Thank you for volunteering, I hope you don’t get discouraged,” he said. “We had about 15 applicants and five were chosen, so I hope those who didn’t get chosen will volunteer again.”
Oakley and Kefalis both attended the meeting and addressed the board during public comment.
The former has been an outspoken supporter of a separate commission and proposed the study group. He said he was thankful to be added to the charter review committee.
“I just want to thank you [the Select Board] for putting me on this, and I promise to bring all I can to this,” he said. “I appreciate the opportunity.”
Kefalis also expressed appreciation for her appointment, and encouraged other applicants to stay involved in the process.
“This doesn’t end here,” she said. “They can come to all the meetings, they can give their input, be part of the discussion — that’s what we need.”
Once the charter review is complete, the committee will make a recommendation to the Select Board. If they find there should be a separate Water Commission, the Select Board will vote on its creation and present it to voters at the Spring Town Meeting next year.
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