Weston governance committee divides peer-town outreach on three-to-five select board question

WESTON — October 31, 2024 — Weston governance panel parcels out peer-town outreach as select board expansion heads to May Town Meeting. The Town Governance Study Committee on Thursday split outreach to nine Massachusetts towns — Holliston, Milton, Sharon, Wenham, Hamilton, Carlisle, Wayland, Lincoln, Belmont and Duxbury — among Chair Harvey Boshart, members Michael Pappone, Michael Harrity, Kara Fleming, John Thompson and Town Moderator Rip Hastings. Concord was dropped after Town Manager Leon Gaumond Jr. confirmed it moved to five members in 1955. The committee missed the December Special Town Meeting warrant and is now aiming for May. Pappone, who will draft a master pros-and-cons document, said the committee needs "a consistent message as we go out." Members agreed to ask former Weston select board members to vet the framing rather than poll their support. The committee next meets Nov. 14.