By Dakota Antelman – [email protected]
Concord’s board, committee, and task force appointment protocols were back in the spotlight Monday as residents raised new charges of favoritism and a lack of transparency by the Select Board.
An unrelated but highly anticipated budget update didn’t appear on the meeting agenda and is scheduled to take place March 24.
After previous complaints, the Select Board had already planned to revisit its appointment policy on March 4.
“We do have an excessive pattern of noncompliance” with the existing policy, said resident Elizabeth More.
More and others first spoke up about the appointment policy on February 3 when the Select Board considered nominations for its new Tax Relief Evaluation Task Force.
Residents noted aspects of the policy — known as APP No. 10 — and said the board didn’t properly advertise task force openings. Speakers also highlighted two nominees who already were serving on other committees and required exemptions from a provision that prohibits dual appointments.
The Select Board advanced its nominees by a 4-1 vote. On Monday, critics again spotlighted residents who serve on multiple committees.
“Whether intentional or not, this approach contributes to the perception that the Select Board is simply appointing friends and folks they know rather than conducting an open and fair selection process,” said Gwen Acton.
Protocol modifications
More and fellow resident Mark Martines thanked Select Board chair Mary Hartman for procedural changes that will leave room to discuss potentially controversial appointments. Martines said he wished the board had made changes before public outcry, though. More also urged the board to evaluate existing committee membership.
In some cases, she said, officials should consider removing people with multiple appointments from some positions, adding that it seems too great a concentration of power.
On February 10, Hartman said, “I think it is time to look at APP10 and maybe give it an update and a rewrite.”
Select Board member Cameron McKennitt volunteered to draft a revised policy based on feedback from the upcoming discussion and bring it to the Select Board for a vote.
Board member Terri Ackerman pushed back Monday night on “inaccurate statements” about the appointment process.
“It was my understanding,” she said, “that our process for appointing people to the task force was not in violation of APP10.”
Even if the board deviated from the rule, Hartman said February 10, “There is no law that we’re breaking.”
“It’s a policy,” she said, responding to repeated claims on February 3 that the board was breaking the law. “It’s not legislation.”
Hartman has noted the potential benefits of having a person serve on multiple panels, including synergy and understanding committee processes.
Budget presentation delayed
Municipal spending and a possible cut to library hours in the 2026 fiscal year have been in focus in recent weeks ahead of a deadline for officials to submit the Town Manager’s budget.
Town Manager Kerry Lafleur told The Concord Bridge that town staff had submitted a budget that “meets the legal requirement.” Officials postponed the public presentation until the Select Board’s March 24 meeting.
Though they hear the concerns, Lafleur said, town leaders have limited options to meet a Finance Committee recommendation that involves cutting roughly $600,000 from what she described as a “level service budget” for the 2026 fiscal year.
“Maybe the Select Board is going to say, ‘We can’t tolerate this,’” Lafleur told The Bridge. “The trouble is, it has to come from somewhere.”
This story has been updated.
