After Uncertainty, DeVellis Named Selectmen Chair

After being named the chair of the board of selectmen, then giving up the chair, then retaining on a technicality, Jim DeVellis is officially the board’s leader.

The selectmen voted to rescind all previous reorganization votes Tuesday night before naming DeVellis the chair on a 3-2 vote. Selectmen John Gray and Ginny Coppola were the two votes in the negative.

Prior to the vote, lawyer Kate Connolly from town counsel said that boards may handle reorganization as they see fit. While nothing was done incorrectly during the first votes two weeks ago, there were inconsistencies.

In a meeting earlier this month, DeVellis was voted the chair but gave it up after protests from Gray. Last year’s vice-chair, Gray was also nominated for chair and believed the board should remain on a cycle which sees the vice-chair become the chair the following year. DeVellis would join Gray and Coppola in voting Gray the chair, but did so without a formal motion.

This week, David Feldman was once again voted the vice-chair and Chris Mitchell will remain the clerk.

Like last week, Mitchell called the meeting to order before running the reorganization process.