Erin Noonan Elected New Marblehead Select Board Chair

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Erin Noonan was unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Marblehead Select Board on Wednesday night in a meeting one day after town voters chose change on key town elected committees and shot down a $2.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 override that would have restored "level-funded services" for 2024.

The town will operate next year on the "reduced-services budget" that passed at this spring's annual town meeting pending the override vote.

Noonan was re-elected to the Select Board in Tuesday's townwide vote as she finished in a virtual tie with Alexa Singer for most votes in the six-person field for five positions.

She is a Marblehead native is a trial and appellate attorney who represents children and parents in cases that come before Juvenile Court.

Noonan was the only nomination as Chair.

"I'm honored for the nomination and the support," Noonan said. "I learned a lot, and I appreciate (Moses Grader) serving as Chair last year, and taking that on, and I also see the value in rotating the experience around the members. I think it adds good perspective as well."

Noonan and Singer were re-elected to the Board on Tuesday, along with Grader and James Nye. Bret Murray was the fifth Select Board member elected ahead of Jackie Belf-Becker, who leaves the Board after 18 years.

"First of all I want to thank Moses (Grader) for leading us (as Chair) for the last year through a really stressful year and a lot to accomplish," said Singer in nominating Noonan. "I think it's important to acknowledge that leadership and the effort that went into making last year happen.

"I know it has been a time, and custom, for us to rotate the Chair and allow for mentorship and to allow for inclusivity. I think that's really important. And was part of this thought process for me to provide that opportunity for everyone to have the opportunity to mentor, and train, and rotate through.

"It's important to honor the work that (Grader has) done and that it's also still important that we all need to work together to meet that leadership level that we all need to be bringing to the board."

Beyond the granting of a carry-in alcohol license for Plus Cafe on Atlantic Avenue the meeting was held primarily for the swearing in of Board members and electing of a new Chair the day after the election.

There was no public comment listed on the agenda with Noonan as her first action denying a late request from those in attendance to add it — instead inviting those wishing to provide public comment to attend next week's meeting and speak.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)