Natick Selectmen Meet For Some 'Normalcy' Amid Coronavirus

NATICK, MA — A routine, almost mundane task each year for the Natick Board of Selectmen is to pick new leaders. The board carried out this duty on Wednesday night, but under the extraordinary strain of coronavirus.

Traditionally, the leadership change happens the day after the spring town election. But like so many other parts of normal life, Natick's election has been postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak.

"I felt personally, as an effort to grasp at some level of routine or normalcy, we would plan for a board reorganization meeting as if the election had taken place," Chair Michael Hickey said at the beginning of the meeting. "That's why we're here."

This year's election happens to be low-stakes. Only Hickey and Selectwoman Karen Adelman-Foster are on the ballot, and they are running unopposed. So picking new leaders can proceed without the election results.

Moving quickly, the board picked Selectman Jonathan Freedman as the new chair to replace Hickey, and Adelman-Foster as the new vice chair. Selectman Richard Jennett was picked as the new clerk.

Freedman asked for a transition period, which was approved. The new positions won't be in place until after April 27 — that means Hickey will remain the board leader for at least one more meeting.

"It's been one hell of year," Jennett said at the end of the meeting while lauding Hickey's leadership through tough times.