House Votes Needham Selectmen Become Gender-Neutral Select Board

NEEDHAM, MA — A bill that would change the name of the town's board of selectmen to the gender-neutral title, "select board" passed Tuesday in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

This past May, town meeting representatives approved the board's name change with an unanimous vote, which was the first step in updating the town's charter. According to State Rep. Denise Garlick's office, approval from the state is still required. Garlick was the representative who sponsored the bill.

Garlick's office said the town needed to file a "home rule petition, which is needed whenever a Massachusetts town wants to revise their city or town charter. Passing the state house was the first step in the "home rule petition" process. The name change now must pass the state senate and be signed by Gov. Charlie Baker.

The change to gender-neutral board names and titles was backed by the selectmen in March. The change was proposed by board Chair Marianne Cooley. She said it was imperative that Needham joined the other 40 communities who have done the same. She said she was ecstatic to see the "home rule petition" process beginning, bit wished it had happened sooner.

"I think there's value in having gender neutral language," Cooley said. "Given the town is 300-years-old, it's about time."

Locally, towns like Arlington, Newton, and Brookline have already adopted gender-neutral titles for their elected officials. Cooley said she is optimistic the petition process will allow Needham to do the same.

She said residents in town are already using the gender-neutral term, referring to selectmen as select board members in meetings and when addressing letters.

Photo by Dan Libon