North Andover Selectmen Advance Gender-Neutral Renaming Of Board

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover voters will decide whether to rename the Board of Selectmen at this year's annual meeting. At their meeting Monday, the Selectmen voted to sponsor an article to change to the gender-neutral term "Select Board." The Board voted four to one in favor, with Selectman Rosemary Smedile the sole vote against.

Selectman Regina Kean proposed the article.

"It's actually a small change, but an extraordinarily powerful change," Kean said. "In my opinion there's no reason not to do this."

Smedile said she had never minded the name "Board of Selectmen" but respected her female colleague's view and would be "more than happy to let the good people of North Andover decide."

A number of other municipalities around the state have changed their Boards of Selectmen and Aldermen's names. Lexington switched to Select Board in January, while in October Melrose's Board of Aldermen became a City Council, becoming the last city in the state to do so. Andover switched over to Select Board last year.

Board of Selectmen candidates Laura Bates and Alissa Koenig voiced their support for the change during the meeting's public comment period.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.