08/12/2026
A Commitment to Open and Transparent Government
At last night's Select Board meeting, I made a motion to table the appointment to the Whitman By-Law Committee, following the resignation of a member from that same committee, until the next meeting on August 25th.
I want to share with you why I did so: my motion was not a statement about the qualifications or abilities of the individual who applied for the position. I appreciate anyone who is willing to volunteer their time and serve the Town of Whitman.
My concern was with the process.
When a committee member resigns and a replacement is appointed during the same meeting, residents may not have had a meaningful opportunity to know that a vacancy existed or to express an interest in serving. Even when there is no improper intent whatsoever, a process that happens this quickly can create the appearance that an appointment was predetermined or that opportunities to serve are being passed among a limited group of people.
Municipal government depends on public trust. One of the best ways to strengthen that trust is to make opportunities to serve our community visible and accessible to everyone.
Whitman has many residents with valuable experience, knowledge, and new perspectives who may be willing to volunteer—but they need to know that an opportunity exists.
Current vacancies are listed on the website, and last night I recommended that the Town Administrator go one step further and utilize the exterior electronic message board in front of town hall to list all current board and committee vacancies and the website address for how a citizen can apply.
This isn't about one applicant. And it isn't about questioning anyone's qualifications.
It's about making sure every Whitman resident has a fair opportunity to raise their hand and say, "I would like to serve my community."
As an elected Select Board member, I believe transparency, consistency, and public participation should be the standard—not just when it is convenient, but every time.
Open government builds public trust. I intend to continue advocating for it.
I encourage everyone to review the list of current vacancies online, and if you have questions please contact the Select Board's office, email me at [email protected], or contact a member of the board or committee that you are interested in. Each committee has a chair person who would be happy to share information about their board.
https://whitman-ma.gov/441/Board-and-Committee-Vacancies
If interested, please apply online:
https://whitman-ma.gov/FormCenter/Selectmens-Office-4/BoardCommittee-Volunteer-Application-60
Thank you. Together, we can make Whitman the sweetest place to live!
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for a Town board or committee position. We greatly appreciate you wanting to give your time and talent for the betterment of our town. Please take a moment to learn more about the board or committee to which you are applying for membership by viewing the b...
