Mead returns for an encore as moderator for Halloween Town Meeting
Just when Ray Mead thought he was out as town moderator, current Grafton events have pulled him back in.
The once and future town moderator stepped up and offered to run October 31’s fall Town Meeting, which was left leaderless following Wednesday’s resignation of Town Moderator Dan Concaugh.
“We are very fortunate that we have someone with 20-plus experience who can step in and do this,” Select Board Chair Peter Carlson said. He noted that Mead was on the phone with him within minutes of hearing about Concaugh’s resignation.
Technically, Carlson is now acting town moderator, according to Town Counsel Ginny Kramer. The line of succession would usually pass to Town Clerk Kandy Lavallee, who is on leave from her job, before passing to the Select Board chair.
If Carlson somehow isn’t able to attend the meeting, the next in line is Select Board member Ed Prisby, as the most senior elected board member. Carlson, however, said he will be attending — and, as his first order of business, will appoint Mead as deputy.
Mead isn’t exactly rusty when it comes to picking up the gavel. His last Town Meeting was in June, outdoors on the Grafton High School football field, the venue for the Halloween edition of Town Meeting: COVID-19 style.
He had planned to make that his final performance, but circumstances demanded an encore.
Concaugh told Grafton Common on Wednesday that he had completed all arrangements for the outdoor session. Mead said he was unable to make contact with him Thursday but planned to check check in at the Municipal Center to see if records of vendors hired to provide sound and seating were available.
“The plan is to hold a scaled-down meeting, like the one we had in June,” Mead said. Fall meetings tend to be shorter and attract fewer people, with a minimum of 75 voters attending.
“You always say there’s nothing controversial, then the meeting goes on for two hours,” he joked.
Like in the spring, Mead plans to film a walkthrough video of the Town Meeting setup for GCTV. Masks and social distancing are required. He asked that the Select Board call a special meeting for next Thursday to finalize logistics.
While Town Meeting is now set for 2 p.m. on Halloween, possible conflicts with scheduled soccer games on the field may require it to be moved to earlier in the day.
Mead expressed disappointment that Concaugh found himself unable to continue in the role, but said he understood that criticism of how he was handling his post of only four months was affecting his family.
“This was caused by social media and people who think they know more than anyone else,” Mead said. “You know what I say to people? If you want to learn and you want to do it, step up to the plate and do it.”
Discussion of a possible special election to replace Concaugh will be at a later date.
Thank you Ray Mead!