Select Board pushes to make Grafton Town Clerk appointed, not elected

Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, Grafton Common Editor Jennifer Lord Paluzzi ran for Grafton Town Clerk in 2019.

Of all the elected officials in Grafton, only the Town Clerk is in danger of losing their actual livelihood every three years — and the newly elected clerk more than likely will not have the training and accreditations of their predecessor.

For most of Grafton’s history, that distinction really didn’t matter. Town clerks ran unopposed and their successors generally were already working in the office. But as the town grew and clerk duties became more complex, leaving the clerk’s job up to a ballot vote seemed more like a form of democracy roulette.

Article 24 on the October 18 Town Meeting warrant calls for the Town Clerk to be made an appointed, rather than elected position. While the majority of the Select Board are in favor of the switch, Select Board member Ray Mead was vocally opposed.

“I am not in favor and never will be in favor of taking someone’s job,” Mead said, affirming his support for Town Clerk Kandy Lavallee.

Select Board member Colleen Roy suggested that Lavallee was more likely to keep her post rather than lose it if the election was taken out of the equation..

“An election is a much bigger variable than sitting down and interviewing for the job,” Roy said,

Select Board members who had spoken to Lavallee about the proposal said she chose to stay neutral on the matter.. This was also the case in 2018, when a similar article was defeated at Town Meeting, leading to political newcomer Jennifer Paluzzi challenging Lavallee for clerk in the 2019 town election.

It’s more risky when it’s a popularity contest,” Select Board member Doreen DeFazio said, noting the danger of an unqualified candidate taking over the office.

The board agreed that the change needed to be made in the upcoming Town Meeting since Lavallee is up for reelection in 2022. Mead said he would argue against the measure on the Town Meeting floor.

“I think her job is a lot more secure as an appointed position,” Select Board member Mathew Often said.

Something went wrong!

Help support Grafton’s only independent source of news with a donation!