'Everything should be a board decision'

Paul Philbrick (Courtesy photo)

LEBANON - Selectmen Ben Thompson and Paul Philbrick onTuesday praised Richard Nass for his moderating of last week’s Public Hearing on the Ballot, however said in the future the decision on whom to choose as moderator will be a board function and not decided by the selectmen chairman alone.

Nass, of Acton and a longtime Republican state legislator, is an experienced moderator who has moderated town and school meetings in his hometown.

Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish had said that she gave the job to Nass and that she thought she had told selectmen of her intention, but Thompson earlier said he didn’t recall that conversation. At any rate, there was never a vote.

Gerrish said that in earlier administrations that former selectmen chair Bob Frizzell had unilaterally made the decision in choosing former town attorney Alan Shepard.

Judging by the consensus of public sentiment after the May 19 hearing, Nass did a far better job than Shepard.

Thompson said he would be inclined to try to find a Lebanon resident to moderate if one could be found.

As far as the decision making process, Philbrick was adamant.

“Everything should be a (full) board decision,” he said.

Gerrish was not available for immediate comment.