SWAMPSCOTT— The Select Board voted unanimously to alter the structural makeup of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Select Board liaison MaryEllen Fletcher, Public Health Director Jeff Vaughan, and Director of Public Works Gino Cresta were all removed as voting members.
Fletcher presented the potential reorganization to her peers. She explained that her reasoning for doing so was to create more efficiency in the committee’s operation.

“They will still be attending meetings,” Fletcher said. “This way, they’re not going to tie up a quorum. We’re going to put in three residents who could actually be working members of the committee. It should move a lot more efficiently.”

Fletcher said that adding the three new voting members would be appropriate for the amount of work the Solid Waste Advisory Committee undertakes. It would also provide more flexibility to herself, Cresta, and Vaughan as they balance their primary positions with their duty to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

“Asking Gino Cresta and Jeff Vaughn to stay after that late and then to attend another two-and-a-half-hour meeting, you’re asking a lot of the town directors,” Fletcher said.

Select Board member Peter Spellios, who originally motioned to create the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, explained why the committee was originally formed the way it was.

“We were going through a tumultuous time in terms of contract negotiations and price increases on our solid waste line item,” Spellios said. “We didn’t want there to be a lack of alignment with understanding what is feasible to do, as opposed to what’s desirable to do.

Spellios ultimately agreed with the changes but emphasized that he wants the town staff liaisons to remain connected with the committee’s ongoing work.

The motion passed 4-0, with Spellios out of the room at the time of the vote. The three new volunteer positions are open for application on the town website.