The Milton Select Board convened a remote special meeting on Monday to ensure the upcoming town election ballot reflects a recent leadership change within the school district. School Committee Chair Amanda Serio submitted her resignation last week, effective at the end of the day on the upcoming town election. To avoid the logistical hurdles and costs of a special election later in the year, the board acted quickly to include the vacancy on the current ballot.

Town Administrator Nick Milano detailed the situation, noting that the resignation provides a window for the community to choose a successor through the standard electoral process. That would provide the opportunity for the board to add her position onto the town election ballot so that an additional school committee member would be elected to fill the remainder of her term which would go until April of 2027, Milano explained. Town Clerk Susan Galvin, joining the meeting amid a significant winter storm, confirmed the procedural necessity of the board's action. Nick summed it up wonderful, Galvin told the board, expressing her appreciation for the members meeting despite the weather.

Select Board Chair Benjamin Zoll praised Serio for her dedication to the schools and her strategic timing, which allows the town to maintain a full committee without extra expense. Ms. Serio has done a great job on the school committee. We are grateful for her service and volunteerism, Zoll said. I also just want to thank her for being thoughtful about this so that we can avoid having a special election and do this in a timely fashion.

Motion Made by R. Wells to add this vacant position for the one year—the remainder of the term ending 2027—and to notify the town clerk of this vote immediately following this meeting today. Motion Passed (4-0), with members Zoll, Winston Daley, Meghan Haggerty, and Richard Wells all in favor.

The short session concluded with an update on the town’s response to the ongoing snowstorm. The timing is particularly sensitive as the town continues to navigate a $1 million deficit in the snow and ice budget from earlier weekend storms. Milano warned of a long road of recovery for the Department of Public Works (DPW) as they tackled the current conditions. We are keeping all of the DPW folks in our thoughts. This is a real gnarly one and so we hope everyone's staying safe and warm out there, Zoll remarked before the board adjourned to prepare for their next scheduled meeting.