BELCHERTOWN — The Board of Selectmen has endorsed a proposal to change the name of the town’s governing body that would remove the term “men” from its name.
A new name for the Board of Selectmen has not yet been decided, said Chairman Ed Boscher, but the leading contender at the moment is the Select Board.
“I think that this is the first time we’ve had three women on the board, and the question’s been considered in the past,” Boscher said. “It feels like right now is the right time to bring it forth.”
The gender-neutral term Select Board is “probably more representative of what the public body is,” Boscher added.
The idea of changing the board’s name has been considered in the past, Boscher said, but most recently came from Gail Gramarossa, who, though a woman, has the official title of vice chairman. Changing the titles of board members is also under consideration, Boscher said.
The issue came up at a planning session over the summer, Boscher said, and the board concluded a three-week public hearing on the subject at its Monday night meeting. Letters to the board were “clearly overwhelmingly in favor of a name change,” Boscher said.
The Gazette obtained close to 30 letters written to the board on the subject, only three of which were opposed to the name change. Those in favor of the change called the “Selectmen” term outdated and pointed to “Select Board” as a gender-inclusive term.
“Use of the term ‘Select Board’ makes it clear to potential candidates and to voters that women can run, be elected, and be welcome on the board,” wrote one resident. “In fact, they have already done so, often with distinction.”
Some residents also pointed out that three out of the town’s five selectmen are women, though one resident noted that the name change should occur regardless of this majority.
“I think the name should be more inclusive, period,” the resident wrote. “What if it was a board of selectwomen? Do you think the little boys in town would feel like they wanted to be on the board?”
The three people who wrote in opposed to the change criticized the proposal as unnecessary, with one resident writing, “We should be spending our time on other issues.”
Residents will vote on whether to adopt the change at a future Town Meeting.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.