The Press‘ account of the recent BOS meeting in which Willie Wickman’s name was put forth as a volunteer member of the DEAT committee reads to me like a series of non sequiturs.
A volunteer is needed. The chair of DEAT puts forth a candidate, a woman who has given unstintingly of her time to town affairs and who has proven herself to be well informed and to always do her “homework.” The BOS fails to agree on the approval of the volunteer because the School Committee hasn’t put forth a candidate.
Asked to state her qualifications, Wickman says she would bring an expertise in educational matters to the committee because of her 11 years as a school board member. A selectman asks if she has the School Committee’s endorsement. She answers that she hasn’t asked for it. The BOS member wants to wait for a School Committee recommendation.
I fail to see the connection between Wickman’s qualifications to serve on DEAT and the School Committee’s putting forth a candidate. And so I am very disconcerted to see selectmen treat an outstanding candidate, who is volunteering her time to the town, in such a disingenuous way.
Carlene Phillips
Oak Hill Road
