The Harvard Select Board elected new officers at its May 29 strategic planning session, held this year on the porch of the Hildreth House.
Select Board member Don Ludwig was elected chair by unanimous vote, taking over from outgoing chair Rich Maiore. SusanMary Redinger was elected vice chair, taking over Charles Oliver’s role. Oliver was elected clerk.
The board reorganization occurs annually and took place at the end of Wednesday’s meeting. Oliver had first been nominated for vice chair by Maiore. After Maiore’s motion, however, Oliver and Redinger exchanged a look, and Redinger asked, “Do you want to do this?” referring to the duties of the vice chair role.
Oliver explained that he and Redinger had discussed the board reorganization prior to the meeting, and Redinger had expressed a desire to be vice chair. Oliver then said that he would be OK with Redinger’s appointment to vice chair; Kara Minar nominated Redinger, who was voted in unanimously. Maiore withdrew his nomination for Oliver.
Ludwig served as chair on the Finance Committee in Harvard before his election to the Select Board in 2022. Redinger served on the School Committee before being elected to the Select Board at Town Election this April.
After deliberation, the Select Board also set May 3 as the date for the 2025 Spring Town Meeting, with the town election taking place the following Tuesday, May 6. The 2024 Fall Town Meeting will take place on Sept. 28. The Select Board considered an early April Town Meeting, like this past year, but ultimately chose a May date, motivated by the fact that there will be both a new town administrator and assistant town administrator who will be getting acclimated to the job. The Select Board wants as much time for these two new hires to settle in before the meeting takes place.
The Select Board also considered the School Committee and school administration’s preference for a May meeting date. Redinger said the later date would also give the schools more time to prepare their fiscal 2026 budget
