Longtime Select Board member Maiore resigns

Select Board member Rich Maiore resigned abruptly early Tuesday, April 1, effective immediately. Maiore has served on the board since 2018. The letter was hand-delivered to the town clerk on the morning of April 1, leading some to believe it may have been an April Fools’ joke. But it was no joke.

In a statement to the Press later that day, Maiore said, “These past few months, I have found myself increasingly disheartened by the conduct I’ve witnessed in town affairs. To me it’s incredibly gratifying to work with a range of neighbors on challenges facing the town—such as the budget, playing fields, C-District. That enjoyment has diminished recently due to rising levels of acrimony and self-interests. It’s not fun anymore.”

Maiore added, “I aim to bring optimism and energy to everything I do, and I believe it’s important for me to step away while I still carry those intact. I’m forever grateful to town residents for the opportunity to serve them.”

Select Board Chair SusanMary Redinger told the Press that the board respects Maiore’s decision and wished him well. She thanked Maiore for his longtime service to the town on the Select Board, Planning Board, and other committees, as did Select Board member Kara Minar at the start of the April 1 Select Board meeting, from which Redinger was absent.

Town Clerk Rose Miranda told the Press the Select Board will need to call a special election to replace Maiore for the remaining year of his term, since the ballot has already been finalized for the May 6 Town Election. Four candidates, including incumbent Don Ludwig, are running for two open seats in that election. The board has not yet announced when the special election for Maiore’s seat will take place.