Kavanagh Steps Down As Chair, Won't Run For Re-election

 HARWICH – Select Board Chair Julie Kavanagh stepped down as chair Monday and said she will not be a candidate for re-election in May. 
No decision was made on the appointment of a new chair of the board. Vice Chair Jeffrey Handler will serve as interim chair at next Monday’s meeting.
“It’s time for a change,” Kavanagh said. “I’ve been doing this for over a year and I think it’s time for a change.”
Select Board Member Michael MacAskill said he was not prepared to discuss reorganization.
“I never anticipated a reorganization and am not prepared to even act on this tonight,” he said Monday. “Nor will I. I just won’t participate.” 
There is a mechanism, noted MacAskill, to have the vice chair step in so the board is covered, but not permanently. MacAskill said he’d like to hear what other members have to say about serving, what their interests are, what they are interested in changing, and have a healthy debate. 
“Well, then I’m stepping down tonight,” Kavanagh said. 
Select Board member Donald Howell said Handler should serve as interim chair for the next meeting or two until reorganization is on the agenda.
“Thank you for being chair over the past year,” MacAskill told Kavanagh. “It has been a tremendous amount of work and extra meetings.”
“Julie, thank you for your time, effort and your work,” added Handler.
“It’s time to move along,” Kavanagh said after the meeting. “I’m still working full time and it’s a lot of work. Hopefully we can get some females in here.”
Earlier in Monday’s meeting, Town Clerk Emily Mitchell announced that nomination papers for the May 20 annual town election scheduled are available in the town clerk’s office as of Tuesday. There are two select board seats on the ballot; MacAskill’s term expires on May 20 as does Kavanagh’s.
“I have not, it’s so early in the game,” MacAskill said when asked if he planned to seek another term. He said he will wait to see who takes out nomination papers, but has not ruled out running again. There are a lot of projects he’d like to see to the end, he said, adding that his decision will be based on seeing who else wants to help “fix some of these messes.”
The last day to take out nomination papers is Friday, March 28 and they must be returned for certification by Tuesday, April 1. It takes 50 signatures of registered voters to be placed on the ballot. The last day to withdraw is April 7. The last day to register to vote for the annual town meeting and town election is Friday, April 25, according to Mitchell.
The positions on the ballot for this year include two seats on the select board, the town clerk’s position, one member of the Monomoy Regional School Committee, one member of the water/wastewater commission, and two members of the Brooks Free Library trustees. All are three-year terms. There is also one seat available for a five-year term on the housing authority