SOUTHWICK – A request to change the name of the Southwick Board of Selectmen to the Southwick Select Board will not be on the ballot this year.
Resident Ruth Preston presented signatures to the Board and asked to place the question on this year’s town election ballot.
Last year, the same question failed to garner enough votes at the annual Town Meeting.
Selectman Russell Fox said the law allows for a ballot request with 10 signatures or more for a ballot question, with approval from the Board.
“That’s bad government,” said Fox. “Unfortunately I don’t support putting this on the ballot. Her recourse is to get 665 signatures and get it on next year’s ballot, but, I have no problem putting this on a warrant at Town Meeting.”
Board Chairman Joseph Deedy said allowing a citizen ballot question with 10 signatures could “open the door” to numerous questions.
Selectman Douglas Moglin was concerned with costs related to the change. Last year, he said, the request failed to pass in part because the finance committee did not recommend the measure because there was no estimate of financial implications from the change.
Deedy said if it was a matter of just “changing the name on the door,” he was fine with the change, but they may need to change the name on all town bylaws and documents.
The selectmen agreed they supported Preston’s idea, but a ballot question was not the proper avenue.
“I have nothing but a lot of respect for Ruth,” said Fox.
The Board agreed it would allow Preston to decide whether or not to submit the gender neutral name change as a warrant article.
