The state Legislature has approved an expansion of the Marblehead Board of Health from three to five members, beginning with this June’s town election.
In May 2024, Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly (522-90) to add two seats to the board. The measure, however, required approval from the Legislature and was never advanced.
After the lapse, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said he was developing a new protocol to ensure that all Town Meeting articles are fully implemented.
“After Town Meeting is done and everything is certified in the clerk’s office, we will sit down and go through all the approved articles and decide who is going to take the lead on moving things through,” Kezer said at the time.
One existing Board of Health seat, currently held by Tom McMahon, will be open in June, along with the two newly created positions. According to the legislation, “The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in that election shall serve three-year term. The candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall serve a two-year term. The candidate receiving the third-highest number of votes shall serve a one-year term. Thereafter, as the terms of the board members expire, successors shall be elected for terms of three years.”
Asked today if he intends to run for re-election, McMahon replied, “I’ll most likely be running for BOH unless the Select Board decides not to declare they support Marblehead Police officers enforcing local hosting laws.” McMahon has been pushing for the local police to do more to prevent underage drinking, particularly at parties hosted by parents. He said recently that he may be compelled to run for the Select Board instead. The Select Board oversees the police chief.
BoH Chair Tom Massaro told the Current he has already spoken with several residents interested in running for the board.
“It’s an important election,” Massaro said, citing anti-vaccine policies coming out of Washington, D.C.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
