Former Leyden Selectboard member regains seat in uncontested race

Published: 06-27-2023 2:21 PM

LEYDEN — Former Selectboard member Erica Jensen is back on the board for a three-year term after voters elected her in an uncontested race on Monday.

Jensen, 60, is returning to the Selectboard one year after her one-year term ended. While all races were uncontested, the 93 voters who cast their ballots at the polls on Monday were also asked to consider changing the town clerk from an elected role to an appointed one, a proposal that handily passed, 65-4.

Speaking to the Greenfield Recorder last week ahead of the election, Jensen said she was looking forward to working with fellow Selectboard members Katherine DiMatteo and Glenn Caffery as they work to push lingering town issues, like formalizing some town policies and refining job descriptions for town employees, “over the finish line.” Jensen is filling the seat vacated by 24-year member Bill Glabach, who opted not to seek reelection this year.

“Between the three of us, we’ll have an amazing breadth of knowledge about how to do research, how to find the answers,” Jensen said.

In regard to the ballot question, DiMatteo previously explained the change as a “professional move,” which will allow the Selectboard to appoint a town clerk with more skills, training and experience than they might find in an ever-dwindling pool of volunteer candidates. Other towns in Franklin County have also made the switch, or at least have discussed changing the position to an appointed role because of the increased burden election reform laws have put on the office.

Residents who attended Leyden’s Annual Town Meeting in 2022 previously approved the change, sending it on to the election ballot. With both approvals, Municipal Assistant Michele Giarusso said the Selectboard can begin a hiring process whenever it is ready.

The remaining election results are as follows:

■Board of Assessors, three-year term — Bob DePalma, 78 votes.

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