Councilor Taub Raises Concerns Over ConCom Appointment Process

Report from the Meeting of the Town Services and Outreach Committee, October 2, 2025 

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Present
Andy Steinberg (at-large, Chair), Hala Lord and George Ryan (District 3), Jennifer Taub (District 4), and  Bob Hegner (District 5)

Staff: Paul Bockelman (Town Manager) and Athena O’Keeffe (Council clerk)

There are currently three vacancies on the town’s Conservation Commission. Two seats are unfilled, and the term of Alex Hoar expired on June 30, 2025. At the October 2 Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) meeting, Town Manager Paul Bockelman nominated Sarah Matthews and Carol McNeary for the vacant seats, but failed to grant Hoar a reappointment to a second three-year term or even an interview. Hoar objected to being overlooked with an email to the TSO committee members. 

TSO member Jennifer Taub addressed Hoar’s email, saying, “[Hoar] is applying to be reappointed for a second term, and he was informed that he would not be. I know that this person, because I tune in to Conservation Committee meetings, is extremely well qualified, spent most of his career at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, serves admirably, comes to meetings, is a very responsible member, and it sounds like the initial response he received when he was told he wouldn’t be reappointed is that, you [Bockelman] don’t have to provide an explanation. I find that very concerning.”

Bockelman responded, “This is not an appointment I’m recommending at this point in time, so the candidate graciously continues to serve on the Conservation Commission and will serve until I make an appointment, and the council approves an appointment going forward. And when that time comes, I will give a full explanation for what my thinking is. I would just not be prepared to talk about that today, because it’s not really on the agenda.”

Taub continued to press her concerns about the process of appointments by the Town Manager, reiterating that Hoar was informed that he would not even be interviewed. “It really is very subjective, and it can feel personal. I have not seen anything on any of the Conservation Commission meetings I have tuned in to that would in any way suggest that this person should not be able to continue for a second term,” she said. Bockelman was not any more forthcoming. He stated vaguely that he would “try to give you as best an explanation I can when this appointment comes back to the Council.” 

In his email, Hoar objected to the statement in Bockelman’s report to TSO that all applicants had been interviewed, when he had not. He added that when he asked Bockelman for the reason  he was not being reappointed, the Town Manager replied that he did not need to give a reason. 

TSO member Bob Hegner echoed some of Taub’s concerns about the way residents are treated when they volunteer to serve on town committees. He said, “Councilor [Hala] Lord and I sat at the table at the block party for the better part of an hour and a half. There was a list of all the committees and commissions that had openings, and we encouraged everyone to join in, and we got very little response. I’m sure Paul [Bockelman] understands this. It’s very difficult to get people to serve on committees. So, everyone needs to bear that in mind as we go through these processes.”