Following Chris Gerstel’s resignation in June, town officials are looking for an individual to fill the former Park and Recreation commissioner’s seat until the 2027 Annual Town Election.
Gerstel, who had been chair of the commission, resigned shortly after his arrest and indictment by a federal grand jury on multiple fraud and tax charges, after allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from Needham Baseball & Softball. Gerstel pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At a Select Board meeting July 21, town manager Katie King noted Park and Rec’s vacancy could be filled through a joint appointment or Special Election.
“Whether the person is appointed or elected, the term of the seat expires in April of 2027,” she said. “And so, either way, there will be an election for that seat [during] the April local election in 2027. And if you appointed someone and they then chose to run, they would not be considered an incumbent.”
Select Board members agreed that an appointment would fill the vacancy more quickly, but disagreed on the best timeline for an appointment process.
Vice chair Joshua Levy hoped to fast-track the process, suggesting immediate advertisement, an invitation for Park and Rec commissioners to attend the Aug. 11 Select Board meeting and listen to applicant interviews, followed by a vote to fill the position during the Select Board’s first September meeting. “I’d like to do it quickly,” he said. “It’s been vacant for a little over a month.”
“I’d like to do it as soon as possible, but I’m not sure that I feel quite that level of urgency,” responded chair Heidi Frail. The majority agreed with Frail, supporting a longer application window that would allow more residents to participate in the application process.
“I do think appointing, and as quickly as possible, is much better than a Special Election, and then having that group do an election, and then just turning around and essentially doing another election to meet the April deadline,” she said.
As a matter of logistics, Frail suggested Levy create a subcommittee with Park and Recreation chair Michelle Geddes, holding interviews according to the open meeting law — saying the Select Board’s August meetings tend to be lengthy already, without the addition of applicant interviews. Frail added, “I don’t particularly have a dog in that fight; I don’t have a problem with public interviews for a position that would eventually be elected.”
Select Board member Cathy Dowd noted that the best way forward could depend on the number of residents interested in filling the position. “If we had 15 people interested and we were interviewing 15 people [with] joint boards, I’d be less enthusiastic than if it were two or three,” she said.
After some discussion, the board decided to advertise the position immediately through News You Need(ham), the Town’s weekly email newsletter, and keep the application open through 5 p.m. on Aug. 7. Levy will then decide how to proceed together with Geddes, based on the number of applicants.
A joint Select Board-Park and Rec meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 3 at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the interview process.
News You Need(ham)’s posting, advertising the vacancy, referred questions to otm@needhamma.gov or 781-455-7500, extension 71500.
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