MONTAGUE — Nomination papers are available for the May 18 town election. The election includes one Selectboard position and 42 Town Meeting members, among several other positions.
The expiring Selectboard term is Mike Nelson’s. Nelson has been on the board since 2013, when he was elected to finish the term of a resigning member. The next year he was re-elected, and again in 2017.
“I definitely plan on running again. I enjoy being on the board,” he said.
Forty-two of the total 126 Town Meeting seats are open. Unlike most Franklin County towns, Montague’s Town Meeting is representative rather than open; meaning, not just any resident can show up to vote, only elected representatives from each of the six precincts. Each precinct gets 21 representatives.
But Town Meeting membership is rarely ever at capacity, according to Town Clerk Deb Bourbeau.
“We are in desperate need of members,” she said.
In this election, each of the six precincts has seven seats on the ballot.
Two School Committee seats for Montague residents will also be on the ballot. But those nomination papers are handled by the Gill-Montague Regional School District superintendent’s office, and are not available yet. The superintendent’s Executive Assistant Sabrina Blanchard said papers will likely be available in mid-to-late March.
Other positions on the ballot are:
■Board of Assessors, one seat, three-year term
■Board of Health, one seat, three-year term
■Parks and Recreation Commission, one seat, three-year term
■Library Trustees, three seats, three-year terms
■Montague Housing Authority, one seat, five-year term
■Soldiers Memorial Trustees, two seats, three-year terms
Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office through March 26. They must be returned by 5 p.m. on April 1.
Candidates for the town offices must collect at least 37 signatures from registered voters anywhere in the town. Town Meeting candidates must collect at least 10 signatures from registered voters in their home precinct.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 261.