After years of debate on whether Oak Bluffs should change its town clerk position from elected to appointed, the select board voted Saturday to put the question before town meeting this spring.
Town officials for the last five years have raised concerns about having a role as critical as a town clerk being dependent on having a place to live in Oak Bluffs — a requirement for all elected positions.
But the select board has been hesitant about putting the question to the voters, with some members feeling it is better to keep the position outside of the town administration.
The lack of consensus on the board has meant officials have discussed the issue year-after-year, but never put it on the warrant. At a special meeting Saturday, the board finally decided that now was the time.
“This is a role that requires significant expertise, and, I’ve said this before, but we are extraordinarily fortunate that the expertise has been in town,” said member Sean DeBettencourt. “I would make the argument that every election that goes by with this, that we are rolling the dice, that we may not end up with somebody who is as competent, capable and excellent as we have right now.”
Town administrator Deborah Potter has been one of the biggest supporters of the change, and has expressed fears that the Island’s unstable housing market could result in Oak Bluffs losing its clerk at any time. Making the job appointed could also help the town find additional qualified candidates.
“The town clerk plays a critical role in elections, public records, licensing, and statutory compliance, with responsibilities that continue to grow in complexity,” the town wrote in a summary of the article. “Moving to an appointed position allows the town to recruit and retain the most qualified professional based on experience and performance — rather than residency alone — while expanding the candidate pool through a broader search if a vacancy occurs.”
In the past, some board members feared taking the choice away from the voters, and worried that if the clerk role was appointed, it could lose some of its independence.
“We live in a democracy and in that democracy you have elected officials and you have checks and balances,” said select board member Mark Leonard. “And my feeling is this town clerk is one of the biggest checks and balances that we have.”
Mr. Leonard also didn’t feel the need to rush, since sitting clerk Amy Del Torto is running unopposed in the upcoming election. The amendment as written in the warrant would not go into effect until July 2027, and wouldn’t affect the upcoming three-year term.
The board voted 4-1 to put the article on the warrant, with Mr. Leonard being the sole no vote. If it passes at town meeting, the question would then be posed to voters again at the 2027 annual election.
Select board member Emma Green-Beach also noted that she was against the idea, but okay with putting it to the voters.
Select board chair Dion Alley hoped the article could help spur interest in the town meeting.
“We’re going to have lots of fun things on our warrant that people are going to be interested in and want to come out and discuss it and vote it,” he said. “I would like to just put this to rest so we’re not sitting on a Saturday talking about this again.”
This article appears in March 13, 2026.
Why would we dismantle our democracy? Political moods shift over time so making sure our government reflects the will of the people is fundamental. Once you remove the democratic process the only way to restore it is through revolution. This is a horrible idea in my opinion.