The Board of Selectmen are clearly divided - for now
ELECTION ANALYSIS
BY PETER A. SUTTERS JR. INDEPENDENT WRITER

` When the newly configured Board of Selectmen sat down for their first meeting following Tuesday night's election, few in the small conference room in the Town Building expected the routine matter of swearing in the new and returning members, followed by the election of officers, to turn into a political drama.

There was a clear division among the board members and the three votes taken fell along those divided lines.

The divisions continue this week.

"I was puzzled by it," said selectman Patty Roggeveen of the delay.

"I have to say this is one of the best decisions I have made," said selectman Allen Reinhard.

Both sides of the issue had merits behind their respective thoughts. Traditionally, at the meeting following the election, the board votes on a new chair and vice chair, as Brian Chadwick and Mrs. Roggeveen tried to do.

On the other side, Michael Kopko, Mr. Reinhard and newcomer to the board Rick Atherton, had the Town's charter on their side. It allows for 30 days to elect officers.

The common theme among the victorious dissenters to tradition was the hope of "getting to know" the members and "taking some time" to sit back and evaluate the make up of the new board, as was argued by Mr. Atherton and Mr. Reinhard. Mr. Kopko, acting as chair, remained silent through much of the debate until the end, when he espoused his agreement with Mr. Atherton and Mr. Reinhard.

The minority, Mr. Chadwick and Mrs. Roggeveen, believed that the town is facing too many important issues to leave the board without leadership for the proposed two weeks.

Mr. Chadwick nominated Mrs. Roggeveen, but was defeated 3-2. Following a discussion to postpone the elections, a vote was taken to officially do so. It passed 3-2. The board then voted, by the predictable 3-2, to adjourn.

Moving forward, it is not clear how the time will be spent reflecting, or if the decisions will be made prior to or at the April 30 meeting.

Mrs. Roggeveen expressed her desire to take on the responsibility of being the chair, but said she wanted the discussion to play out in public, at the meeting, rather than with "backroom deals" in place prior to the vote.

While Mr. Reinhard did not mention the backroom deals, he did say he was leaning toward either Mrs. Roggeveen or Mr. Kopko as chairs and indicated a deal he may seek where one would be the chairman of the selectmen and vice chairman for the County Commissioners, and vice versa.

Mr. Chadwick said he does not want to be chairman, despite having served the longest and sitting as current chair of the County Commissioners.

Mr. Kopko also has expressed his interest in the position, but said he will only accept if he is nominated and supported by his fellow board members.

All of the board members brushed off suggestions that the incident is a microcosm of how the board will function going forward. They did acknowledge, however, that the incident may have hurt the board's reputation, at least in the short-term.

"There are a lot of negative feelings out there between one party and another in the public," said Reinhard. "The lightning rods seem to be Michael and Patty. I think the issue has been way over blown. I felt the discussion was positive. In terms of the public reaction, I think they are going to think whatever they want. Some people have come up to me and said 'I see you have drank the Kopko Kool-Aid,' whatever that means, and said that was the end of my political career. But that is not what motivates me, I have some issues I want to bring forward and I thin k reflecting on who would do the best job bringing those issues forward is the smart thing to do."

For all their parts and disagreements, the members of the board said they strive to work together as a team and put the good of Nantucket first. That will certainly be a formidable challenge confronting the chairman of the board,

whomever that may be. I