Morse, McLelland signed up for BOS race

Long-time Selectman Reggie Caldwell is apparently not seeking to be re-elected to the board this year.

Caldwell is out of town but Town Administrator Jeanne Beaudin said yesterday the three-term selectmen indicated to his colleagues recently that he would not be looking to return to the board. Beaudin said Caldwell has served for at least 9 years.

But community activist David Morse, who narrowly lost out in his bid to be elected to the Selectboard to Jon Pike last year, and former Town Administrator Don McLelland Sr. have signed up to run for the three-year board seat Caldwell currently holds. Election Day is Tuesday, March 10.

Town Clerk/Tax Collector Cynthia DeRoy said few candidates signed up for the election yesterday, the beginning of the filing period.

On the Budget Committee, current members Mark Roberts, Linda Frawley and Tonyel Mitchell-Berry are all running to retain their seats on the group. Long-time member Gary Flack has not yet signed up for another three-year term; his is the only other seat on the 13-member committee that will be chosen this year.

DeRoy, who was appointed June 2 to fill out the term of retiring Clerk Carol Lacasse, said she’s so far the only person signed up for her position. “I’m running to complete her term, which would be for one year,” said DeRoy, referring to Lacasse.

No one has yet signed up for positions on the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, or the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Likewise no one has signed up for the Sewer Commission where the term of long-time Chairman Richard Fournier is up for election; a warrant article is proposing to dissolve the commission but even if voters approve the measure it would not go into effect until 2010.

Morse says he first became interested in town government about 10 years ago. Since then he’s served on the Master Plan Committee, the Town Hall Study Committee, the Belmont High School Building Committee and on several other study boards related to the Shaker Region School District.

Currently he is chairman of the Belmont Public Library Committee, a member of the Budget Committee and a Cemetery Trustee. (Morse is also seeking to be reelected to his trustee position.)

In a written statement released Wednesday, Morse said he believes his professional experience as a public accountant will help the town spend and plan wisely. “It would be my privilege to utilize my some 25 years in finance, business strategy and accounting, and the demonstrated dedication to affordable priorities and decision-making from facts, to help chart Belmont’s future.”

McLelland was not available for comment last night.