Natick Select Board Appoints 13 Volunteers to Six Committees in Single Session

NATICK -- July 9, 2026, Natick Select Board fills 13 committee seats across six boards in one evening. The board conducted more than 20 structured interviews on July 9, using a uniform five-question format sent to all applicants in advance, then voted on appointments to the Economic Development Committee, Commission on Disability, Community Preservation Committee, Keefe Technical School Committee, Natick Net Zero Committee, and Council on Aging, all for terms expiring June 2029. EDC incumbent Katie Love received all five board votes, joined by Realtor Melissa Sullivan with three; the board unanimously reappointed Gerald Hartwell to the Keefe Tech School Committee; and incumbent Paula Panchuk led the Council on Aging field with five votes, joined by Christine Weithman and Clifford Scott with four each. A runoff was required for the Net Zero Committee after Connor Galligan and Beatrice Mayorissi each received three votes on the first ballot; Galligan was ultimately appointed alongside renewable energy professional Rafael Hertz, who led with four votes. Recreation and Parks Commission interviews were postponed to the July 22 meeting after both candidates were unavailable.

Correction (Nov. 3, 2026): An earlier version of this story said the board filled eight seats; it filled 13. It also misstated a Community Preservation Committee applicant's first name (Richard Sidney), gave Billy Walsh a title the record does not show, misdescribed the Commission on Disability ballot, described two decisions as votes that were not taken, and credited several remarks to board members the recording does not identify; those remarks are now unattributed.