Select Board appoints Sarah Chester to Community Center Building Committee

LINCOLN — May 22, 2022 — Lincoln Select Board appoints Sarah Chester to fill final at-large seat on the Community Center Building Committee. The board voted 3-0 at its May 26 virtual meeting, four days after one Monday appointee, Peter Von Mertens, withdrew to focus on fundraising and a second candidate, Owen Bienhauer, also stepped back. Member Jonathan Dwyer, the prospective CCBC liaison, initially favored Andrew Singer over Chester and Andrew Scheff, citing Singer's UMass-hospital consensus-building work and concern that Chester's Parks and Recreation seat would give that committee "two votes" on the CCBC. Chair Jim Hutchinson lobbied for Chester on cost-discipline and continuity grounds, noting "people who discussed cost concerns have a soft spot in my heart." Dwyer reversed, saying he would "run the risk of a voting block" because the committee needs members who can execute drafting and data work. Member Kim Bodnar was absent.