The Williamstown Select Board appointed Matt Neely to the vacant seat left by Andy Hogeland ’76 in a 3-1 vote at its meeting on Sept. 24.
Neely, who was born and raised in Williamstown, will serve out the remaining seven months of Hogeland’s term — which was cut short when the longtime Select Board member announced his retirement in August — after which Neely plans to run for election to a full term on the governing body.
In an interview with the Record, Neely, who previously served on the Fund for Williamstown and is a member of the Finance Committee for St. John’s Church, said he was eager to contribute more to the Town community.
Many of Neely’s priorities on the Select Board — particularly those that pertain to local economic development — are informed by his experiences growing up in the Town.
“When I was a kid, lots of my friends lived in town, their parents lived in town, and they were able to afford it,” he said. “And many of those people from my high school class say, yes, absolutely, they would move back if they could, but they either really can’t afford a house, or there are just no jobs.”
Neely said he specifically wants to focus on expanding the Williamstown Theatre Festival, supporting small businesses, and building more affordable housing, though he acknowledged that the Select Board has a limited ability to create policy.
“They are administrative, and they are a sounding board, and things go through them,” he said. “Issues can certainly be brought up by them or through them, and they can be a bully pulpit.”
To that end, Neely said he aimed to bring a “moderating presence” to the Select Board, especially if contentious issues, such as the proposed ceasefire resolution in April, were to arise again.
“I think that, as a longtime resident and a known person, I have goodwill built up [so] that hopefully people won’t get mad at me right away,” he said. “They’ll understand that I’m coming from a place where I want what’s best for the panel. And that might not be exactly what I think.”
Neely’s peacemaking abilities were on display at the Select Board’s Sept. 24 meeting when the four remaining members found themselves deadlocked for nearly two hours while deciding whether Neely or Hugh Daley should fill the vacant seat. Daley had previously served three terms on the Select Board but said he had no plans to run for election in the spring. Two members argued for him, emphasizing his prior experience, but the other two members advocated for a new voice on the board, especially one — like Neely — who hopes to be a long-term presence on the board.
When members considered leaving the spot vacant until an election could be held in the spring, Neely offered to withdraw from the race.
“I thought, ‘Look, it’s better for the Town to have five [Select Board members],’” he explained. “And it’s not about me. I’m running for this role just to be of service to the Town, so maybe I can be of service to the Town by stepping down and letting Hugh win.”
It was this offer, Neely said, that convinced Select Board member Jeff Johnson to switch his vote from Daley to Neely.
Following the appointment vote, Neely said, he met with Hogeland and the other members of the Select Board to prepare himself for the role.
“I think it’s one of those things where you have to just jump in and do the job,” he said. “I really think it’s about doing what’s best for the Town.”
