NORTH YARMOUTH — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday unanimously waived for one year a limit on how long a member can serve as chairman, and then re-elected Selectman Steve Palmer to the post for a third consecutive year.

The vote for Palmer was 4-0, with Palmer abstaining. The board also appointed longtime Selectman and former Chairman Paul Napolitano as vice chairman.

Selectmen said they waived the two-year limit to maintain consistent leadership at a crucial time for the town.

Among big questions facing North Yarmouth are what to do with two properties: the now-vacant former site of Wescustogo Hall, which was destroyed by fire last August, and North Yarmouth Memorial School, which School Administrative District 51 has closed and transferred to the town.

“Pursuant to the bylaws that stipulate a maximum two-year term for the chairmanship, I would like to waive that bylaw for one year,” Selectman Mark Girard said. “… With the number of changes, and the number of new faces … ongoing projects, a lot going on, I think that it’s in the best interest of the town to … have continuity in (the chairman) position.”

There was no other discussion on the waiving by the board or members of the public.

Tuesday’s meeting was the first with Rosemary Roy as the town’s first official town manager. It was also Alex Carr’s first meeting as a selectman.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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