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Arlington Select Board Member To Resign After Move To Nearby Community: Report

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 13:28 GMT by Patch
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Arlington Select Board Member Resigns After Relocation to Nearby Community

Patch – Arlington, Massachusetts – In a move that has sparked discussion across town, one of Arlington’s own elected Select Board members has stepped down after announcing a relocation to a neighboring community. The resignation, effective as of the next board meeting, follows a community report that highlighted potential conflicts of interest arising from the move and a broader debate about residency requirements for town officials.

The Resignation

On Wednesday, the board member, identified as Linda G. Thompson in the official resignation letter, notified the Select Board that she would no longer be able to serve in her capacity as an Arlington elected official. Thompson, who has sat on the board for the past eight years, is moving to Northampton, a town only about 10 miles from Arlington. In her statement, Thompson said, “After careful consideration, I have decided to relocate to Northampton to be closer to my children’s school. I feel it would be unfair to Arlington to continue serving while I am no longer a resident.” She added that she would be “honored to have served the town and grateful for the support of her colleagues and constituents.”

The board accepted her resignation without comment at the closing of that Wednesday’s meeting. A spokesperson for the town’s Office of the Select Board, Michael E. Hall, released a short statement: “We thank Linda for her service and wish her well in her new home. A special election will be scheduled to fill the vacancy.”

The Community Report

The resignation followed a detailed Arlington Community Report released by a local non‑profit, Arlington Voices. The report, linked from the Patch article, examined the legal and ethical implications of board members moving out of town while still serving on the Select Board. According to the report, the town’s charter requires that “any elected official who serves on the Select Board must be a resident of Arlington at the time of election and must continue to reside in the town for the duration of their term.” While the charter does not explicitly forbid a board member from relocating after being elected, the report noted that doing so could raise “questions about accountability and local representation.”

“A Select Board member who no longer lives in the community they serve is unlikely to be fully attuned to the everyday concerns of residents,” the report warned. “In the best interest of good governance, we recommend that members resign if they move outside the town before the end of their term.”

The report also examined similar situations in other New England towns and concluded that “best practices in the region suggest that a resignation should occur within 30 days of a relocation.” Linda Thompson’s resignation was therefore consistent with the community report’s recommendations.

Community Reaction

The announcement has elicited mixed responses from Arlington residents. Some have praised Thompson for her “honest” decision, while others have expressed concern about the potential disruption to the board’s work.

“I think she made the right call,” said Karen L. Whitaker, a local homeowner and resident of Arlington’s South Village. “If you’re not physically in the town, you can’t fully understand what’s happening. It’s a fair move.”

Others, however, have been less forgiving. Mark D. Ellis, a long‑time resident and former member of the town’s Planning and Zoning Committee, expressed frustration: “The Select Board is already stretched thin. Losing a member means more work for the remaining four, and the board is already juggling several contentious development projects.”

The board’s spokesperson emphasized that a special election would be held in the coming weeks. “We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition,” Hall said. “The next board member will be chosen through the town’s democratic process.”

Next Steps

According to the town’s election guidelines, the next board election will be scheduled for June 3, 2025, with a primary held on May 12, 2025. The board has indicated that it will issue a call for candidates, and that any former members who have returned to Arlington after the resignation may be eligible to run.

The community report’s authors have urged that the town consider revising its charter to explicitly address residency issues for elected officials. “Clear language on residency will reduce confusion and prevent future resignations,” the report concluded.

In the meantime, the Select Board will continue its regular meetings, which are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 6 p.m. in the town hall’s council chamber. Residents wishing to attend or view the minutes can do so via the town’s official website.

A Broader Conversation

While the resignation of Linda Thompson may seem like a single local incident, it underscores a larger conversation about the role of elected officials in small communities. In many New England towns, where civic engagement is high and resident accountability is paramount, the residency of elected officials is more than a bureaucratic requirement—it is a cornerstone of effective governance.

As Arlington prepares to fill the vacancy, the community will likely reflect on the delicate balance between personal life decisions and public duty. The community report’s findings and the town’s response may set a precedent for other towns grappling with similar questions in the years to come.