Our elected officials must remember that they represent Nantucket citizens, not the Town Administration. The Select Board should take on a stronger leadership role and hold staff – including Town Counsel – accountable. Our town’s decision-making processes need to be open, inclusive, and free from even the appearance of conflicts of interest. The recent lapses in procedural integrity, including two Open Meeting Law violations cited by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, serve as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding these standards. We should welcome citizen involvement in the Town’s decision-making process. Our regulatory boards and commissions – in particular the Zoning Board of Appeals, HDC and Conservation Commission – must be supported, not undermined. We need a Town administration that reports to a single executive, who in turn is held accountable by the elected members of the Select Board, as called for in our charter. The increasing reliance on consultants (including two public relations firms) is redundant, costly, and unnecessary. Clearly, we can do better.