DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board voted Robert Bishop as chair and Dan Esko as vice chair during its meeting last week. 

 

The motion was made by Marc Strout and seconded by Bishop to nominate Esko as vice chair. 

 

Esko has been on the board for four years and has served as vice chair for one year thus far. 

 

He said later that he is feeling very positive about the future and is happy to continue serving as vice chair.

 

"Having served as chair of the Planning Board for several years previously, I am comfortable in a board leadership role and can run meetings competently and efficiently in the absence of the chair," he said in a follow-up.

 

"I am looking forward to continuing my work on the Select Board with my colleagues to address the town’s current and future needs in collaboration with the Town Manager, department heads, and other boards and committees." 

 

The motion was made by Strout and seconded by Joesph Diver to nominate Bishop for chair. The decision passed unanimously. 

 

Bishop is in his fourth three-year term on the board and was recently re-elected. He has served on the Conservation Commission for more than 30 years and had been the chair for more than 20. 

 

"I am looking forward to working with the Board on present and future items [and] projects," Bishop said in a follow-up. 

 

Strout thanked Diver for his leadership as chair over the last couple of years. "He did an excellent job leading us over the past couple of years." Esko and Bishop agreed. 

 

"We've had some challenging and difficult situations that have come before the board. Some tough decisions in [Diver’s] leadership was very instrumental in guiding us through and helping us get to this point, so thank you," Esko said.