Selectmen Tuesday accepted the resignations of two members of the Historical Commission, Chair Roseanne Saalfield and alternate member Jonathan Feist, but not before they heard from two Harvard citizens who complained during the public comment period that Selectmen had treated the commission with disrespect by ignoring the work of its members to find qualified candidates to fill its vacancies.

"You managed to turn what we had as an orderly process for finding a new member of the commission into a disorderly process for losing a net member of the commission," said John Martin, a long-time member of the Historical Commission. "And [you] accompanied it with some scurrilous comments…that were entirely untrue."

Martin was speaking of a recent 3-2 vote by Selectmen to appoint Barbara Hadad to fill a slot left vacant by the resignation of Jared Wollaston and set to expire in 2013. The appointment was made without a recommendation from the Historical Commission and Selectman Ron Ricci accused then Chair Saalfield of running a "club."

"We really don't appreciate that," said Martin about Ricci's comments. "More to the point, we're taken aback about how we proceed in the future to look for new members. Do you not want our help? Do you not want us to interview candidates and try to find people who are particularly well qualified to be on the Historical Commission?"

His question went unanswered, but Selectmen are under no obligation to respond during public comment.

Eric Broadbent, a member of the Energy Advisory Committee, also spoke briefly.

"I'm here to register some dismay as a citizen of the town," Broadbent said.

He said he was not privy to all of the facts surrounding the resignations, but, he said, "We did lose two members. These are not run-of-the-mill volunteers, they are long-standing residents who are dedicated to the town. "

"The town would be better served if the [Selectmen] can find a solution for this that somehow brings these volunteers together and figures out a way forward that people are comfortable with," Broadbent said. "It wasn't good for the board or the town or the Historical Commission to have this happen. I trust you guys will find a way to make progress on this."

Later in the evening, Selectmen voted unanimously to accept the two resignations, as well as the resignation of Al Combs from the Economic Development Committee and the Master Plan Steering Committee. The Board also voted to send letters to the departing volunteers to thank them for their service to the town.

There are now 18 vacancies on committees that range from the MBTA advisory committee to the Historical Commission. The openings are all posted on the town website.