When four resignations occurred in late 2007—Randy Dean and Bill Marinelli from the Board of Selectmen, Jeff Shaw from the School Committee, and Cindy Russo from the Finance Committee—the Press asked, “What is going on? Are we burning out our town volunteers? Are these jobs becoming more thankless than ever? And, most important, are there enough people out there willing to step up to the plate and take a turn at bat?”

With Leo Blair saying he doesn’t have enough energy or interest to continue as a selectman, questions arise again. It is probable that the very long hours Blair put in were largely of his own making; nevertheless, the town should take a close look at how it conducts its business before jumping headlong into electing a replacement and resuming business as usual.

In Groton, after officials had the Department of Revenue (Division of Local Services) conduct reviews of governmental structure in 1986 and 2004, the town may now update its charter and add the position of full-time town manager. That official’s role would be to carry out the policies set by elected selectmen and other policy-making boards. Should Harvard request a similar review?

So what happens now? A decision must be made whether to hold a special election now to replace Blair, or wait until next spring’s town election. It might be better to close ranks, set priorities for this year, and determine with the leaders that are left if a change in government structure is needed, rather than letting things grind to a halt for a couple of months while campaign promises are crafted, debates are held, and a new selectman is elected.