Weymouth Council Blocks Second Republican Registrar Appointee in 8-2 Vote

WEYMOUTH -- December 19, 2022, Weymouth Town Council rejected a mayoral appointment for Republican Registrar for the second time in two months, voting 8-2 against confirming Marie Stockel of 63 Alroy Road. The Budget Management Committee had recommended unfavorable action after meeting with Stockel on two separate occasions. Stockel appeared before the full council Monday and argued that Massachusetts General Law Chapter 51, Section 15 requires the council to confirm one of three candidates nominated by the Republican Town Committee, telling members "you have to pick one of us." Councilors Abbott and Kappell cast the two dissenting votes. In other business, the council unanimously approved a $62,875 reserve fund transfer to match a $183,375 state dam and seawall grant for engineering work at Lane Beach and Fort Point Road, part of a broader coastal protection effort DPW's Jim McGrath called "about a million dollars' worth of engineering" across multiple sites, with construction bidding not expected until summer 2024.