A meeting of one?

It might make it quicker to call a vote and streamline debate, but it’s a formula for disaster in elected government.

Hartford has been rattled by problems with a municipal election held May 17. There were several irregularities with voting, including an opened ballot box, re-voting and a missing name on approximately 10 percent of the ballots. In the end, two candidates for town clerk tied with 71 votes.

On Friday, the selectmen met behind closed doors to discuss a necessary runoff election between the two clerk candidates and the problems with the earlier election. Instead of resolving any of the issues, one of the selectmen quit. Citing the toll the controversy had taken on her life, career and health, Selectman Laura Marston resigned, leaving Lee Holman as the only selectman standing. A third member of the board, Scott Swain, resigned March 3. His replacement, Roland Downing was elected on May 17, but has not been sworn in.

Left with only one selectman, the town is in a quandary. Maine law requires towns to have boards with either three, five or seven members and that a majority be present before decisions can be made.

Holman is left in an unenviable position, but her duty seems clear. She should immediately petition for a new election that would fill the open selectman’s seat and resolve the problems with the deeply flawed election in May. If necessary, she should contest the results from the original election and force a court to consider the merits of a new vote.

In the meantime, the everyday business of the town must proceed. Bills have to be paid. But Holman should avoid executive sessions, out of view of public scrutiny. She should avoid long-term decisions and wait for her new colleagues to join the board.

Eventually, the mess in Hartford will be sorted out, but much of the sorting is left to one person, Lee Holman. That’s a big job.