Selectmen Table Room Naming For Andrew Maylor

Selectmen will wait and hear what residents think about naming Town Hall's first-floor conference room in honor of Andrew Maylor before they take any action.

Historical Commission members brought the idea to the board Wednesday, saying Maylor played a pivotal role in preserving what is a local gem and a National Historic Landmark — .

Commission Chairman Jean Reardon and member Sylivia Belkin said Maylor truly cared about the former home of prolific inventor Elihu Thomson.

The town administrator forged ahead with its restoration, they said.

"He took a pride in this building and he took a pride in restoring this building," Reardon said.

Selectmen agreed with the sentiment but not necessarily with the action.

Selectman Jill Sullivan said it was not up to five selectmen and seven Historical Commission members to assign a name to the room without consulting the public.

Chairman Matt Strauss said the town administrator is deserving of the naming but he just left, several months ago. It is now time to adjust to the new era in town administration.

David Van Dam said when he first heard about naming a room for someone he thought it would be a memorial for someone who had lived in town for a long time.

The board tabled the item for further thought and discussion.

Maylor was Swampscott's first town administrator and had worked in Swampscott for nine years before he left for a position with North Andover.