Commissioner Sheila Lyons and Commissioner Mark Forrest were sworn in as members of the Barnstable County Board of County Commissioners at the board’s reorganization meeting. The board then elected Lyons chair and Commissioner Mark Torres vice chair, approved committee assignments and adjourned.

The oath for Lyons was administered by County Clerk Robin Young. "I, Sheila R. Lyons, do solemnly swear and affirm ... that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform the duties incumbent on me as a Barnstable County Commissioner," Lyons recited during the ceremony, referencing the constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth and the county Home Rule Charter.

Register of Deeds John F. Meade was also sworn in at the meeting. Meade repeated the oath required of his office, including a pledge to "faithfully and impartially discharge ... the duties incumbent on me as the Barnstable County Register of Deeds." County Clerk Robin Young participated in administering the oath.

Following the swearing-in, the board moved to its reorganization business. A commissioner nominated Sheila Lyons for chair; another commissioner seconded the nomination. The chair nomination was approved by voice vote when the chair called for "all those in favor," and members responded "aye." Later, a motion to elect Mark Torres as vice chair was made and seconded and likewise approved by voice vote.

The board then voted to approve the committee assignments "as discussed and listed," again by voice vote. During that discussion commissioners referenced the formation or constitution of a Coastal Resources Committee and noted interaction between the Coastal Resources Committee and the existing dredge committee. One commissioner said they would be willing to take the Coastal Resources Committee assignment and noted they also serve on the dredge committee; another commissioner said they were comfortable with assigning Mark Torres to the Cultural Resources Committee. The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally for those voice votes.

Near the end of the meeting a commissioner asked whether the board must nominate and appoint a clerk for the board or whether the county clerk (Robin Young) continues to serve as the board’s clerk; the chair clarified that Robin Young is the designated clerk and that a separate appointment is typically made in mid-April. The board then moved, seconded and approved a motion to adjourn; the chair closed the meeting at 10:15 a.m.

Votes at a glance: chair (Sheila Lyons) — approved by voice vote; vice chair (Mark Torres) — approved by voice vote; committee assignments — approved by voice vote; motion to adjourn — approved by voice vote (no roll-call tally provided).