The Town of Millis will hold its annual election on Mon., May 11, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the gym of the Veterans Memorial Building at 900 Main Street. 

A sample ballot can be found at www.millisma.gov or https://bit.ly/MillisSampleBallot2026. 

The only contested race on the ballot is for one seat on the Millis Select Board. Candidates include Erin T. Underhill (Candidate for Re-Election) and James F. McKay, retired director of the Millis Department of Public Works. 

The following campaign statements were posted on @millispublicforum on Facebook on April 17. The candidates are listed in the order they appear on the election ballot, and the posts are verbatim. 

Erin Espie Underhill, April 17 at 6:02 a.m. 

“Good morning Millis!!!

As you all know, I’m running for re-election for the Select Board. I believe one of the biggest gaps in town government is communication—people want to know what’s happening, why decisions are made, and to feel like their voices actually matter. I’m committed to being accessible, listening to residents, and making sure our government is open and transparent. When people are informed and involved, we make better decisions as a community. I’d be honored to earn your vote on May 11th!

My platform consists of four main areas:

1. Fiscal Responsibility

• Provide disciplined budgeting and long-term planning

• Clearly communicate where tax dollars are applied

2. Strong Schools and Town Services

• Maintain high-quality schools as a priority investment

• Ensure police, fire and DPW are properly supported

3. Transparency and Communication

• Provide clear, accessible town updates via our website and social media

• Promote and maintain a town-wide calendar of events

• Encourage public input before major decisions

• Continue to be available and accessible for questions and concerns

4. Long-Term Planning

• Capital planning (roads, buildings, equipment) to focus on upcoming needs and budget concerns

• Water and sewer sustainability planning - continue to seek grants for PFAS facilities and investigate increasing sewer capacity

This is of course not an exhaustive list however, areas where I’d like to focus moving forward.

I’m happy to engage and further discuss any of these areas with you - simply reach out to me.

[email protected]”

Jim McKay, April 17 at 1:20 p.m. 

“While I’ve officially retired after 20 years at the Millis DPW, I remain retained in service to continue key capital projects and support the succession plan I began five years ago.

I think many residents are now asking a different question: not “Did we spend the money as approved?” but “Are we spending it as effectively as possible?”

Our town’s mandated annual financial audit is essential for compliance. A broader Municipal Cost Review would go further, examining long-term liabilities; regional service sharing; consortium purchasing power; true costs and revenue by housing type (including HOA and 40B); departmental resource sharing; asset condition and utilization (land, buildings, infrastructure); and how capital spending is tracked, integrated, and evaluated over time.

With property taxes up roughly 32% since FY21 (as of our May Town Meeting), on top of rising utility and energy costs, and with relatively flat population growth, the pressure on households is real. The work already underway in DPW and public safety shows that collaboration and consortium purchasing can strengthen value—but the question is whether we are applying that mindset consistently across all functions.

This is not about criticism or “fraud”—it’s about continuous improvement and long-term stewardship. Subject-matter experts in our community have already offered to help explore new approaches, and an Innovation Task Force could help turn that knowledge into a practical action plan. Enterprise funds also provide a useful framework for better cost transparency in infrastructure services.

There is only upside in taking a closer, more strategic look at how we deliver services—and in ensuring taxpayers have the clearest possible understanding of value for their money.”

Editor’s note: [email protected]