A South Hadley select board member says she lost her chairmanship during a vote tinged with sexism.

Marilyn Ishler says she takes about six weeks off every year to cheer on the Red Sox during spring training in Florida. She believes that absence and her gender cost her the chairmanship.

Ishler has been on the board of selectmen for five years. But at Tuesday's meeting, there was a motion to reorganize the board. A majority of the selectmen believed they needed a new chair, because Ishler would miss too many meetings to run the board.

Ishler says gender was also a factor, as the three male board members voted together. "It was three men together saying a woman cannot do this job," said Ishler.

But other selectmen say the decision was all business. "It was not based on gender, we've had many chairpersons that were female and have done a good job. It was based on the fact that she's leaving tomorrow and gone till the end of march," said Richard Constant, the Clerk of the board of selectmen

Board members say this is the busiest time of year. They will be reviewing budgets, and need a leader. "We cannot run the town government from 1,500 miles away," said Constant.

Ishler is still on the board, but it's not smooth sailing. Some of the selectmen say her vote might not count unless she's present at the meetings.

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