NORTON - A seat on the water and sewer commission has changed hands for the third time this year.

Commissioners and selectmen appointed King Philip Road resident Diane McElligott Thursday to serve until the April 2009 annual town election.

The two boards voted 6-0 to name McElligott, a chemical engineer, over South Washington Street resident Peter Mackesy, who earlier had served on the commission from 1981 to 1990.

Selectmen and water-sewer Chairman Bruce Hicks said they heavily weighed McElligott's desire to run for the remaining two years on the seat next spring.

Mackesy was committed to serving only until next April. Norton is involved in extensive sewer negotiations with Foxboro and Mansfield, Selectman Robert Kimball Jr. said.

"This is a tremendously important project to the town. We certainly need to have people who are dedicated," Selectmen Chairwoman Mary Steele said.

Voters elected an unopposed James Barrett to a three-year term on the water and sewer board in April, when incumbent Donald Brown declined to seek re-election. But, Barrett resigned last month because he is moving to Florida.