[Massplanners] Planner Burnout

Fri Mar 4 12:26:38 EST 2022

Dear Mariah:

Letme start with the good news: things will go wrong, it’s perhaps the onecertainty we can take comfort in. And Gawd bless the Town of Erving, pop1,665 for having the gumption to hire a planner especially one who appearsto have so much gumption. You do have a bit of a disadvantage given that the Townof Erving has the distinction of being the last FranklinCounty Town to be incorporated, which occurred in 1838 (acc to your website) andyou’re newish to the biz.

I am of the school of thoughtthat people are good except for all those people who aren’t. We also know that it’sthe good people who are less likely to show up at a meeting with torches heldperilously close to a highly flammable foam core board. 

 I typically tell thefolks that I’ve worked with that the people who are good at their jobs can leaveat 4:29 which is why one dayish a week I stay a bit late. Leaving a little, andarriving same, also allows our neighbours to get to where they are going atpeak times without our single occupancy vehicle/bicycle/Onewheel® in their way. Ialso usually spend a little quality time in the office after a meetingbuttoning up a few things because I know I’m not going to go to sleep rightaway when I get home. The time spent sort of decompressing before leaving forhome also cuts into the time available to pour an additional artisan distilledspirit or local craft brewed beer/kombucha (I’ve also heard they have gummies here inthe Commonwealth) so one can self-medicate as necessary for the long run andnot burst into flames.

 We don’t get into thisgig for the money but because we feel we have a skill, a talent and a sense ofmission to make the world, or maybe just a pocket park, a better place. Our jobis to work with the community and provide accurate information is a timelymatter with the hope that that information will permit decision makers to makean informed decision. If they don’t, we have fulfilled our role to the best oftypically well stretched capacity.  Luckily your SelectBoard (and some kind-hearted, informed residents) have been supportive in assessingthe capacity of the planning function. Pro tip there’s always more to do than we cando. 

 I often time think ofJules Winnfield, played by Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction who seemingly veryefficiently was able to leave his work at the office.

“The path of the righteous man planner is beset on all sides by theiniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, inthe name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley ofdarkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper, and the finder of lostchildren.   The quote from his Ezekiel 25:17 speechgets all Old Testament after that but as they tell old people like me “walk tothe light” in your case at the end of the tunnel to your public art project setto be installed in July. 

 Lotsof us work in one horse/planner towns that don’t have someone to bounce stuffoff of so use your resources like the Listserve, sign up for MAPD (its one ofthe best deals on the planet) and don’t be shy about reaching out like you’vedone. Yours peers are for the most part decent human beings (see above).  I’ll talk it up with some of the planner apparatchiksabout crossing the French King Bridge for a Planner’s Therapy session so peoplewill be familiar with the neighbourhood when they come out in July for thepublic art reveal.

Thanksfor signing up for the gig, Take care of yourself. We need people like you forthe long run.

TBott

Thomas Bott, Interim Carver Town Planner
You too could follow me on Twitter @TBottPlimoth but it clearly isn’t necessary 

     On Friday, March 4, 2022, 10:18:38 AM EST, Mariah Kurtz via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:  

  #yiv2477927397 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Happy Friday y'all.
This is a much less technical question than most here, but it's what our little Town is struggling with at this moment.
I write this 24 hours away from a Special Town Meeting where two zoning articles will be voted on. The situation has devolved into widespread misinformation and personal attacks on public officials over this. I have my slideshow, jumbo foam-core map, and beloved anxiety meds prepared, but more conceptually, how do you stay motivated when things like this happen and keep yourself from totally burning out?
I'm a relatively young planner and I understand that the nature of public work means not everything I work on will move forward, but our team here is exhausted. Several of us have been teetering on the edge of burn out for months. Luckily our Select Board (and some kind-hearted, informed residents) have been supportive of us taking a step back to evaluate our capacity for new projects. I've created a master project list which plans out 3-5 years. We're deciding which grants to apply for a year ahead to prepare ourselves. But it seems like every time we plan to take a breather something new happens: a flood washes out a bridge and three roads, construction can't be finished due to supply chain issues, a new wave of COVID hits, or we only have one plow driver available during a snow storm. I was only a Planner for 6 months before the pandemic hit so I feel like I've jumped into this career on hard mode. My light at the end of the tunnel is a public art project set to be installed in July and I'm hesitant to even look forward to that because I feel like something will go wrong.
I imagine that all of us are dealing with these struggles in some fashion, so what tools do you and your team use to cope with these hurdles short term and prevent burn out long term?
Mariah Kurtz (she/her)
Assistant TownPlanner

Town of Erving

12 East Main Street

Erving, Massachusetts 01344

Phone: (413) 422-2800 ext. 1108 |  Online: www.Erving-Ma.gov  | Facebook:Town of Erving

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When writing or responding, please remember that the Secretary of State has determined that email is a public record, is subject to the Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, and covered by Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or believe that you have received the communication in error, you are strictly prohibited from printing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or otherwise using this communication.-- 
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