[Massplanners] Upcoming legislative hearing

[Maren Toohill]

Very well said; thank you for weighing in!
Offering my (very biased) opinion. If residents knew that they would be provided with appropriate training, perhaps they would feel empowered to offer their volunteer services to the Town.
Maren

Maren A. Toohill, AICP
Town Planner
978/540-2425
MToohill at littletonma.org<mailto:MToohill at littletonma.org>
Town of Littleton


From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Edgartown Planning Board via MassPlanners
Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2025 9:24 AM
To: Ralph Willmer <ralphwillmer.apa at gmail.com>
Cc: Mass Planners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Upcoming legislative hearing



Warning – THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY AN EXTERNAL SENDER

Greetings -

I for one would be interested to get some feedback from town employees about this.  I'm personally of mixed feelings:

On the one hand:  It's hard to get volunteers to step-up, collect signatures, run for office, and stay committeed for a 3 to 5 year period of time.  Adding the additional burden of training requirements - even if free - might be the feather to tip the scales for some.

On the other hand, I've seen my share of really (putting it nicely) uninformed folks, who don't understand the essential responsibilities of the board.  The issue isn't those who are less educated, or even folks with an axe to grind, bur rather... well, you know the old saying: if all you have in the toolbox is a hammer, all the world looks like a nail.  Attorneys will spend half the meeting arguing about the language; builders will spend half the meeting arguing about methods and materials of construction; realtors will spend half the meeting arguing in favor of 'improved real-estate values' and so on.  Having basic education in their responsibilities as a board would be at least a step towards reining this in.

- Doug.
   Westhampton nee Edgartown.

On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 6:46 AM Ralph Willmer via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:
Hello -

I wanted to alert everyone that on June 10th, the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee will be holding a hearing at 1 pm (Room B-1 and virtual) on some legislation of interest to planners. Among the bills to be heard is H. 2299 regarding mandatory training for planning and zoning boards and H. 2300 regarding associate members to planning boards. Written testimony will be accepted until June 24th.

You can find details about the hearing and each of the bills at https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5212<https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5212>.

Ralph Willmer, FAICP
MA Chapter Legislative & Policy Officer
Chair, Citizen Planner Training Collaborative
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The Edgartown Planning Board
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413-627-6170
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