[Massplanners] Upcoming legislative hearing

Thu Jun 5 10:12:41 EDT 2025

At least 2 or 3 times a year, I inform our ZBA and Planning Board members about the availability of upcoming training offered by the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (including the all-day session at Holy Cross in Worcester which has been in the March/April timeframe the past 2 years).  I make it clear the Town can pay the fee for this training.   Most members do not take advantage of the online training, but at least one has.  We have difficulty getting membership on our volunteer ZBA but our Planning Board is fully staffed with elected members..

Perhaps I need to provide written training materials to the Board members since there is reluctance do the online training - such as the 2015 Planning Board Resource Book or other materials.  Any suggestions for such training materials?

I think Rep Kassner's email (to this listserv this morning) clarifies the nature of this training - as a one-hour module much like conflict-of-interest training.  I think that would be useful.  It is hard to imagine that would prevent someone from volunteering for our ZBA as it can be done at their leisure.  In contrast, I think the CPTC courses are in a specific time window such as 5 pm to 7 pm on a Monday night or similar scheduling basis.

Richard Jordan (Rick)

Avon Town Planner

Email :<mailto:Email :> RJordan at avon-ma.gov<mailto:RJordan at avon-ma.gov>

65 E. Main Street-Avon, MA 02322

P: 774-480-1682 at Town Hall

 [cid:204149e9-7526-4248-9b63-b694bee2388a]

________________________________
From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> on behalf of Maren Toohill via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2025 9:42 AM
To: Edgartown Planning Board <planningboard at edgartown-ma.us>; Ralph Willmer <ralphwillmer.apa at gmail.com>
Cc: Mass Planners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Upcoming legislative hearing

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.

Ralph Willmer, FAICP

MA Chapter Legislative & Policy Officer

Chair, Citizen Planner Training Collaborative

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