[Massplanners] Upcoming legislative hearing

Thu Jun 5 10:33:03 EDT 2025

As a member of Salem's Planning Board for three years (thankfully an
appointed position), I'd like to contribute to this discussion in
that capacity. On average, I volunteer 15-20 hours a month, depending on
the project load, for board meetings themselves and document review to
prepare for each meeting. It's a significant time commitment, yet the only
training I've received in my three years on this board has been the
mandatory online ethics training. Despite working in this field, I felt
very unprepared on my first day and it took me several months to feel fully
comfortable and informed enough to perform my role effectively.

While I understand the challenges some communities face in achieving quorum
for their volunteer boards, I believe that providing basic training, like
that proposed by Rep. Kassner's HB 2299, is crucial to the work of these
boards. It enables volunteer board members to make more informed decisions.
Most people I've spoken with on municipal boards take on these roles to
positively impact their communities. Through no fault of their own, I
believe today that they aren't provided with the adequate education
necessary to do these jobs effectively. I see these trainings as not only
equipping board members with the necessary background to perform their
duties and make informed decisions but also as a means to enhance
efficiency, potentially saving time, and avoiding confusion, in the long
run.

Thanks!

Jonathan Berk

Jonathan Berk | Founder | re:Main

 jonathan at remainplaces.com

 617-750-6008
 www.remainplaces.com

On Thu, Jun 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM Mark Smith Design Inc. via MassPlanners <
massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

> Such as these upcoming workshops:
>
> https://masscptc.org/index.php/training/webinar-series/
>
> --
>
> Mark Smith
> Planning Board, Conservation Commission
> Town of Lenox
>
> designink9 at gmail.com
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM Richard Jordan via MassPlanners <
> massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
>
>> 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 : <Email%C2%A0:>* *RJordan at avon-ma.gov <RJordan at avon-ma.gov>*
>>
>> 65 E. Main Street-Avon, MA 02322
>>
>> P: 774-480-1682 at Town Hall
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *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 <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
>> <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
>>
>> --
>> MassPlanners mailing list
>> *MassPlanners at masscptc.org <MassPlanners at masscptc.org>*
>> *http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org
>> <http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org>*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> The Edgartown Planning Board
>>
>> PO Box 5130
>>
>> Edgartown, MA 01027
>> 413-627-6170
>>
>> *Attention! This e-mail originates outside of the organization. Do not
>> open attachments or click links unless you are sure this email is from a
>> known sender and you know the content is safe. Call the sender to verify if
>> unsure. Otherwise, delete this e-mail.*
>> --
>> MassPlanners mailing list
>> MassPlanners at masscptc.org
>> http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org
>>
>
>
> --
> MassPlanners mailing list
> MassPlanners at masscptc.org
> http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://masscptc.org/pipermail/massplanners_masscptc.org/attachments/20250605/c8f54272/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Outlook-2r2o1l2b.png
Type: image/png
Size: 25504 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://masscptc.org/pipermail/massplanners_masscptc.org/attachments/20250605/c8f54272/attachment.png>