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<p>All,</p>
<p>Having worked as a planner for a number of years, I now find
myself as Chair of the Ipswich Planning Board. I think that
position is more challenging than the professional planner role.
We now find ourselves having too many special permit applications,
with three projects being proposed that either have aggressive
applicants or are very controversial in town. Our meetings, which
start at 7pm, have been going to 12 or 12:30am. Some of the
reactions by applicants have been quite aggressive and
inappropriate. The context of a Zoom meeting makes it especially
challenging to control the meeting, and there is no longer the
presence of others to tone down people's actions. Has anyone ever
muted an applicant??<br>
</p>
<p>As a result, we are beginning to put together operating
procedures for the Planning Board, so we at least have an
agreement amongst ourselves what are appropriate ways to control
and steer the conversation, and respond to inappropriate comments,
or endless rants. We are also looking at standard procedures for
working through application review, including setting time limits
on certain presentations.<br>
</p>
<p>Have any of your departments or Planning Boards developed
operating procedures for project review and guiding meetings that
you could share with us? I will also check some of my favorite
municipal websites and also CPTC resources. If you have developed
such a document I would appreciate it by tomorrow - we will be
having our first conversation about this tomorrow evening.</p>
<p>As always, thank you.</p>
<p>Carolyn</p>
<p><font size="2">Carolyn Britt, AICP</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Community Investment Associates</font></p>
<p><font size="2">PO Box 235</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Ipswich, MA 01938</font></p>
<p><font size="2">978-356-2164</font><br>
</p>
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