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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Hi Mariah!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">I’m sorry that the misinformation and personal attacks are happening to you/your team/your community. That’s both disconcerting and frustrating at the same
time (not to mention contributing to burnout, as you described). I’m happy to read, though, that you have found some places of support within the community and the Town’s officials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">I’m a planner by training but I’m currently the Community Engagement Manager at MAPC (so, not working at a municipality or really as a
<i>planner </i>per se). Erving isn’t technically in our region but I would be more than happy to chat with you about community engagement techniques/tools to deal with what you’re experiencing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">With regard to burnout, I have personally found, like what Elijah and CJ said, that I need engage in something not-at-all work related to turn off my work brain.
Sometimes I have to do this in the middle of the day to help recenter myself (but I also do this after work too). For me this involves cooking, going to the gym, watching tiktok (lol! Great for turning your brain off tbh), watching my fav tv shows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">I also love Tim’s suggestion about finding things you can accomplish without PB or TM approval and Andrea’s note about public servant vs. public professional.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="578" height="219" style="width:6.0208in;height:2.2812in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D82FBF.DA75C580"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:teal">Check out our
</span></b><a href="https://www.mapc.org/our-work/services-for-cities-towns/community-engagement/"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:teal">Community Engagement Department</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:teal">
Website!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mapc/jobs/3376263/community-engagement-specialist?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs" title="https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mapc/jobs/3376263/community-engagement-specialist?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#CA1E52">Join
the team! We’re hiring Community Engagement Specialists!</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#CA1E52"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Tim Czerwienski via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 4, 2022 11:35 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Mariah Kurtz <mariah.kurtz@erving-ma.gov>; Massachusetts Planners <massplanners@masscptc.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] Planner Burnout<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The both good and bad news, Mariah, is that I don’t think you’re alone. I saw a lot of my own experience in your message. Everyone all over has been having a tough time during the pandemic. It’s hard, but it’s important to extend to yourself
some grace and patience. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two bits of advice I would give are to try to fit into your workflow some projects or initiatives that you and your department can accomplish independently of a Planning Board or a Town Meeting vote. It sounds like you’ve got a good plan
to chase after some grant funding. Winning some of those will help you make tangible progress toward your planning goals, and will serve as small wins that you can be proud of.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, you need to be an advocate for yourself and your time. It sounds like you’re serious about doing a good job, and that’s great, but you need to look out for yourself and make sure you’ve got time away from the job to live your life.
This is where it’s good to lean on your supporters on the Select and Planning Boards.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Good luck out there!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif;color:#538135">Tim Czerwienski, AICP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif">Director of Planning & Community Development<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif">Town of Milton
<b><span style="color:#538135">|</span></b> 525 Canton Avenue | Milton, Mass. 02186
<b><span style="color:#538135">|</span></b> 617-898-4847<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mariah Kurtz via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 4, 2022 10:17 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Massachusetts Planners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Massplanners] Planner Burnout<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">[External Email- Use Caution] <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Happy Friday y'all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This is a much less technical question than most here, but it's what our little Town is struggling with at this moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">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?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">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?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Mariah Kurtz (she/her)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Assistant Town<i> </i>
Planner</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Town
<i>of</i> Erving</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color:black">12 East Main Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color:black">Erving, Massachusetts 01344<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color:black">Phone: (413) 422-2800 ext. 1108 | Online: </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.erving-2Dma.gov_&d=DwMFAw&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=EaWBFhlgouCM-eqEWgXO8um7Dw-706JXLWQdmGem7AY&m=4xvitp3_Hc0AA5PZ4lOsVzRj78IvrTOhPJKvKd8IW1g&s=JqPJ_nftl26PDYlp54OuicpOv4PvP7hEBOiHY1h9Le0&e=">www.Erving-Ma.gov</a><span style="color:black">
| Facebook: </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.facebook.com_townoferving&d=DwMFAw&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=EaWBFhlgouCM-eqEWgXO8um7Dw-706JXLWQdmGem7AY&m=4xvitp3_Hc0AA5PZ4lOsVzRj78IvrTOhPJKvKd8IW1g&s=0-wsPiq5OTMDlCJIEXSltsnhFmy8ahjibWXWkHxQmmk&e=">Town
of Erving</a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.
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Please be advised that the Massachusetts Secretary of State considers e-mail to be a public record, and therefore subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66 § 10.
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