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<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>
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<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 <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org>
<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 <massplanners@masscptc.org><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"><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"><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" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><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: <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> | Facebook: <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><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">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. §§ 2510-2521. This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or believe that you have received the communication in error, you
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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.
§§ 2510-2521. This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or believe that you have received the communication in error, you are strictly prohibited from printing, copying, distributing,
disseminating, or otherwise using this communication. <o:p></o:p></p>
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