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<p class="MsoNormal">The first Planning Director I ever worked for also said “There’s no such thing as a Planning emergency.” He said this particularly when the county council wanted him to show up Now!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Imaikalani Aiu<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Town Planner<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Town of Weston<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">781-786-5065<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.weston.org/TownPlanner"><span style="color:blue">www.weston.org/TownPlanner</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sarah Scott via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 31, 2022 6:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> massplanners@masscptc.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] Planner Burnout<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">This email has been sitting in my inbox for a while, but after commiserating with a coworker about feeling burned out, they encouraged me to read it. I really appreciate folks' supportive responses and thoughtful advice. It's always helpful
to know that you're not alone.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In addition to agreeing with a lot of what Mariah pulled out in her summary, I have a slightly different take. A coworker recently shared with me this idea of
<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.whitesupremacyculture.info%2fcharacteristics.html&c=E,1,7Z0sL2rkCsWfSOkEzx_m0TaxW_2lfsFRryNaMWss7nuA9KJAwrC0mAU1DfI0Fkr8NBjgordlgQAu7b8O-Lp7mVLZTidxFyEtOUDcYSyWmvNDWDPVIYaysdC2dyYc&typo=1">
the characteristics of white supremacy culture</a>. I find that many of the characteristics are generally encouraged by the planning profession as a whole and by planners as individuals. They're also imposed on us by elected officials, who seem to always
want more from us.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">One of the characteristics is <a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.whitesupremacyculture.info%2furgency.html&c=E,1,7mtzZ71xr5saRrAxh3ANGgKxcNwkzxV63DjNbHcYNif1x8o3xM0wzP85S1vfEVBLCajVpYi56jO3Z6IMoOZUDs4dRuNoG5EKc3VuJLRg1SnfGnHYeu787g,,&typo=1">
a sense of urgency</a>. The author notes that this cultural habit perpetuates power imbalances, disconnects us from ourselves, and makes it difficult to take a truly equitable, inclusive, democratic approach to our work. Of particular relevance to this email
thread, the author writes, "A constant sense of urgency...makes it harder for us to distinguish what is really urgent from what feels urgent; after a while everything takes on the same sense of urgency, leading to mental, physical, intellectual, and spiritual
burnout and exhaustion." Yes, walks and sunshine and water can help us cope, but if we uphold this culture and its values, we'll continue feeling burned out.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Whenever someone in my office was in a tizzy about responding to a council order or getting a memo ready for the Planning Board, a former coworker of mine used to stare us straight in the eye and say plainly, "There are no emergencies in
zoning." Yes, there are legal deadlines for notices and Planning Board starts at 6:30 p.m., but they're not emergencies and we shouldn't treat them as such. By doing so, we do ourselves and the communities that we serve an injustice because we take energy
(and money and time and other resources) away from those issues that are truly urgent.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I'm so glad that this many people (especially Mariah!) took the time to notice their burnout and reflect on its impacts. I hope that we, as individuals and as a profession, continue to find ways to mitigate this sense of urgency by noticing
it, questioning it, and talking about it. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sarah<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">(Cambridge, MA planner)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Mon, Mar 7, 2022 at 1:00 PM roberta cameron via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">What an exemplary plannerly response to the concern: <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">1) Identify the problem <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">2) Collect stakeholder input <o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">3) Tailor a strategy to the specific context at hand <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">4) Synthesize the result of your input-gathering and application, and report back. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There's a reason some of us just fall into this lifestyle, whether by intention, or because it's just the way we roll.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Roberta Cameron, AICP</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Community Preservation Act Manager</span></i><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">City of Somerville</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><a href="mailto:lmorton@somervillema.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif">rcameron@somervillema.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#222222;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">•</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> 617-791-7283</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Mon, Mar 7, 2022 at 11:28 AM Mariah Kurtz via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">I have so much gratitude to everyone who reached out - phone calls, emails, and a kind local colleague who took me out to lunch on Friday.
I went into our Special Town Meeting feeling much more confident and less stressed out than I would have without all of the kind words. I had two zoning amendments being proposed - one which would create a Planned Unit Development overlay district and one
which would update the zoning map with district boundary adjustments. After a long discussion, the PUD lost the 2/3 vote required by 1 vote. But the map was approved unanimously and no one cussed me out, so I'll take the win.</span><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"><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">It's clear from the deluge of responses I received that most, if not all, planners struggle with feeling overworked and underappreciated. In some ways that's
comforting (I'm not alone!) and in other ways that's disconcerting for our profession. I hope that we're all able to take care of ourselves, but I also wonder what changes or support we need to advocate for to keep our work sustainable.<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've tried to condense the advice I got from folks for you all to consider as well:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Take care of your basic needs: get enough sleep, drink water, eat well<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Take breaks and go outside. We need sunshine and fresh air.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Create flexibility in your schedule. If you have night meetings, don't come in at your usual time. Communicate your schedule clearly to your non-night meeting coworkers who may not understand why you're coming in
"late"<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Say no to things and take things off of your plate rather than just trying to constantly be more efficient with an ever-growing pile of work.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Connect with other planners more casually, without a constant webinar or meeting. Get lunch, have a call just to catch up.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Remember that our force of good in our communities is not dependent on one project. The overall effect is still good.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Remember that the Town will still be ok even without one particular initiative or project. Life goes on and it will be ok.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Remember that there is always more to do than we can do. Pace yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Remember that you are not a public servant, but a public professional<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Find the little wins and celebrate them.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Connect with people in your community outside of contentious topics or long public hearings.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Spend a bit of time after a meeting to take notes, finish paperwork, or otherwise prepare yourself for an easier day tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Have an activity or routine to do right after work to switch yourself out of work mode. A walk around the block, preparing a snack, a 5 minute meditation, hang out with a pet, etc. Pay attention to your achievements
outside of work too.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Don't put Town email on your phone, or if you do, at least turn off the notifications<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Leave your job if you need to for your sanity. Your whole life shouldn't be your work and if folks in your Town are expecting that of you, move on to a new Town.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">It's ok to get frustrated, but don't dwell on it. Feel it and let it pass, then keep moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Build your group of allies and your network and ask for support when you need it<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Advocate for your ability to work flexible hours and work from home.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">And lastly, a tip from me which I tested out this weekend and now comes highly recommended: schedule a massage for after town meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">So many of you reached out and I'd love to connect with you all but it's going to take me a while to sift through emails. Be well and take care of yourselves. <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;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 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><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 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><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 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black">12 East Main Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black">Erving, Massachusetts 01344<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black">Phone: (413) 422-2800 ext. 1108 | Online:
<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.erving-ma.gov%2f&c=E,1,FJ99pRocvvdivK-WDOjFXPqr1U8tXyn8BZSuRUP0x-Eyj4NfsRxSN3xt37qvOVyzdlDI-qbR5c6tv7F6kkCMlWjv6iYjoPWrU_Vyyg4J3_r1fHhQuXQ,&typo=1" target="_blank">
www.Erving-Ma.gov</a> | Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/townoferving" target="_blank">
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"><b><span style="color:black">From:</span></b><span style="color:black"> MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>> on behalf of Mariah Kurtz via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 4, 2022 10:17 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Massachusetts Planners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [EXTERNAL][Massplanners] Planner Burnout</span> <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" 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 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><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 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><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 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black">12 East Main Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black">Erving, Massachusetts 01344<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black">Phone: (413) 422-2800 ext. 1108 | Online:
<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.erving-ma.gov%2f&c=E,1,0t2d5whlqPUcKtB7_CmROpQdnHs6cY9fFpsUMnJQA1vEQeT4ZlLO0KIQEp-XCxY-xyOks_l8oRFUgGZW7Tb1OJ8E9RX0RI3kj9Nfl6wozkS96-v_akgxr1jXeQ,,&typo=1" target="_blank">
www.Erving-Ma.gov</a> | Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/townoferving" target="_blank">
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
are strictly prohibited from printing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or otherwise using this communication.
</span><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.
§§ 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. 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>
</div>
<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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