<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Greetings, planners:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>I want to alert the planning community to an important planning/zoning bill now in the legislature. The deadline for getting bills out of committee with an “aught to pass” recommendation is fast approaching, so immediate action is needed from planners and planning board members.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Currently, the Attorney General’s interpretation of the state’s Zoning Act limits planning board associate members to serving only for special permits. They can’t do anything else, even count for a quorum so a meeting can take place. <b>House Bill, H3555</b> fixes that to expand associate members duties to include any function of a planning board. See the attached summary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>The bill was filed by Kristin Kassner, a former town planner and one of us. It had a hearing in October and received only favorable testimony from the planning and development communities. <b>Now it’s time to give the bill the push it needs to get out of committee.</b> Please communicate this to the two committee chairs listed below, and your own representatives and senators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Carole A. Fiola, House Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>24 Beacon St. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Room 236<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Boston, MA 02133<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Phone:(617) 722-2430<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Jacob R. Oliveira, Senate Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>24 Beacon St. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Room 416-B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Boston, MA 02133<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Phone:(617) 722-1291<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Thanks so much,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Jeff Lacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Rural Planning Associates<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>(413) 230-9693<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>