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Except that substantively engaging the Board pre-hearing can make it look like the Board is a partner on the project, and the public/abutters feel like "the fix is in"</div>
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<div style="text-align: left; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><b><i>Jay Vinskey, AICP, RLA</i></b></span><span style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org> on behalf of John Cruz via MassPlanners <massplanners@masscptc.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 13, 2025 12:12 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Richard Harris <rhplanner01075@gmail.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Mass Planners <massplanners@masscptc.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [EXTERNAL]Re: [Massplanners] Private conversations with an applicant?</font>
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<div dir="ltr">I agree with Richard entirely.
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<div>Based on my municipal experience, whoever staffs the board should be the intermediary to have offline discussions with a member of the public outside of public hearings. Board members meeting with someone on an issue outside of these public talks, regardless
of the legality, is not a good look. I'm also a fan of work sessions that are outside of the standard board meetings before the public hearing process begins, either with or without the petitioner, to hear a board's concerns with a development to hopefully
get ahead of any issues that can bog down a public hearing.
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<div>-John</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="x_gmail_attr">On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 11:59 AM Richard Harris via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div>I recognize that individual board members will engage in discussions with applicants and members of the public outside of public hearings - I don't think that is good or sound practice. It calls into question whether Board members are making decisions
based on the public record or information they have privately received. As an alternative, I have engaged in such discussions and relayed to the full board the details and new information arising from that discussion in the public hearing - usually with written
materials I have posted on a website. </div>
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<div>If an applicant wants to explain aspects of a project to a few members, they should do so to all the members and the public. Similarly, if board members have need for clarification regarding a project, they need to do so in the public hearing where everyone
can hear the question and the response.</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Thank you
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<div>Richard Harris, AICP</div>
<div>PDR, LLC</div>
<div>Planning Consultant</div>
<div>413-335-5012</div>
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<div dir="ltr" class="x_gmail_attr">On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 11:24 AM Douglas Finn via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<br>
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<div>To all - <br>
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I need some reinforcement for my assumptions:</div>
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<div>I have a board member who is proposing a one-on-one conversation with an applicant, in an attempt to work out differences as to the scope of their proposal, and to try to resolve some of the more sticky details.<br>
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This is in the middle of a special permit public hearing process (that has been continued twice, and will likely be continued again.</div>
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To me, I'm afraid this could expose the adjudicative board's decision in being overturned upon appeal.<br>
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Is there case law that supports my nervous concern?</div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">Thanks,</span><br style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">
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<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">- Doug.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr">John Cruz, AICP<br>
<a href="mailto:john@cruzweb.net" target="_blank">john@cruzweb.net</a> | 314-688-6463<br>
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