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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Very well said; thank you for weighing in!
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Offering my (very biased) opinion. If residents knew that they would be provided with appropriate training, perhaps they would feel empowered to offer their volunteer services to the Town.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Maren<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Maren A. Toohill, AICP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Town Planner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">978/540-2425<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:MToohill@littletonma.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">MToohill@littletonma.org</span></a>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Town of Littleton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Edgartown Planning Board via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 5, 2025 9:24 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Ralph Willmer <ralphwillmer.apa@gmail.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Mass Planners <massplanners@masscptc.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] Upcoming legislative hearing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;line-height:12.0pt;background:#FF9C9C"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#CC0000">Warning \u2013</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> THIS EMAIL WAS SENT
BY AN EXTERNAL SENDER</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Greetings - <br>
<br>
I for one would be interested to get some feedback from town employees about this. I'm personally of mixed feelings:
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<br>
On the one hand: It's hard to get volunteers to step-up, collect signatures, run for office, and stay committeed for a 3 to 5 year period of time. Adding the additional burden of training requirements - even if free - might be the feather to tip the scales
for some. <br>
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On the other hand, I've seen my share of really (putting it nicely) uninformed folks, who don't understand the essential responsibilities of the board. The issue isn't those who are less educated, or even folks with an axe to grind, bur rather... well, you
know the old saying: if all you have in the toolbox is a hammer, all the world looks like a nail. Attorneys will spend half the meeting arguing about the language; builders will spend half the meeting arguing about methods and materials of construction; realtors
will spend half the meeting arguing in favor of 'improved real-estate values' and so on. Having basic education in their responsibilities as a board would be at least a step towards reining this in.<br>
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- Doug.<br>
Westhampton nee Edgartown. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 6:46<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">\u202f</span>AM Ralph Willmer 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">Hello -<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to alert everyone that on June 10th, the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee will be holding a hearing at 1 pm (Room B-1 and virtual) on some legislation of interest to planners. Among the bills to be heard is H. 2299
regarding mandatory training for planning and zoning boards and H. 2300 regarding associate members to planning boards. Written testimony will be accepted until June 24th.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You can find details about the hearing and each of the bills at <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5212" target="_blank">https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5212</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ralph Willmer, FAICP<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">MA Chapter Legislative & Policy Officer<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Chair, Citizen Planner Training Collaborative<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <br>
MassPlanners mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:MassPlanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank">MassPlanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
<a href="http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org" target="_blank">http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmailsignatureprefix">-- </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Edgartown Planning Board<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">PO Box 5130<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Edgartown, MA 01027<br>
413-627-6170<o:p></o:p></p>
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