Planning Board attendance questioned
Published on May 20th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Finance Board members voiced concern, Monday night, regarding the position they traditionally assume at Town Meeting with the presentation of zoning articles.
Since zoning issues are not typically the Finance Board's area of expertise, the usual course of action on its part, with regard to such articles, is to defer to the opinion of the Planning Board. This deferment, however, according to Finance Board members, necessitates more than just minimal Planning Board attendance at Town Meeting.
Board member John Warren raised the issue since he viewed the Planning Board's representation at recent Town Meetings as "poor." One of five members represented the Planning Board on each night of Town Meeting this month.
"The last two Town Meetings may not be indicative of a trend (on the part of the Planning Board)," Warren stated, but cautioned that, if poor Planning Board representation at Town Meetings continues, voters might look to the Finance Board for direction needed to cast an informed vote on such issues.
"I'm not sure it's our responsibility to explain zoning articles," Warren stated.
Board member Kristen Russo stated that she was "flabbergasted" with the poor turnout of Planning Board members at the Special Town Meeting and, subsequently, felt that perhaps she "should not have deferred" the educational zone article that the Planning Board had voted indefinite postponement on. The one member in attendance should have had support from other board members who took that position on the volatile issue, she explained.
Warren called attendance at Town Meeting a "minimum expectation" on the part of those serving on town committees, particularly, those who have involvement in the articles being presented.
"I would like to see the Finance Board provide some clarity regarding expectations of town boards," stated Warren.
While agreeing with what he termed as the Planning Board's "disgraceful performance," committee member David O'Rourke stated that he did not consider it a responsibility of the Finance Board to "tell elected officials how to behave." Rather, O'Rourke called it a "citizen issue" that the Board of Selectmen might be in a better position to address.
Committee members suggested that a letter be sent on behalf of the Finance Board as well as the Board of Selectmen bringing their concerns to the Planning Board's attention. Russo volunteered to meet with Selectmen Chairman Albert Conti about such correspondence and asked that he subsequently report back to the board.
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