Burlington Seeks Interim Planning Board Member Applicants

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington's Selectmen and Planning Board are looking for applicants to fill the vacancy on the Planning Board, they announced Tuesday. The vacancy was opened by board member John Kelly's abrupt resignation at the end of a meeting last month. The interim member will serve until the town election in April, 2020.

Applications are due Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m. A subcommittee will review the candidates, and final candidates will be interviewed at a joint meeting of the Selectmen and Planning Board, on Oct. 28, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. The planning board meets the first and third Thursday of each month, at 7 p.m.

The press release reads: "The work of the Planning Board involves technical and legal processes to guide in the use of land and design of the Town to ensure the orderly, long-range development and fiscal stability of the community and work in conjunction with the Massachusetts General Laws and the Town’s General and Zoning Bylaws. The Planning Board reviews for recommendation zoning amendments to Town Meeting as well as Site Plans, Special Permits, etc. for site developments, subdivisions, re-developments or improvements. The Planning Board is in the process of finalizing the Comprehensive Master Plan."

Kelly resigned at the end of the Sept. 19 meeting in response to the Herb Chambers lawsuit, which he said sidelined the planning board.

I "cannot, in good conscience be part of this deliberate marginalization, diminishment and undermining of one of the most professional and hardest working departments in town," Kelly said. "Consequently...I have decided this is my last Planning Board meeting."

The planning board application asks prospective members six questions:

"1. Why are you seeking appointment to the Planning Board?

2. Tell us about your education and professional background, focusing on the aspects that you feel would be beneficial for the Planning Board.

3. How familiar are you with the work of the Planning Board?

4. The Planning Board meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, beginning at 7:00pm. Are you generally able to attend meetings on these evenings? Do you have any time constraints if a meeting should become lengthy?

5. The Planning Board works for all residents of the Town and strives for fair and balanced decisions. Describe your decision making process?

6. This appointment is to fill the vacant Planning Board seat until the annual election in April 2020. Are you interested in running for the position? Have you ever been involved in a campaign?"