McGuigan Elected to Vacant Planning Board Seat

The Board of Selectmen and Planning Board last night chose Ann McGuigan to finish out Richard McClure’s term on the Planning Board. in October after serving six months of his three-year term.

Selectmen and the Planning Board took a roll-call vote to fill the vacancy, as required by the town’s charter.  Three people had applied for McClure’s seat: former Planning Board Member Ann McGuigan, Planning Board alternate Nancy Araway, and newcomer Christopher Rose.

“I believe we all have a responsibility to give back for things we receive,” Araway told selectmen and Planning Board members. “I bring a balance of skills to the table including over eight months as alternate. I bring more useful skills than I ever expected … (including) organizational change management skills and a concern for public safety.”

McGuigan said her previous experience on the board will be helpful on moving projects forward.

“I think I have a proven track record of speaking my mind, cutting to the chase, identifying problematic areas and working to good resolutions with usually a consensus of board, though sometimes not,” she said.

Rose said he would bring an unbiased view to the Planning Board.

“We moved here for raising my son and my wife and I feel it’s important to be involved in community,” he said. “I’m a novice at planning and zoning, my background is computer software, not engineering. What I bring to table is an unbiased opinion not jaded by local politics, not jaded by the even slight impropriety of anything…no long history here no one to sway me.”

Eight voted in favor of McGuigan and three voted in favor of Planning Board Araway. Rose had not received any nominations.

McGuigan will serve on the Planning Board until the town’s election on April 3, 2012. A candidate will then be chosen to serve the rest of McClure’s term, which expires in 2014.