1 Planning Board Candidate Interviewed

Plans to interview three candidates for a planning board vacancy individually Tuesday night changed after selectmen and the board learned that two of the applicants were not told of the meeting.

The boards now will interview James Alexander and R. Christopher Noonan on June 11. Alexander, of Piccadilly Way, is president and founder of the Katama Global Spirits Group Inc. in Winchester, according to his resume. Noonan, of Cross Street, is founder/president of Preservation Services Inc. in Mendon, according to his resume.

The evening went "not the way we hoped for," Selectmen Chairman Ian Johnson said.

The boards had planned to interview each candidate for 10 minutes Tuesday night, and then vote on June 11 to appoint someone, he said.

Tuesday night, the boards interviewed Edward Newton Jr., who served 16 years on the planning board. The boards alternated asking questions.

Trevor Beauregard resigned last month, ending seven years on the board.

Selectmen and the planning board will appoint someone to serve until the spring 2014 annual town election. Beauregard's five-year term expires in 2016, and the balance will be on that ballot.

Newton, of Summer Street, said he did not seek re-election when his term expired because he had retired from the postal service and "I did not know where I would be" over the next five years.

He said he would run for the remainder of Beauregard's term, if appointed this summer.

"I enjoyed my 16 years on the planning board," Newton said.