So no one is politicizing the planning process, particularly a select
board member. The first duty assigned a planning commission in Title 24
of the Vermont Statutes is to prepare a plan and amendments thereof for
consideration by the select board (emphasis added). To use a business
analogy, the select board is the client, the planning commission is the
contractor. If the client has questions about the work, it only makes
sense for the client to raise them, the sooner the better.
Some clients do micro-manage; it's a hazard of being in the service
business. Sometimes it costs more. Sometime it saves time, money and
aggravation. But at least you know the client is participating in the
process. Many voters expressed their discontent with the Waitsfield
planning process this March to current members of the select board.
These members are taking a proactive position by getting involved in
the process. It would be a dereliction of the duty assigned them by
statute. "The selectmen shall have the general supervision of the
affairs of the town..." 24 VSA §872.
If the select board were to take your advice, I could envision the
editorial headline 18 months from now when the select board votes down
the planning commission's new/amended plan. Where has the select board
been?
Mark Grosby
Waitsfield
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