Committee sets tight deadline for Land Use Working Group nominations; chair to collect votes

Committee Chair said three people — including two committee members and one nominee — had expressed interest in representing the committee on the Land Use Working Group and asked members to send their votes to Beth, who will tally and report back.

"I propose for each member of the committee to send their vote to Beth, and then Beth can just add them all up and send it to me," the chair said. Beth agreed to tally votes. The chair said the deadline for submitting votes is 4:00 p.m. the following day.

The committee reviewed the Land Use Working Group charge, which the chair summarized as developing recommendations for the location of new municipal facilities (public works, police, fire) and then reviewing options for individual land use sites to create a coordinated plan. A member suggested nominees submit qualifications; another member urged the committee to prioritize municipal uses, careful capital planning and expanded sewer capacity.

Linda, a staff member, described the consultants retained for the MCI project (see separate article) and said the consultants will produce scenarios and an economic feasibility component; she said the consultants are coordinating with DCAM, the state agency that owns the site.

Committee members discussed the intended composition of the Land Use Working Group (nine members plus a nonvoting finance committee liaison) and noted the term appears to expire after one year. The chair reminded members not to discuss nominations among themselves to avoid violations of the Open Meeting Law.

Beth will collect votes and forward the committee’s selection to the chair for submission to the Select Board.