The Plaustow Planning Board on Aug. 6 discussed formalizing a relationship with the region’s RPC to assist with master-plan updates, legislative-change summaries and ad-hoc planning work. Planning staff and board members said RPC has offered a resource guide and suggested draft language tied to recent legislative activity, and that the board should use RPC expertise to move the town’s master-plan update forward.

Board members requested that Bill Coy (a planning board member) help coordinate with the town manager and RPC Director Roche to define expected services, scheduling and contractual terms. The board expects the RPC to provide a mix of hourly/ad-hoc support and specific deliverables such as master-plan editing, a legislative-change resource guide and limited technical assistance on applications when needed.

Participants said they would reserve flexibility on meeting scheduling to accommodate RPC staff availability and indicated that master-plan work — including survey and housing chapters — is a likely early area of RPC assistance. The board discussed a draft agreement that town managers and RPC staff are reviewing; members said any service agreement would be brought to the town manager and, if needed, returned for formal signing by the town.

No contract was executed at the Aug. 6 meeting. The board directed planning staff and Bill Coy to pursue next steps and to circulate the proposed agreement and scope-of-work once RPC and town administration finalize terms.