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Candidates propose quarterly coordination among Selectmen, Planning and Zoning to reduce confusion and improve enforcement
Summary
Forum participants and candidates suggested regular joint meetings, attorney-led training and clearer public materials to improve the working relationship among Loudon’s selectmen, planning board and zoning board, and to resolve role confusion and enforcement questions.
Residents and candidates at the Loudon forum identified better interboard coordination — among the selectmen, planning board and zoning board — as a priority to reduce confusion about responsibilities and enforcement.
Several speakers recommended establishing a regular, shared meeting cadence so leaders can clarify roles, flag overlapping projects and bring in the town attorney for guidance. “I would encourage that maybe it would be mandatory that there was, you know, maybe select[men], planning and zoning meet once a month for an hour or two,” said a resident (Dwayne Gilman). A number of candidates suggested quarterly meetings and periodic attorney briefings instead of an onerous monthly requirement.
Why it matters: Speakers said unclear lines of responsibility cause residents to get conflicting answers from different boards and that occasional joint meetings with legal counsel previously helped clarify enforcement duties. The zoning ordinance was cited specifically as placing enforcement responsibility with the selectmen or their designee.
Discussion highlights
- Past joint meetings: Several forum participants recalled previous multi-board sessions, sometimes with the town attorney present, that helped clarify which board carries enforcement obligations and which handles discretionary approvals.
- Ex officio roles and open-meeting considerations: Voters asked whether selectmen should have an ex officio representative on the zoning board as they do for the planning board; candidates explained that zoning boards act in a quasi-judicial capacity and state law constrains how executive-branch members can participate in quasi-judicial proceedings. All three bodies are public meetings and candidates said elected members can attend meetings as the public.
- Education and transparency: Candidates proposed educational sessions for board members, streaming or posting meeting minutes online, and making it easier for the public to find agendas and related documents.
Ending
Several candidates and residents urged more regular coordination and clearer public materials, and recommended the town consider attorney-led trainings and regular interboard check-ins to reduce friction before it escalates to litigation or confusion at permit time.
