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Buckfield board and committee openings prompt call for volunteers; planning board shortage highlighted
Summary
Town staff reported large numbers of upcoming expirations and vacancies on town boards and committees, and urged residents to apply, warning the planning board is at risk of lapsing without new members.
Town staff and Select Board members on June 25 reviewed an updated list of board and committee openings and urged residents to apply, saying several bodies face imminent vacancies that could affect municipal functions.
The town manager said multiple committee terms expire at the end of the month, leaving key boards with few or no members. She identified several bodies with current or impending vacancies: Appeals Board (one current member, four open seats), Beautification Committee (four open seats), Budget Committee (five open seats), Planning Board (current members’ terms expiring at month’s end and the alternate seat vacant), Ordinance Development Committee (zero members, five open seats), Social Services Committee (zero members, seven openings) and others. Staff emphasized that the planning board’s absence would hinder processing of subdivision applications and appeals; the planning board was reestablished by ordinance and therefore must exist for the town to perform planning duties.
Select Board members said they will promote openings and post notices on social media and in the packet. The manager said the Maine Municipal Association and regional planning resources offer training and the town can fund tuition for volunteers who are willing to complete required courses.
