Planning board asks selectmen to budget consultant town planner if vacancy persists

The Lakeville planning board asked selectmen and finance committee members on April 10 to include a budget line to hire former town planner Nancy Darcy as a consultant if the town planner position remains vacant when the FY26 budget takes effect.

Michelle McEachern, chair of the planning board, said the board wants to avoid a gap in staffing as development activity in town continues. McEachern told the meeting the planning board discussed bringing Darcy on in a contract, month-to-month or per-project arrangement until a permanent planner is hired.

Town staff said a consultant could be paid either as a vendor (contract) or via payroll depending on the hiring outcome, and that the planning budget could be reallocated to create a consultant expense line while keeping the overall dollar figure intact. Town staff reminded the board that procurement rules apply: the meeting recorded that contracts above $10,000 would require competitive bidding; town staff suggested first seeking hourly or per-project proposals that would remain within the monthly allocation if possible.

Planning board and finance committee members discussed procurement and contracting options. The town accountant and town administrator said a short-term contractor model has precedent (the town has previously contracted for a town accountant position) and that a consultant could be paid from expense lines until a permanent hire is made and a budget transfer is completed.

Planning board representatives said they will bring a formal proposal to the selectmen for review; staff said they would draft contract language and procurement guidance to ensure compliance with Massachusetts procurement rules.

Why it matters: The planning board cited a rising volume of development applications and the need for continuity on reviews and permit processing. Officials said a consultant could help maintain timeliness on project reviews and avoid delaying applications if the town planner position remains unfilled when FY26 begins.