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Committee agrees to consolidate duties draft for select board review
Summary
Members revised and consolidated a draft of duties and responsibilities — covering complete streets, site‑plan review, BWALK/Bi‑Paths and grant support — and voted to have staff combine edits and circulate the document ahead of a select board meeting.
The committee spent extensive time reconciling its draft duties and responsibilities with a simplified version proposed by the select board. Topics discussed included recommending complete‑streets policies, supporting Safe Routes to School, reviewing site plans and special permits for active transportation elements, monitoring MassDOT/TIP projects that affect walking and biking, and supporting BWALK/Bi‑Paths and grant applications.
Members debated process questions—whether committee comments should funnel through the select board before reaching the planning board, how to preserve the committee's ability to comment directly at public hearings, and the scheduling constraints that would create a tighter review window. Several members urged flexibility so the committee can both propose initiatives and respond to department requests.
The committee moved to have Owen consolidate the committee's comments into a single draft for discussion with the select board and to circulate that draft to committee members in advance. The motion passed on a roll call (Jean Brantfill yes; Julie yes; Ann yes; Don Byrne yes; Ellen Google yes). The consolidated document will be the committee’s working submission to the select board and may be adjusted following the committee's meeting with two select board members scheduled for the next day.
