Planning Board to revise Rules of Procedure; public-hearing language softened

The Planning Board reviewed a composite draft of its Rules of Procedure on April 8 and directed staff to make several clarifying revisions before presenting the document for legal review. Town Planner Charles Wise said the composite integrates the board's June 2024 procedures and 2025 state best practices and adds clarified conflict-of-interest and recusal procedures.

The board removed adversarial wording that previously required public speakers to identify themselves as "in favor" or "in opposition," instead directing staff to allow members of the public to address questions to the board and to permit interactive public comment where appropriate. Members also reversed a recent policy change on alternate-member seating: elected members may reclaim their seats for specific applications if they attest to being current on materials; alternates will serve when elected members are absent for subsequent hearings.

Other procedural clarifications included: waivers affecting application completeness are handled during completeness review while technical standards waivers are considered at public hearings; once a hearing closes, new testimony is not accepted under quasi-judicial rules unless the board reopens the hearing by motion; quorum is four members; and group email communications must be avoided. The board asked staff to revise the document and have legal counsel review it before returning it to the board.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the March 25, 2026 minutes (Quinlan; Vigeant, 2nd) 6-0-1; it later approved adjournment (Connolly; Quinlan, 2nd) 6-0.

Next steps: staff will update the Rules of Procedure per the board's guidance and send the revised draft to legal counsel prior to the next meeting.