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Board establishes preliminary comprehensive-plan committee, clarifies advisory role and appoints members
Summary
After extensive debate over which board should ‘prepare’ the town’s comprehensive plan, Hillsdale appointed a preliminary committee to advise the town board, removed ambiguous language implying planning-board control, and added the town clerk as a voting member for the preliminary phase.
Following a lengthy discussion about state statute and best practice, the Hillsdale Town Board established a preliminary comprehensive-plan committee to advise the town board and help select a consultant to draft the full plan.
Much of the discussion centered on which body should be the formal "preparer" under state law — the town board, the planning board, or a separate comprehensive-planning board. One board member urged clarity: "We have to make a decision, and it has to be made clear who is the preparer," while others argued the consultant should help define the approach. The board struck an ambiguous whereas from the resolution, clarified that the committee will operate in an advisory capacity to the town board, and appointed named members and liaisons (Frank Upham was named; liaisons identified as Jamie and Nico).
The board also debated whether the town clerk should be a voting member of the preliminary committee; after discussion the motion to include the clerk as a voting member passed unanimously. Members emphasized that final consultant selection and any formal adoption of a plan will remain the town board’s responsibility.
