New member and new chair
After welcoming new member Joe Hutchinson, the Planning Board elected Michelle Catalina chair to replace Kara McGuire Minar, who had decided not to seek a third term. Peter Brooks was elected vice-chairman. The board appointed land-use administrator Liz Allard clerk.
Phase II begins
With the go-ahead from Town Meeting on Phase II of the Master Plan, the board briefly discussed where to begin.
“I’d like Joe [Hutchinson] to lead the next year-and-a-half of our lives,” Catalina said. Hutchinson, who chaired the Phase I Master Plan Steering Committee, assented.
“One of the reasons Phase I was so successful was how the steering committee was set up. It involved participation from all boards and committees,” said Master Plan Steering Committee member Jim Breslauer, who recommended it continue the practice. The board agreed.
Rich Marcello suggested the steering committee members begin by brainstorming which questions they want answered. The board is anticipating that the Devens Economic Advisory Team will lend its economic focus to the town’s effort to better understand Devens. Master Plan subcommittees will take on education, transportation, and other issues relevant to assessing a merger with or a divergence from Devens.
Although getting a perspective on Devens is the primary task, the rest of the Master Plan and its state-mandated elements will still need to be completed.
“Devens is only Part I of Phase II,” said Catalina.
