We want to correct an error in Matthew Cook’s Dec. 14 story about the chair of the Planning Board resigning. In the article you cite two sources that say the Finance Committee “blew out” Michelle Catalina’s request for a planner and imply that this may have had something to do with her resigning.
In fact, the Finance Committee has not made any budget decisions to date and has not made any decision regarding funding for the proposed planner position. We continue to evaluate all department requests for additional hours and staffing as to need and available funding. As part of that process, at our Dec. 5 meeting we requested additional information from the Planning Board on potential cost offsets associated with hiring a town planner and suggested exploring alternative funding sources that did not involve annual operating funds.
We remain fully engaged in assessing the request for a town planner and look forward to continuing to work with the Planning Board on this initiative.
Alice von Loesecke
Chair, Finance Committee
