The Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) signaled its support Friday for a restructured successor body that would report to both the Planning Board and the Select Board, setting the stage for a potential jurisdictional dispute at the upcoming Town Meeting. Following a push from the town’s Warrant Committee to broaden the oversight of the proposed permanent committee, MPIC members voted 4-1 to back the amended article despite vocal hesitation from the Planning Board regarding its development.

Chair Cheryl explained that while the original proposal focused on the Planning Board, the Warrant Committee recommended a significant change to Article 3. The Warrant Committee acted on the charge number three, Cheryl said. Their recommendation is not just to say 'to the planning board,' but to insert 'to the planning board and select board.' This new body is intended to focus on critical long-term town goals, including climate change, sustainability, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

The shift in reporting structure has caused friction with other town leaders. Cheryl noted that during a recent Planning Board meeting, members expressed concerns about being excluded from the drafting process, with some suggesting the article be sent back for further study. Dick, the lone dissenting vote on the initial motion, expressed worry about the lack of consensus between the various bodies. This is getting squirly, Dick said. To have the Planning Board opposing this article in contradiction to the Warrant Committee is just another mess. I'd hate to have a free-for-all at Town Meeting.

Other members were more optimistic about the collaborative efforts and the need to move forward now rather than waiting until the spring. Elaine stated, I fully support what the Warrant Committee has recommended. I think that makes a lot of sense. She added that she remains very confident in the collaborative work our committee has done and saw no reason to delay. Nick Taber, joining the meeting by phone, also stood by the update. I support the Warrant Committee's recommendation and not the Planning Board's position on going back to May, Taber said. Motion Made by E. Member to support the Warrant Committee's recommendation to include both the Planning Board and Select Board in the committee charge. Motion Passed (4-1)

Recognizing the risk that Town Meeting might reject the successor committee entirely due to the lack of inter-board agreement, the committee established a fallback position. Dick requested a secondary recommendation to extend the current MPIC’s term until May 2026 if the primary article fails. If people turn down the first offer, could we vote to go until May as a secondary option? Dick asked. While Elaine expressed doubt that a delay would accomplish more, the committee ultimately agreed the safeguard was necessary to prevent the work from dissolving. Motion Made by D. Member to extend the committee's term until May 2026 if the primary recommendation is not acceptable at Town Meeting. Motion Passed (4-1)

Town staff member Nick clarified the procedural reality facing the town, noting that the article is already fixed on the warrant. The warrant article is on the warrant. The only way to pull it off is for Town Meeting to dispense with the article one way or another, he explained. Cheryl concluded the discussion by noting that the committee felt it had finished its assigned work and was prepared to defend its recommendation to the town, regardless of the Planning Board's concerns.