Last nights Planning Board was for the most part all discussion of the Capital Improvement Plan. Although the Planning Board Chairman was contacted by the Town Council Chairman and urged the board to allow public comment during the workshop the Chair chose to ‘Not solicit public input, unless someone really wants to say something’ other members of the board expressed that public input should not be allowed until a future public hearing. The Chair finally allowed ‘minimal public comment’ but required resident present to wait until the end of the meeting.
Shouldn’t resident who are taxed to support the decisions and plans dictated by the Planning Board be allowed a voice? Several members of the board appear to have the attitude that they alone should decide what the final plan will be. In many cases the Planning Board spends months formulating new policy, but the public is only allowed a voice IF a Public Hearing is required by law.
The Planning Board should represent the residents of Londonderry. If public comment is not allowed, how do they know what residents want?