Town Councils and Planning Boards: A Challenging Relationship
Pamela Plumb

  • this article is currently only available by mail as part of PCJ Issue #9
    Many planning commissioners feel that the media performs poorly when covering local planning issues. Reporters and editors disagree. Elaine Cogan looks at both sides of the story in explaining why positive media relations requires special effort.

    • Read excerpts from article:

    There needs to be a way for the Council to provide collective guidance, rather than disjointed or individual points of view which might not represent the view of the whole. There needs to be a way for the Board to share with the Council the background and thought process that leads up to a recommendation for a zone change or a new ordinance. Although much of the work in small towns seems to get done around people's kitchen tables or in the aisles of the grocery store, clear and formal avenues of communication are important.

    There are some specific steps that could enhance communication:

  • A yearly workshop to review and agree on roles, to discuss common community goals, and to establish the general work agenda for the year.
  • A regular update letter or progress report from the Board to the Council and vice versa on issues of mutual interest.
  • Enough workshop time together before major issues so that recommendations can be fully understood and questions answered before the political debate.
  • Agreement on ground rules for joint meetings, public statements and informal workshops which include mutual respect.
  • Facilitated joint workshops on issues that have created or have the potential to create difficulties between the two groups.
  • Zoning and ordinance development processes that provide for community input early in the process thus reducing the likelihood of conflict. ...