Town of West Boylston, MA

The Town-wide Planning Committee shall encourage, assist and review long and short term planning efforts by boards, committees and officials of the Town and incorporate these plans into a comprehensive Town-wide plan.

The Town-wide plan shall be presented to the Town meeting for approval by the voters. The comprehensive Town-wide plan shall be reviewed and updated at least every five years.

The comprehensive Town-wide plan shall include the capital needs of the Town with a schedule for fulfilling these needs. The Town-wide Planning Committee shall make recommendations at Town Meetings on all articles involving capital expenditures as they relate to the comprehensive Town-wide plan.

The comprehensive Town-wide plan shall also include land use, open space, economic development, facilities and any other plans necessary to fulfill the future needs of the Town and its citizens.

The membership of the Town-wide Planning Committee shall consist of thirteen (13) members, including the Town Administrator as chairperson, and twelve (12) members appointed in conformity with the provisions of Chapter 23 of the Acts of 1995 as follows:

One representative or designee from the Board of Selectmen; one representative or member of the School Committee; one representative or designee from the Planning Board; one representative or designee from the Finance Committee; and eight other voters, six of which shall not be municipal employees or officials. Effective July 1, 1998 the Town Administrator shall appoint four members to a one year term, four members to a two year term, and four members to a three year term, and upon expiration of said terms,

There is hereby established a Housing Partnership Committee, consisting of seven (7) voting members. The Housing Partnership Committee shall have a chairperson selected by a majority vote of the members. The Housing Partnership Committee may have such subcommittees and ad hoc committees as the Housing Partnership Committee may choose to create.

(a) Meetings of the Members. All meetings of the members shall be held at an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant place within the Town.

(b) Notice. The Housing Partnership Committee shall comply with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.39, §23B.

(a) The Housing Partnership Committee shall study the needs for affordable housing and recommend procedures for the development and implementation of the Town’s Affordable Housing policy. The Housing Partnership Committee shall consult with the Town Administrator and existing municipal boards, including the Board of Selectmen, Town-Wide Planning Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Open Space Committee, Conservation Commission and other boards, committees and agencies as the Housing Partnership Committee may determine.

(b)The Housing Partnership Committee shall act as the Town’s initial contact with developers of proposed affordable residential housing projects which are site-specific and for which the developer has indicated an intention to request an increase in allowed density or other variances in return for said provision of affordable housing. In this context, the Housing Partnership Committee will serve as the preliminary negotiating agency of the Town.

(c) The Housing Partnership Committee may also initiate action intended to create and endorse affordable residential housing projects. In this context the Housing Partnership Committee may work to implement a specific project consistent with the Town’s housing strategy.

A majority of the authorized membership of the Housing Partnership Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn finally or from time to time without further notice until a quorum is secured. If a quorum is present, a majority of the members present may take action on behalf of the Housing Partnership.

All members of the Housing Partnership Committee shall be residents of West Boylston. The West Boylston Town Administrator shall appoint members. Each member of the Housing Partnership Committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years, provided, however, that three (3) of the Town Administrator’s appointees shall be appointed for initial terms of three (3) years, two appointees shall be appointed for an initial term of two (2) years and two appointees shall be appointed for an initial term of one (1) year. Any member of the Housing Partnership Committee may be removed for cause.