This week I received notices that two of our outstanding volunteers on the Alford Planning Board are finishing their terms, and the board is seeking replacements for these positions…
First, I received the following message from Billie Best:
Dear Alford friends,
I am at the end of my third three-year term on the Planning Board in Alford, and I am not running for re-election in May. I am letting you know now to give someone new the time to announce their candidacy, and perhaps attend two or three Planning Board meetings before town elections. It has been my honor to serve the community, a great learning experience, and an opportunity to shape the future of our lovely town.
Thank you for your support.
Billie Best
The second message that I received was from Carl Stewart:
I too am completing my last term on the Planning Board. This will be my 20th year and I’ve been Chair for the past 8. I have loved my time on the Board but it is time for me to allow some new blood to step in. At our last meeting, we elected Larry Gadd as the new Chair and I know that he will do a superb job. Larry is committed to the Alford community and he brings a thoughtful and intelligent approach to the position. But, the Town will sorely miss Billie’s passion and common sense approach to the diverse zoning issues addressed by the Board and the challenges that lie ahead.
As some of you know, this past summer I replaced the wonderful Linda Silvestri, who retired from the SBRSD School Committee. I love the work and although Alford does not have many students in the Southern Berkshire system, the quality of the education provided by our public schools has a profound effect on all of us. I plan, in the very near future, to have a posting on the Town’s Website to discuss some of the issues that we will be asked to decide at Town Meeting, which as I look out at the white landscape seems light years away but is only just around the corner.
As a last thought, I also urge you to seriously consider running for 1 of the 2 opening positions on the Planning Board. There is no financial reward but there are opportunities to shape the future of reasonable and responsible development in our lovely and unique town.
Warm regards,
Carl Stewart