I don’t know why I just can’t get “hot and bothered” by Mayor John Moak’s upcoming appointment of a Planning Director for Newburyport, MA.

Ulrika Gerth wrote a fantastic article in the Newburyport Current in Friday’s issue, July 14, 2006. I think one of the most discouraging quotes in the article is from Doug Locy, the Chair of the Newburyport Planning Board, “If the mayor is fair and open and we’re part of the decision process, that’s fine. We won’t know until afterwards.”

I hate to keep feeling so discouraged and cynical about our mayor and the new Planning Director for Newburyport, who, I take it, will be named by August 1, 2006, according to today’s Newburyport Daily News.

I was enormously relieved to see that Doug Locy, Ed Ramsdell, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Geordie Vining of the Planning Office (I couldn’t figure out if Julie Labranche was on there or not), all people I absolutely trust, are on the search committee.

However, my fear is that Mayor John Moak would not heed what I am sure would be their very astute and valuable recommendations, and might listen instead to different ears.

And as Doug Locy has said we just won’t know until after the decision is made.

However, the decision does have to be approved by the Newburyport City Council. The Newburyport City Council in the past has turned down other Planning Directors that they thought might not be appropriate.

I trust that this Newburyport City Council will be very much on top of this appointment since it is an appointment that so many of Newburyport’s citizens care so much about.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport