The following is an editorial in the Newburyport Current, Friday, August 11, 2006

“The city lost a top-notch employee last week. City Planner Julie LaBranche announced that she will, only a year into the job, leave in early September for a position on the Strafford Regional Planning Commission.

The official reason: LaBranche wanted to grow professionally.

Unfortunately, there also appear to be far more serious reasons behind her resignation. LaBranche spoke this week of not being invited to meetings between Mayor John Moak and developers, fundamental disagreements with the building commissioner, and the administration’s apparent lack of trust in her expertise.

Several members of the Planning Board – some who normally do not openly criticize the mayor – called the atmosphere “abusive” and “hostile.”

 LaBranche was hired last summer and quickly gained the respect of boards and commission members who now describe her technical assistance and expertise in land use laws and low-impact development as invaluable. The city, they said, struck gold when she was hired a year ago.

LaBranche’s resignation shows the complete disconnect between the mayor and the planning office. Moak has, of course, every right to meet with whoever he wants, but to let some developers use the mayor’s office as their Wailing Wall shows a lack of respect for the city planner. Ever since Moak decided to replace former Planning Director Nick Cracknell, it has been clear that the mayor does not whole-heartedly support goals in the master plan such as design review.

It is, thus, no surprise that in Moak’s City Hall there is no room for LaBranche, who embraced the same document with its emphasis on Smart Growth and historic preservation.

The question is, and has been for nearly eight months: What is Moak’s vision for the city of Newburyport?

Now, when he is preparing to hire a new city planner with his appointee for planning director, Chris Ryan, he needs to get specific about long-term goals, beyond customer service and solid management. City planning is, needless to say, more than shuffling papers.

Poor decisions and development at any price can destroy a historic city like Newburyport. If the mayor does not realize it, let’s hope the new planning director does.

And to the detriment of Newburyport, LaBranche will have no say in it.”