Planning board asks selectmen to budget consultant town planner if vacancy persists
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Summary
The Lakeville planning board asked the finance committee and selectmen to include a consultant line in the FY26 budget to retain former town planner Nancy Darcy as a short-term consultant if the new town planner is not hired before the budget goes into effect.
The Lakeville planning board asked selectmen and finance committee members on April 10 to include a budget line to hire former town planner Nancy Darcy as a consultant if the town planner position remains vacant when the FY26 budget takes effect.
Michelle McEachern, chair of the planning board, said the board wants to avoid a gap in staffing as development activity in town continues. McEachern told the meeting the planning board discussed bringing Darcy on in a contract, month-to-month or per-project arrangement until a permanent planner is hired.
Town staff said a consultant could be paid either as a vendor (contract) or via payroll depending on the hiring outcome, and that the planning budget could be reallocated to create a consultant expense line while keeping the overall dollar figure intact. Town staff reminded the board that procurement rules apply: the meeting recorded that contracts above $10,000 would require competitive bidding; town staff suggested first seeking hourly or per-project proposals that would remain within the monthly allocation if possible.
Planning board and finance committee members discussed procurement and contracting options. The town accountant and town administrator said a short-term contractor model has precedent (the town has previously contracted for a town accountant position) and that a consultant could be paid from expense lines until a permanent hire is made and a budget transfer is completed.
Planning board representatives said they will bring a formal proposal to the selectmen for review; staff said they would draft contract language and procurement guidance to ensure compliance with Massachusetts procurement rules.
Why it matters: The planning board cited a rising volume of development applications and the need for continuity on reviews and permit processing. Officials said a consultant could help maintain timeliness on project reviews and avoid delaying applications if the town planner position remains unfilled when FY26 begins.