West Concord Advisory Committee debates shifting charge toward public outreach and early engagement

At its March 4 meeting the West Concord Advisory Committee considered a proposal to change its charge to emphasize outreach and early public engagement in West Concord planning and development.

Chair Anna outlined the rationale, saying that West Concord is likely to receive much of the town's near-term growth and that the committee could serve as a first-stop forum for developers and departments seeking early community feedback. "My idea for a new charge would be to create a forum for public outreach primarily, and public engagement," Anna said, proposing periodic community forums, an annual calendar of events and the possibility of partnering informally with the League of Women Voters for forum slots.

Committee members broadly supported the outreach goal while cautioning that the committee should retain its existing feeder relationship with the planning board so it continues to see projects entering formal review. Members discussed practical details: using short pre-event surveys to prime discussion, posting calendars to the town site and Bridge, holding listening sessions at Harvey Wheeler and determining geographic jurisdiction (broad West Concord vs. a smaller core area with impacted adjacent neighborhoods).

Paul and other members urged gathering input from other town committees and collecting evidence that a change is needed before requesting a formal change from the select board. Paul highlighted upcoming large projects, including the prospect of a new main fire station in West Concord, as support for a broader mandate. Elizabeth, town staff, said the committee should gather community feedback and build a rationale before the select board considers any formal change.

Next steps agreed by members: Chair Anna will circulate a written draft of the proposed charge for committee feedback; members will help reach out to volunteer-card respondents and arrange for candidates to meet the committee before recommending appointees to the select board. The committee did not take a formal vote to change the charge at this meeting.