Canton Planning Board elects officers; planner proposes application form and submittal changes

The Canton Planning Board reorganized leadership and handled routine administrative business at its May 20 meeting at Memorial Hall.

The board elected David McCarthy as chair after a nomination by a member and voice vote. Patricia McDermott was nominated and confirmed to remain vice chair. Jeff Sullivan was nominated and approved as clerk. Each nomination was made from the floor, seconded and approved by voice vote during the reorganization segment.

Town staff outlined proposed changes to the Planning Board application form. Staff (the record names Connor Murphy as town planner) said the form will be updated with current letterhead and staff names, require three full‑size paper sets plus five reduced sets for board members and request one electronic copy on USB to simplify filing and Freedom of Information Act responses. The planner also told the board the town currently lacks a town engineer; projects requiring engineering review will be sent for outside peer review, with escrowed funds from applicants and an expected peer‑review turnaround of roughly one month depending on project complexity.

The board voted to accept the April 1, 2026 minutes as written (voice vote recorded as 3–0). Members also discussed the next meeting date (currently June 3) and agreed to circulate more information about an opening for a member on the Comprehensive Water Resource Management Committee before appointing someone.

The meeting adjourned after the posted agenda was completed.