Norton Planning Board Elects New Leadership, Loses Town Planner in Same Night

NORTON -- April 21, 2026, Norton Planning Board reorganizes unanimously and launches fall zoning planning as town planner departs. The board elected Alan as Chair, Steve as Vice Chair, and Bridget as Clerk in six consecutive unanimous roll-call votes at its April 21 annual reorganization meeting, with Steve also confirmed as SRPEDD representative and newly appointed as the Historic District Commission liaison. The meeting doubled as a farewell for outgoing Town Planner Paul, who delivered a comprehensive training session for the board's two new members, Chris, elected the prior week, and Robert Balaz, who joined briefly by video while traveling, covering special permit standards, the Mullen form process, and Open Meeting Law obligations. Alan announced the town planner vacancy will not be filled before spring Town Meeting and that he plans to spend more time in the planning office during the transition. On fall Town Meeting priorities, Steve argued for loosening dimensional regulations on commercial and industrial parcels to allow multiple buildings per lot, which Alan called "probably the most fiscally impactful" item the board could pursue.