Pepperell Planning Administrator Resigns as OSRD Bylaw Effort Reaches Critical Stage

PEPPERELL — September 19, 2016 — Pepperell Planning Administrator Sue Snyder resigned effective September 30, citing an "undesirable atmosphere" following a four-month paid administrative leave. Snyder read her resignation letter aloud at the September 19 Planning Board meeting, telling members she could no longer continue and that her "health and well-being needs better." The board, which expressed regret but took no formal vote to accept or reject the resignation, now faces three pressing deadlines without dedicated staff: the Emerson Village road-acceptance vote on October 3, a rescheduled public hearing on a Dunkin' Donuts drive-through application on October 24, and a push to finalize the town's Open Space and Resource Development bylaw for Spring Town Meeting before the 2007 master plan expires at the end of 2016. At the same meeting, board members and outside consultant Mark worked through substantive defects in the draft OSRD regulations, including conservation-area language they said would effectively prohibit development on nearly every undeveloped parcel in town.