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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2705 FILED ON: 2/27/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 21
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Julian Cyr
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to amend the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Julian CyrCape and IslandsThomas W. MoakleyBarnstable, Dukes and Nantucket 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2705 FILED ON: 2/27/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 21
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 21) of Julian Cyr and Thomas W.
Moakley (by vote of the town) for legislation to change the name and membership of the
Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission. Municipalities and Regional
Government. [Local Approval Received.]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2467 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to amend the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 561 of the acts of 1973, as most recently amended by
2section 1 of chapter 347 of the acts of 2018, is hereby further amended by striking out section 1
3and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
4 Section 1. (a) In order to plan for the orderly and coordinated development and protection
5of the physical, environmental, social and economic resources of the islands of Nantucket,
6including the protection of ground, surface and surrounding waters, natural resources, open space
7and coastal resources, the provision of adequate facilities, including transportation and fair and
8affordable housing, and the preservation of historic resources, there is hereby established the
9Nantucket Regional Planning Commission. 2 of 3
10 (b) The commission shall consist of: 5 members, elected for rotating 3-year terms at the
11annual town election; and 6 members appointed annually to 1-year terms, 1 of whom is a
12representative of and appointed by the planning board of the town of Nantucket, 1 of whom is a
13representative of and appointed by the Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission, 1 of whom is
14a representative of and appointed by the Nantucket Historical Commission, 1 of whom is a
15representative of and appointed by the Nantucket Housing Authority, 1 of whom is a
16representative of and appointed by the county commissioners of Nantucket county and 1 of
17whom is a representative of and appointed by the conservation commission of the town of
18Nantucket.
19 Any vacancy in the elected members shall be filled by a majority vote of the commission
20until the next regular town election, at which a new member shall be elected to serve the
21remainder of the vacated term, if any.
22 In no case shall any of the elected members or appointed members serve on the
23commission for more than 9 consecutive years; provided, however, that this section shall not
24prevent members from serving on other elected or appointed public bodies at any time.
25 SECTION 2. Section 2 of said chapter 561, as so amended, is hereby further amended by
26adding the following paragraph:-
27 The commission shall produce and make available for the annual town meeting a written
28report of its activities, annually.
29 SECTION 3. (a) At the first annual town election held after the effective date of this act,
30the voters of the town shall elect 1 member of the Nantucket Regional Planning Commission for
31a term of 1 year and 1 member for a term of 2 years; provided, however, that if 3 seats are to be 3 of 3
32filled at said election, the voters shall also elect 1 member for a term of 3 years. All subsequently
33elected members shall be elected to rotating 3-year terms pursuant to subsection (b) of section 1
34of chapter 561 of the acts of 1973, as inserted by section 1.
35 (b) Following the first annual town election held after the effective date of this act, the
36terms of members previously appointed to the commission by their respective boards and
37commissions shall terminate and appointments shall be made pursuant to subsection (b) of
38section 1 of chapter 561 of the acts of 1973, as inserted by section 1.
39 (c) Following the effective date of this act, members previously appointed at-large by the
40commission shall continue to serve in such capacity until the date their successor is qualified at
41the regular annual town election held in the calendar year in which their appointed term ends. At
42such election, the previously appointed at-large member of the commission shall be replaced
43with an elected member pursuant to subsection (b) of section 1 of chapter 561 of the acts of
441973. At no time shall the sum of elected members and previously appointed at-large members
45on the commission exceed 5 in total. In all such cases, previously appointed at-large members
46shall serve until successor elected members are elected and qualified.
47 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.