By Chris Kopacko, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Selectmen held a joint session with the Planning Board during their May 28 meeting in order to interview for a recent Planning Board vacancy.
Edward Newton, Jr. has volunteered to fill the seat left open by the departure of former Planning Board member Trevor Beauregard, who announced his resignation in April after serving for seven years with the board.
Newton – a retired United States Postal Service employee – had previously served on the Westborough Planning Board for 16 years until as recently as 2010, when he decided not to run for re-election. Newton said he decided not to run at the time because he knew he would be retiring within what would have been another five-year term with the Planning Board, and was unsure of where retirement would take him.
“I didn's know where my life was going to take me,” he said. “I didn's want to leave in the middle of my term.”
Newton mentioned that if appointed, he would commit to running for the seat during Town Election next spring, when the seat will be open for an additional two-year term. Currently, Newton works with Mathieu Newton Sotheby's International Realty in Westborough as a Real Estate Professional.
When asked for his thoughts about future business versus residential development in town, Newton responded by saying Westborough still has much vacant business land available.
“Over the years, the Planning Board has created more space for business owners to use,” he said. “I think the Planning Board has always been a pretty business-friendly area.”
Newton was also asked after having served on the board for so long previously, if there was anything he would change.
“I wouldn's change a thing,” he said. “I enjoyed my 16 years on the Planning Board ? now at least I know where I'sl be for the next few years, so that's why I'se committed to volunteer again to serve the town.”
Two other candidates will be interviewed jointly by the Planning Board and selectmen during the selectmen's Tuesday, June 11 meeting.