Dear Marion voters:

I’m running for the Planning Board for one simple reason: I just love this town. I spent the first 18 years of my life here, then after 35 years of living with my husband (also a Marion native) in many places around the country, we decided to come “home” with our two teenage children. I am delighted that so little changed during my absence, which has clearly not been the case with so many of our neighboring towns. We can thank previous town leaders and other proactive residents for that.

The next three years are crucial ones for Marion as we craft our master plan. As a member of the Planning Board, I want to play a key role in this effort. Various surveys over the years tell us a consistent message: our residents want to keep our lovely, friendly, village-by-the-sea as it is. I get that, and I am in full agreement. Some change is inevitable, however, and not all of it is bad, but managing it is always a challenge. I believe that a proactive rather than reactive approach that welcomes community input and participation is the way forward.

In my view, the most important elements of our master plan are as follows:

The first is to make sure that the appearance, personality, and lifestyle of our special town is preserved. This will require a concerted effort to ensure that any new development fits our desires, needs, and aesthetics. Our bylaws need to be bolstered to give the Planning Board unambiguous legal authority to decline proposals for development that do not benefit our community.

Second, I believe we need to address the business zone along Route 6 between the intersections of Ryder Lane and Front Street. Accidents are frequent in this area, and it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured or worse. Sections of this strip are also downright ugly and an embarrassment as a “gateway” to our lovely town. I would like to begin the process of pursuing state funding to transform this dangerous and unsightly section of Route 6 to a greener, slower, safer zone, which will also attract the kinds of business development that benefit our community. Partnerships with the Sippican Lands Trust, Garden Club, and other town organizations could make this an exciting community-wide project.

Third, continuing the successful efforts already begun by the Energy Management Committee, I believe our Master Plan should promote Marion’s transition to a more energy-efficient community that is increasingly reliant on renewable energy sources. This should be a collaborative effort between the Planning Board and EMC.

Finally, my qualifications: I bring to the Planning Board a background that will serve me well in helping to develop the master plan as well as addressing the board’s routine duties. As a research professor at Rutgers University for over 20 years, I am used to analyzing information, solving problems, and communicating complex issues to various audiences. I will also draw from my service on the town’s Oversight 2015 Committee and Energy Management Committee, which included numerous interactions with the Planning Board and required familiarity with the zoning bylaws. If you’ve read my many letters to the local newspapers in recent years, you’ll know that I don’t shy away from debate but I express my perspective with respect for the views of others.

The next three years are extremely important ones for the Planning Board and our town. A clear, well considered, and proactive master plan will help protect Marion from unwanted change yet also encourage the kinds of development that will contribute to our economy and meet the needs of our residents. My parents, Jean and Earl Briggs, set a terrific example for me by serving on numerous committees in Marion over the years. As a Marion “native,” I also would like the opportunity to give back to this community that has meant so much to me and my family.

Please take a few minutes of your day on May 15 to exercise your vote and help guide the future of this town.

Jennifer Francis,

Marion