Master Plan Survey Bias and Re-Survey
Initial survey results questioned because postcards may have reached only non-resident property owners, prompting a more expensive re-survey via first-class mailing.
The issue arose when the initial Master Plan survey appeared to exclude residents by mailing only to non-resident property owners, prompting calls for a re-survey. The Select Board approved resending costs on 2026-04-20, after which the Planning Board voted twice to conduct a first-class mailing to 1,133 addresses and pause the Land Use chapter.
The Master Plan Survey Bias and Re-Survey issue originated at the Select Board meeting on 2026-04-20 when Mike Salmon requested funding to resend postcards after the initial mailing was lost by USPS, noting a disparity in resident versus non-resident participation.
This request led directly to the Planning Board meeting on 2026-04-21, where members debated that the original survey sent postcards only to non-resident property owners, excluding residents and skewing results toward non-resident input.
M. Salmon and others argued the approach lacked credibility and fairness, prompting a vote to re-open the survey with a first-class saturation mailing to 1,133 addresses and to place the Land Use chapter on hold pending new results.
The same concerns were revisited at the Planning Board meeting on 2026-05-19, where the board again voted to conduct the re-survey with a three-week response window via mailed QR code or link to ensure broader resident participation.
Tara Bamforth countered that response patterns aligned with professional expectations, but the board prioritized inclusivity over the initial data.
The re-survey decision means the Land Use chapter remains paused until the new results are analyzed for meaningful differences.
All residents are affected because the Master Plan sets long-term land use and infrastructure priorities.
A new survey period will occur, giving residents approximately three weeks to respond via a mailed QR code/link; the Land Use chapter remains on hold until results are analyzed.
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