After Nearly Two Decades, Blackstone Looks Again at Hiring a Town Planner

There’s renewed momentum behind hiring a Blackstone Town Planner—a position that’s been budgeted for the last few years but unfilled, and vacant for close to 18 years. Although the idea resurfaced in 2023, it never resulted to a hire. Now, with recent discussions at the Board of Selectmen, the push appears to be picking up again.

At the June 3 Board of Selectmen meeting, Planning Board Chair Paul Marvelle—joined by longtime consultant Gino Carlucci—presented a renewed effort to finalize a job description and begin the hiring process. The discussion included potential regionalization with Mendon, a clear next step to update the planner role drafted originally ten years ago, and broad agreement that it’s time for action.

“We’ve been operating without a planner for far too long,” said Marvelle. “We’re always going to be reactive instead of proactive without someone in that role. And even though the Planning Board is pushing for this, the position would support the entire town.”

A Longstanding Discussion

Discussions about hiring a Town Planner aren’t new. As far back as February 2023, the role was requested with the previous Board of Selectmen, noting that the town’s planning consultant was handling both administrative and advanced work. At the time, then–Town Administrator Dori Vecchio recommended starting with 9–10 hours per week and gradually increasing to 15–20 hours, with corresponding budget adjustments over time. By FY2023, a part-time planner line was officially added to the Planning Board’s budget.

The Town Planner position has appeared in the town’s operating budget for the past three years, with funding increasing from $15,000 to $50,000 in FY2024—a 233% jump that was approved by voters. That amount remained flat in the FY2025 and FY2026 budget. Around the same time, the Blackstone Planning Board eliminated a separate part-time Planning Secretary position—signaling a shift toward consolidating and strengthening long-term planning support through professional staffing.

Yet despite this funding and structural change, the Town Planner role has never been filled. In the meantime, the Planning Board—a group of elected volunteers who meet once a month—has continued relying on part-time support from Gino Carlucci, a planning consultant who has worked with the town for 15 years.

“Gino’s been a tremendous help, but we don’t get him during the day,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Dan Keefe. “When residents come into Town Hall with questions, there’s no one — and if they reach out to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about then they run with the wrong narrative.“

Though it’s unclear when or how actively the part-time role was advertised in the past—no candidate was ever hired. If the funding has been in place and the need has long been acknowledged, why hasn’t the role been staffed? Whether it’s due to challenges in recruitment, administrative turnover, or a lack of clear direction, it’s a question worth revisiting—especially at a time when many residents are keeping a close eye on budgets, salaries, and hiring decisions.

Moving Forward: Job Description and Regional Collaboration

Planning Board Chair Paul Marvelle says the last time Blackstone updated the Town Planner job description was in 2021. Now, the Planning Board wants to review and refine that draft with input from the current Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Chad Lovett to reflect how the town’s needs have evolved and prepare for recruitment.

During the meeting, Selectman Mary Bulso was the first to raise the idea of regionalization—partnering with a nearby town like Mendon to share a planner and reduce costs. She asked whether Blackstone should revisit that option as it explores how to move forward.

Planning Board Chair Paul Marvelle responded:

“That’s something we looked into before… it kind of fell through the cracks. But yeah, we’re open to anything.”

Selectman Gino Olaes followed up, offering to help move the process forward:

“How do we work together to get a proper job description to get the recruitment process going? Can we work to finalize it so we can advertise, and at the same time look into regionalization if Mendon is interested?”

Marvelle agreed, adding that while they had a draft from 10 years ago and another from 2021, it’s important to revisit it and update it before moving ahead.

If regionalization is pursued, the Town Administrator would need to coordinate with Mendon officials. If Mendon employs the planner, Blackstone could contract with them for shared services.

In the meantime, the consensus was to advertise the position as part-time based on the current $50,000 budget, while also exploring the regionalization option in parallel.

What Would a Town Planner Actually Do?

Carlucci emphasized that a Blackstone Town Planner would provide regular, in-house guidance not only to the Planning Board, but also to Zoning, Conservation, Historical, and other town departments.

“A planner would attend staff meetings, review development proposals, assist with grant writing, and most importantly, be available to residents and developers who need direction,” he explained.

Selectman Board Chair Dan Keefe clarified that while the role would support the Planning Board, it would operate under the direction of the Town Administrator and work cooperatively with all town departments. “This person will serve an elected board but also support appointed people and departments across town,” said Keefe. We need someone who can tie all these efforts together.

A Moment of Reflection: “I Feel Good About Tonight”

As the discussion wrapped up, Planning Board Chair Paul Marvelle shared a personal reflection on how collaborative the conversation had been.

“Coming from where I’ve been with previous administrations, I feel really good about tonight,” he said. “A couple of years back, I wouldn’t be here discussing this—I would’ve just been shot down. I feel good, I’m glad you guys are reaching out to us. The Planning Board really needs to work with everybody, and I believe the Selectmen need to work with everyone also. I’m very happy with the outcome—even if we don’t get it.”

Marvelle’s remarks underscored how important mutual communication and respect are in achieving shared goals—especially on issues like long-term planning that affect the entire town.

His reflection also highlights a broader challenge: How can town government ensure that volunteers and boards feel heard, supported, and included in the process? When collaboration is prioritized, it not only strengthens decision-making but also fosters a more unified community.

If this renewed effort to bring a Town Planner to Blackstone moves forward, it could do more than improve how the town plans for growth. It may also signal a shift toward deeper cooperation—bringing boards, departments, and residents together to shape Blackstone’s future.

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Why This Matters to Blackstone Residents

A dedicated Blackstone Town Planner would give residents, businesses, and boards a consistent, in-house resource for development, zoning, grants, and long-term growth. With funding already in place—and the potential to share costs through regionalization with a nearby town—now may finally be the time to move forward.

Instead of constantly playing catch-up when challenges arise, a Town Planner could help Blackstone stay ahead of the curve, identify opportunities earlier, and plan more strategically for the future.

Thinking Ahead: Cost, Budget Impact, and Community Expectations

While the current proposal is to advertise the Town Planner position as part-time, several important considerations remain if the town eventually looks to expand it into a full-time role.

At the recent 2025 Annual Town Meeting, many residents raised concerns about salary increases, fiscal responsibility, and tightening town budgets. A full-time planner would likely require a significantly larger salary, as well as benefits and other employment costs not currently accounted for in the $50,000 part-time budget.

These aren’t reasons to stall progress—but they’re real-world factors that town officials and residents alike will need to weigh carefully. As the town works to fill this role, it will be important to ask:

• What level of service can we truly expect for $50,000?
• If the position expands to full-time, what would the total cost to the town be, including benefits?
• Could regionalization help offset some of those costs while still delivering the planning support Blackstone needs?

By raising these questions early, Blackstone can stay proactive—planning not only for the position itself, but also for the financial sustainability of the solution.

Planning Board discussion starts 35:51

Want to Learn More?
The Planning Board will be meeting this Thursday, June 5 at 7:00 PM, and if you have questions or concerns about the Town Planner position, this is the time to engage. Instead of airing frustrations online, consider showing up or reaching out—this is how we move conversations forward.

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Updated at 12NN to reflect link to 2023 Meeting and info