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Date: 6/13/2023
SOUTHAMPTON — Mark Darnold and Stephen Thor Johnson won seats on the Planning Board in local elections this spring. Both residents bring significant experience in municipal planning to the work of the town.
The board achieved a quorum on June 7, though Paul Diemand was the only board member in attendance from the previous lineup. Darnold told Diemand and Johnson that he’s been a town resident for almost 40 years. He retired from his career as a civil engineer, where he reviewed plans for subdivisions, as well as site plans for a variety of projects in several small towns in Western Massachusetts.
“I’ve been to innumerable Planning Board meetings, throughout Massachusetts and New England, so I have a little bit of experience,” Darnold said. “I look forward to working with the town.”
Diemand recalled seeing Darnold presenting to the Northampton Planning Board in the past, when Mary Ford was the mayor. He anticipated Darnold teaming up with Paul Furgal, the other engineer on the board, in dealing with the technical details that often come before members.
While Darnold is a longtime resident, Johnson moved to Walcott Road two years ago. He attended primary school in South Hadley and Gill, studied biology and ecology at the undergraduate level, “then a masters degree in planning.” He was employed in real estate development, worked for three different land conservancies, regional and national, and for state government. Most recently he served on the Conservation Commission of the town of Lincoln.
“I have a familiarity with plans, starting with my dad. It’s his 91st birthday today,” Johnson said. “He took me backpacking in the White Mountains. We would read topographic maps every time we stopped for a snack, [so] plans are a dear friend of mine.”
Johnson anticipates contributing his services to the town. He will be busy. He was also elected to the Selectboard.
“I’m happy to have someone with a planning background, and conservation, because we deal with a lot of those issues as well,” Diemand said. “Hopefully your schedules won’t conflict too much.”
Johnson’s specific roles were assigned during the annual reorganization of the Planning Board that follows the yearly elections. Johnson was already an at large member of the Open Space Committee and will now serve as the Planning Board representative and the liaison from the Selectboard.
Johnson was excited to represent the Planning Board on the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. He voiced a desire to stay focused on the future.
“I’ve heard a lot of sentiment about economic development in Southampton, recognizing the limitations we face,” Johnson said. “Our regional planning association will be one of our best allies in identifying and promoting opportunities, along with our elected reps in the state legislature.”
Johnson will serve as the board’s representative to the PVPC. Diemand then nominated Paul Furgal to be the board’s liaison to the Master Plan Implementation Committee, “because he’s not here to defend himself.” Furgal was reinstated to that position, which he held before.
Diemand then looked to Darnold, who is currently on the Public Safety Building Committee, as a representative to the Community Preservation Committee. That body oversees the town’s disposition of the Community Preservation monies contributed by the commonwealth as a match to the town’s own contributions. Residents pay a percentage, up to 3%, in an additional levy, to fund open space, housing and recreational initiatives.
“When the request came before them, some input from planning about some of the projects, I don’t know how much planning was a help,” Diemand said. “I didn’t have a lot of game changing [input]…there, as far as a planning perspective.”
Darnold was voted to represent the Planning Board on the CPC, the last assignment to be made to reorganize for the coming year.