Letter to the Editor

Dykema knows how to gets things done.  A little more than 5 years ago, when I was in my first term on the Holliston Planning Board, Carolyn Dykema decided to run for a seat on the Planning Board.  During her campaign, she talked about the importance of long-term planning, understanding the needs of the town and bringing all parties to the table in order to make good policy decisions.  I was struck by her energy, her balanced approach and her recognition of the importance of collaboration. 

After being elected to the Board, Carolyn showed herself to be a very quick study.  Because of a handful of 40B applications, Carolyn determined that the town needed to regain a measure of control in affordable housing decisions and she decided to draft an Inclusionary Zoning bylaw.  A few years earlier, I had a similar interest and with Barbara Gardner and our town planner we drafted an Inclusionary Zoning bylaw.  But the process of advancing this particular bylaw was complicated and we looked to other, less complex measures to address Holliston’s affordable housing problem and 40B dilemma.  I thought Carolyn’s effort would end in a similar way.

To say that I underestimated her is an extraordinary understatement.  Like all of us Carolyn was working, raising a family and diligently attending to the regular business of the Planning Board.  But in her “spare time” she managed to talk to several officials in other towns that had drafted Inclusionary Zoning bylaws to understand their experience.  She talked to experts in affordable housing to fully understand the legal and practical issues involved.  Then she and our town planner carefully crafted a bylaw. 

Carolyn intuitively understood the political and practical dynamics of such a bylaw.  She would need to bring all parties to the table and also conduct a public education effort to introduce this complex proposal. 

She went to the developer, engineering and legal communities who regularly worked on projects in Holliston because she knew that they had concerns about such zoning changes.  She had several meetings and work sessions where they made changes to the bylaw that improved it rather than gutted it.  She met with several Holliston residents, and contacted the local media to explain the bylaw. 

After a public hearing the Planning Board adopted the bylaw and at the next Town Meeting, Carolyn presented it to the Town.  Her public education effort and collaboration with all parties was so thorough and effective that Holliston adopted the bylaw that just a few years earlier most people did not believe possible.

I have read dozens of letters supporting Carolyn over the past several weeks.  Most of them talk about her leadership, energy, intelligence and compassion.  They are all true; Carolyn is all of these things.  But she also knows the nuts and bolts of creating good policy and moving it through the process.  Her local knowledge and common sense will make Carolyn Dykema incredibly effective in advancing sound public policy that will benefit her constituents and make us proud. 

I encourage you to join me in voting for the most qualified and experienced candidate in this race – Carolyn Dykema.

Len Engel

Holliston Planning Board