An Act relative to local option for associate members of planning boards

This bill (HD 2459) allows Massachusetts cities and towns to create associate members on local planning boards. It permits one associate member if the board has five members, or two if the board has more than five members. Cities and towns must establish their own procedures for filling these associate positions, and associate members can temporarily serve when regular members are absent, unable to act, have conflicts of interest, or if a vacancy exists. The change applies directly to local planning boards under Chapter 40A and Chapter 41 of the General Laws.