September 3, 2025 Planning Board Regular Meeting Transcript - WEHI

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 8 Essex Highlands and they've requested an independent geotechnical engineer be retained to assess the risk of the properties. You know, applicants are required to establish escrow funds for this purpose. To hire independent experts. And particularly where public safety is at issue there can be no excuse for not retaining a truly independent expert. We cannot task the boards contract engineer with being the arbitrator of opposing experts. I think it's imperative that we have an independent geotechnical engineer. CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you, Council Person Scarpa. Okay. Do any other members of the board agree? Council Person Scarpa, our engineer and our planner are the towns and our independent expert. That's why we call on them. So -- and they do have, CME does have geotechnical experts, so we will wait to hear back from what they have to say and then the board will decide. If they feel in their estimation that they need other outside help, they will inform the board, but at this moment they are always and has been our independent planning. COUNCIL PERSON SCARPA: I just feel that an unbiased --