Consider the Committee
by Elaine Cogan
How committees can assist commissioners in their work.
From PCJ #28, Fall 1997
summaries of other Elaine Cogan articles
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It is said that the camel was designed by committee. That is certainly not a ringing endorsement of what a small group can do, but the metaphor may be appropriate. Committees can get in the way, or even do harm to your planning process -- or be very useful in advancing the work of an over-burdened and over-worked planning board.
The focus of this column is on ad hoc or special purpose committees formed to deal with a particular issue, such as a housing dispute or an internal board matter, rather than standing committees that are part of municipal government or part of the planning board's permanent structure (such as executive or ordinance committees).
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