I echo Tony Thompson’s March 22, 2025, letter that the “discovery” of 588 affordable housing units warrants “fresh eyes” in the town’s Planning and Development Department. The “discovery” is especially concerning [because] town planner Mr. [Lee] Hartmann is the sole town employee who is a member of the Affordable Housing Trust. The responsibility of the Trust is to “assist in identifying housing needs and housing opportunities for all income levels, while at the same time preserving our Town’s character and resources.” (The Select Board appoints the members of the trust). Mr. Hartmann also signs the town’s contracts on behalf of the trust with developers to secure their affordable housing commitments.
Given these responsibilities and roles, Mr. Hartmann should surely know how many units are in the housing stock. Hartmann plays another role while negotiating with developers over affordable housing on behalf of the Town and the Trust – he is a director of the Plymouth Foundation, whose mission is to develop land. Hartmann played a key role in transferring the Cedarville conservation land to the foundation while he was a director of the foundation. The land is now in the hands of developer and sand mining company E.J. Pontiff. How many hats can one town planner wear? Where would his loyalties lie?
– Meg Sheehan