My name is Daniel Seidman. I have served the town of Tisbury for seven years as a member of the planning board. Last March, the board elected me co-chairman, and in September, I became the chairman. Our current members work well together. Each member offers specific talents that makes the whole organization stronger.

I want to thank the League of Women Voters for the invitation and opportunity to present myself to the community on April 7 at the Tisbury Senior Center. Please take time to watch the video on Channel 15 or on-demand at MVTV.org to help in making a decision for the candidate that will represent you in the best possible way.

Much misinformation and patently false information was espoused by the individual running against me. At one point, a member of the audience suggested to my opponent he should apologize to the planning board for the statements he was making.

Concern was expressed about the zoning in the commercial waterfront district. At the end of last year, I invited Ralph Packard and Phil Hale, two of the people who helped draft the original regulations to a planning board meeting. We had a lively discussion about the area. One thing is certain, we have a working waterfront commercial district. This is a rarity in the eastern seaboard or anywhere in the country. In that sense, the zoning and regulations are a success. Do they need some tweaking, yes, and we, the planning board, are working on that process.

Statements were made about the Beach Road project that is currently under negotiation with Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The planning board and the selectmen held a joint meeting after the planning board reviewed the original proposition. We agreed to a recommendation that required no eminent domain. I recently drafted a response to the latest DOT letter emphasizing their own language taken from the 2006 Massachusetts Highway development department project development and design guide. At 18 chapters plus addendum, it was quite the task to analyze. But it was necessary to provide the town’s reply and cajole the DOT to work with Tisbury in the manner that best suits our goals.

All of our meetings are advertised and open, yet my opponent has attended only one meeting to my knowledge. He makes caustic comments that are meant to inflame without any basis in reality. Change occurs through consensus not through divisive diatribes. Listening to others to formulate a way forward is the process needed to manage and create change. Public buy-in is necessary.

We, as the board, are working on many other issues and concerns presented to us through the vision process. The goal for Tisbury is to a have a diverse economic base that is inclusive and not exclusive. That offers a happy and healthy environment to its citizens. To that end, I ask for your support.

Dan Seidman
Vineyard Haven