Patrick Welch
Context
Select Board member who appears to be vice chair (inferred from the Oct 15 discussion of the "chair and vice chair"; not confirmed). Reviewed the town's letter with the Town Manager. Pushed on how the bylaw's commercial-only sections interact with recreational and town drones.
On Oct 13 recused himself from the retiree insurance item because his spouse is a town employee. Set three tests for the drone bylaw (appropriate, effective, legally permissible) and moved from caution about rushing to supporting an aggressive combined draft.
Issues
- Citizen Petition Signature Threshold - moved Article 6
- Amazon Prime Air Drone Hub - Select Board member weighing the town's response
- Unmanned Aircraft General Bylaw - reviewed and voted on the draft
- Amazon Drone Federal Review Letters - supported the town's letter
- Amazon Prime Air Site Plan and Zoning Appeal
- Retiree Health Insurance Plan Change
Log
- 2026-10-19 - Special Town Meeting - Moved and explained Article 6; answered drone bylaw questions (noise, enforcement per flight).
- 2026-10-15 - Select Board - Questions on commercial versus all drones; helped review the town's letter to the FAA and Amazon.
- 2026-10-13 - Select Board - Recused on retiree insurance; framed tests for the drone bylaw and weighed timing; supported Article 7.
- 2026-10-08 - Democratic Town Committee Special Town Meeting Warrant Review - Thanked by a delegation speaker at the Democratic Town Committee forum (not an official meeting) for responding quickly to the drone issue.
- 2026-10-01 - Select Board - Read prepared remarks with four requests: support Article 8, require a special permit under the zoning "airport" definition, reject the application under the 400-foot noise rule (section 8.3A), and keep up state and federal dialogue.
- 2026-10-21 - Page created from the published roster.