Cademartori Named to Head New Combined Planning & Conservation Departments

Reprinted from Lynnfield Villager, October 10, 2018 -- by Dan Tomasello
Photo headshot Emilie Cademartori

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved an overhaul of the planning and conservation departments recently.

Selectmen Chairman Dick Dalton noted the Conservation Commission and Planning Board have approved Town Administrator Rob Dolan’s proposal to combine both departments and create a director of planning and conservation position.

Emilie Cademartori, the current conservation administrator, previously served as the planning director in Wenham, said Dalton.

Dolan said April Town Meeting approved a line item that allocates $65,000 for the town planner position. The town previously had a planning and land use assistant, Kathy Randele, who worked for the town for 28 years before retiring last year.

“Emilie began her tenure as conservation administrator the same date I started,” said Dolan. “One of the struggles that the town is going to be going through now and in the future is land use. We know that God is not making any more land and the desire to build in this community is at an all-time high, as a number of comprehensive developments have gone before the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board.”

Dolan said the town was looking for a town planner who has experience in land use. He said the town did not want to hire somebody who just graduated college and is new to the planning profession.

“Although we have had an excellent Planning Department, we realized that there is not necessarily a need for a full-time planner,” said Dolan. “Emilie presented herself pretty quickly as somebody who is uniquely knowledgeable and has experience in both planning and conservation in a community very similar to our own.”

Dolan said he met with Cademartori to discuss the proposal.

“I asked Emilie to develop a plan within the budget for both of those departments,” said Dolan. “We sat down for many months with the chairman of the Conservation Commission, the chairman of the Planning Board and Chairman Dalton. We came up with a unique situation that I think is sustainable from a budgetary standpoint, provides the best services for taxpayers and protects our community. It is a full-time position that is budgeted.”

In addition to appointing Cademartori as the director of planning and conservation, Dolan also proposed creating two union positions.

“One would serve as staff for the Planning Board and the other would serve as staff for the Conservation Commission,” said Dolan.

Dalton expressed his support for Dolan’s proposal.

“We have a very special talent in Emilie,” said Dalton. “She has made an impact at Town Hall and is a real contributor. I think this is a win-win for everybody. I strongly endorse her appointment.”

Selectman Phil Crawford agreed.

“I think Emilie has been fantastic since she has been onboard,” said Crawford. “I fully support this new position with her taking over the full-time position for Planning and Conservation with the two assistants.”

Selectman Chris Barrett echoed Dalton and Crawford’s viewpoints.

“Emilie has done a great job for the town of Lynnfield,” said Barrett. “Rob has spoken very highly of the work she has done and I fully support the plan.”

After the discussion, the selectmen unanimously voted to appoint Cademartori as the director of planning and conservation.

Dolan told the Planning Board in August the new department would have a $150,000 budget, which includes $80,000 for Cademartori’s position. Cademartori’s conservation administrator salary was $63,550. She succeeded retired Conservation Administrator Betty Adelson.

Cademartori thanked the selectmen and Dolan for appointing her as the director of planning and conservation.

“I want to thank the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Dolan for the opportunity to expand my role here and formally create a Department of Planning and Conservation,” said Cademartori in an email sent to the Villager. “Planning and conservation go hand in hand, and I look forward to serving both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board.

“My goal is to serve the residents of Lynnfield in the best, most efficient and most cost-effective way,” Cademartori continued. “In a small town with limited staff, it is critically important that departments communicate and work together. I came to Lynnfield coincident with the retirement of two long-time town employees. I have big shoes to fill and look forward to the challenge.”