West Newbury Planning Board unanimously elects Rob Phillips as new chair

WEST NEWBURY — June 2, 2026 — West Newbury Planning Board installs Rob Phillips as chair in unanimous leadership rotation. The board voted 4-0 at its June 2 meeting to approve a new officer slate effective immediately, elevating Phillips from vice chair to chair, moving MVPC Representative Brian R. Murphey to vice chair, and shifting outgoing Chair Ann E. Bardeen to the clerk role. Member Deborah R. Hamilton was absent; she has separately indicated a desire to step out of the chair rotation for personal reasons. Bardeen, whose tenure drew praise from Murphey as "a remarkable year to navigate," credited the tradition of rotation for keeping all members practiced in leadership. The board also confirmed that an interim town planner — capped at 10 hours per week at her own request — will begin June 8, and that Associate Member Tim Cronin has already reapplied to continue in that role, with Phillips voicing full support for his continuation.