New planning board chair also new liaison to master plan committee

LACONIA — Doreen Joyal Richards got involved in city politics to see how regulations and infrastructure decisions affected her property and community. Now, she serves as chair of the Laconia Planning Board.

Richards was born and raised in the city, attending Laconia schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. She holds a doctor of health science and two master of education degrees, and currently works as a learning design consultant at Boston College, and adjunct professor at several schools, including Lakes Region Community College.

Richards said she began following council and committee discussions closely last winter, and exploring how she could be a “constructive voice in the community.” Through her work in higher education, Richards gained experience in strategic planning, policy development, and leading projects. She was drawn to the city’s planning board, specifically due to the role it plays in the future of the community.

The planning board guides the city's growth through reviewing development proposals, managing land use, and planning for future infrastructure.

The Appointments Subcommittee unanimously recommended Richards for appointment as a regular member of the planning board on March 20, along with former Councilor Bruce Cheney as an alternate. After the subcommittee told Richards the recommendation would go before council, there were efforts to instead appoint Cheney as a regular member, including discussion that violated state Right-to-Know laws between councilors.

In April, Richards was formally appointed as a regular member of the planning board.

“For me, the issue was not about disparaging anyone’s service,” Richards said. “It was about the importance of a transparent and consistent public process — one that honors formal votes, written communications, and the expectation that every resident who steps forward to serve will be treated fairly and with respect.”

Since there is no official onboarding process for planning board members, Richards took it upon herself to connect with Planning Director Rob Mora and Assistant Planning Director Tyler Carmichael, before attending her first meeting, to understand procedure and her role.

The planning board held its annual election on July 7, with the late Charlie St. Clair and Richards both nominated for chair.

“I nominated myself, because I believed my experience in strategic planning, leadership, and navigating complex processes could help the board conduct its work with impartiality, respectful public dialogue, transparency, and consistent adherence to the Rules of Procedure and the standards that govern each application,” Richards said.

By majority vote, the planning board elected Richards as chair. She officially began serving as such at the board’s Aug. 4 meeting. St. Clair had served on the board for a decade.

Richards said due to the fact she and her fellow board members had no true onboarding, she began studying the New Hampshire Office of Planning and Development’s Planning Board Handbook. Through this, she received a certification through the online assessment, gaining a deeper understanding of state law and local guidelines.

“After being elected chair, I created a Planning Board New Member Welcome Handbook, to help current and future members understand the board’s responsibilities, meeting procedures, public-hearing process, and key resources,” Richards said.

She met with Mora and Carmichael to finalize the completed version, sharing it with the board and making the handbook available as a link in the Aug. 4 meeting agenda.

Richards said the handbook should be treated as a reference document, and “the staff report remains the primary working document for the board’s review of an individual application.”

After St. Clair's death on Aug. 22, Richards took over his liaison role to the Master Plan Steering Committee, attending their Aug. 27 meeting. The board and committee stay tightly connected in order to carry out the city’s long-term master plan.

Richards emphasized the importance of speaking up in local politics. She said as homeowners and residents of Laconia, it is easy to see things on social media which misrepresent the issues.

“I think that the important piece is getting things from the horse's mouth, not from social media and just hearsay,” Richards said. “Just understanding right there what's happening in the community, and how you can actively be involved, and use your voice to be able to support, or not, support different areas.”

Richards stressed the importance of showing up.

“I take the time to go to the council meetings, so that I can understand what's going on in the city. And if I don't like it, I can share that concern, and it doesn't have to always be butterflies and rainbows,” Richards said. “It's always going to be, we can agree to disagree on things. But if I hear it and I see it happening, and talk about it and get the questions answered, that's really the best method of doing it, is being present.

“For me, this is ultimately about giving back to the community where I was raised, and where my family chose to build its life, helping ensure that Laconia’s planning process is fair, well-prepared, transparent, and focused on the city’s long-term future.”