Easton Names New Planning Director

Easton Town Administrator David Colton announced last week that Gary Anderson of Connecticut will take over as Easton's Planning Director beginning Dec. 31.

Anderson will replace Brad Washburn, who left last spring to take a job with the state as the Assistant Director in the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. Land Use Agent Stephanie Danielson has served as the interim Town Manager since Washburn's departure.

Anderson currently serves as Manchester Conn.'s Senior Planner of Comprehensive and Special Projects. Colton said his specialty is long range planning.

Easton residents voted at last spring's town meeting to dedicate $50,000 to update the town's Master Plan.

"I know you have experience with master planning which we’re in the middle of right now so it’s going to be a huge asset for us," Board of Selectmen Chair Colleen Corona told Anderson last week.

Anderson was chosen out of a field of 40 candidates for the $82,000 a year job. He has a Master's Degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Drew University.

He is originally from West Hartford, Conn. He and his wife Sarah have a three-year-old son and newborn baby girl. He said they are currently looking for a house in Easton.

The area is familiar to both of them. One side of his family is from Brockton and Sarah attended Stonehill College before they were married.

Anderson reminisced on the commutes between Drew University and Stonehill to see his future wife.

"I drove back and forth between New Jersey and Easton an awful lot," Anderson said.