Trudel Resigns From Planning Board Seat, Setting Up Joint Appointment

Nantucket Planning Board member John Trudel III is resigning from his elected seat on the permitting board, setting up an appointment process to select a candidate to serve one of the two remaining years of his term. 

Trudel, who is in the middle of his second term on the board that expires in 2026, submitted a resignation letter Wednesday to Nantucket director of planning Leslie Snell. 

"It has been my honor and privilege serving the community of Nantucket for the past nine years," Trudel wrote in the letter. "I am extremely grateful for the opportunity, however, I believe it is in the best interest of myself, my family, and the community to make this difficult decision." 

Trudel, a licensed realtor and construction supervisor, previously served as chair of the Planning Board. He did not respond to a message seeking comment Thursday afternoon. 

With his resignation coming after the candidate nomination deadline for the May 21st annual town election and with two years left on his term, Trudel's departure sets up a unique process to appoint a successor to complete one year of his term that will run up to the 2025 annual town meeting. 

The Planning Board and the Select Board announced Thursday that interested candidates should submit a committee interest form to the Planning Board at 2 Fairgrounds Road no later than noon on Friday, April 26 explaining their interest and qualifications. 

The appointment for Trudel's seat will then be made jointly by the members of the Select Board and Planning Board at a meeting set for May 22, the day after the town election when incumbent Planning Board chair David Iverson will face challenger Campbell Sutton in a contest for a six-year term. 

"I learned a lot from John as his vice chair," Iverson said. "I have a lot of respect for his preparation and his thoughtfulness applied to every application. John worked hard to find a happy middle on contentious applications. I will miss his perspective."