By Allen Vander Meulen
I’ve known Gary Taylor for nearly 15 years. He and his wife Susan were one of the first people we met when we moved into our home on Beaver Pond Rd.
I think we all are very aware of the many years both Gary and Susan have invested in service to the town, in many roles and in many ways. So, instead of dwelling on his many qualifications, I thought I’d share two tidbits that speak to me of Gary’s thoughtfulness and long-term dedication to many of the issues central to the challenges and controversies of the present.
Back in 2014 or so, I attended a Planning Board meeting. Following that meeting, Gary took the time to talk at length with me about his concerns over the erosion of moderate-priced housing in Lincoln, and how economic realities plus the regulatory structure at the local, state, and federal levels all conspired to promote the creation of housing for folks at the low end and high end of the income scale, but nothing for those in the middle. This is precisely the challenge that the Housing Choice Act seeks to address.
Now, this was around the time I joined the Housing Commission, and I was still quite the newbie in that arena. Even so, Gary made sure his concerns were clear, and that I clearly understood the “bigger picture” of housing, not just whether Lincoln could keep its SHI (Subsidized Housing Inventory) percentage above 10% as mandated by state law. I learned a lot in that conversation, and as a result the concerns he raised have been part of my own thoughts and work ever since.
In 2017 I ran for the Select Board against Jennifer Glass — and (rightfully) got stomped. (Mainly, I think, because it was clear I had neither the experience nor the connections within the Lincoln community to be in such a position — yet.) Even so, Gary and Susan went out of their way to host a neighborhood coffee for Jennifer and me during that campaign so their Lincoln neighbors and friends could meet both candidates and hear what they had to say. They didn’t have to do that, and I’m sure they knew that I had little or no hope of winning that election. But it was important to them to facilitate communication and understanding for all. And frankly, I learned a lot from that evening myself: not just meeting many Lincolnites I hadn’t met before, but also hearing what they felt was important for us to learn, no matter who won that race.
So to me, that’s who Gary Taylor is: a man who has spent a very long time working to make Lincoln a more inclusive, welcoming, and diverse community. A gracious and a good friend, an attentive listener, a deeply thoughtful and knowledgable speaker, a creative and reliable worker, and someone who remains diligent in working for the town’s best interests.
Please join me in re-electing Gary Taylor to the Planning Board.
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I couldn’t agree more.