Planners Vote in Temporary Replacement for Deceased Member

The Windham Planning Board has named a temporary replacement for the recently deceased Carolyn Webber.

Board alternate Vanessa Nysten will take over Webber's spot on the board following a 6-0-1 vote last week.

Nysten will serve until March, at which point any Windham resident will have the opportunity to run for the remaining year on Webber's term.

Nysten has served as an alternate on the board for the past two years.

Sadly the circumstances are not ones I would choose, that is the passing of Carolyn Webber, who was a good friend of mine, and she is missed and she will never be forgotten, Nysten told the other board members.

But she said they have all set a very good example for her while she has worked on the board, and she has learned a lot from the other planners.

The board also considered alternate Alan Carpenter, a past chairman. But Carpenter conceded before the vote that Nysten was the veteran candidate, and had served the board well.

A third alternate, Jim Fricchione, was not interested in the position as he is a newcomer to the board.

Webber died on June 11 at the age of 72. 

Aside from her role on the Planning Board, she was a member and chairman of the Board of Selectman, a Library Trustee, a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, a member of the Historic District Heritage Commission, a member of the Rail Trail Committee and the Depot Advisory Committee. 

She also served for two years as a state representative.