Zack Burns Resignation from Select Board
March 31, 2022
Dear members of the Stow Select Board, Town Administrator, and Town Clerk:
Due to professional reasons, I am submitting my resignation as a member of the Select Board of the great town of Stow effective April 1, 2022. I recently accepted a once-in-a-lifetime professional opportunity, and I cannot be a fiduciary of any other organization; this includes being an elected official. Moreover, due to this opportunity, my husband and I will be moving from Stow in the coming weeks.
When my husband and I moved to Stow in 2018, we were ecstatic about putting down our roots, building our family, and being part of this fabulous community. We had the home of our dreams and the neighbors we have always wanted. We are still in awe of this amazing Stow community, especially its environmental and conservation efforts and its renewed energy in social justice.
I chose to get involved in our local government to make a difference. In my short time living in Stow, I recommended the hiring of our police chief who is transforming the way local policing ought to be done; served on our Finance Committee; and now as a Select Board member where I also serve as a representative to Capital Planning and MAGIC. Since my election, we created a Green Advisory Committee, committed funds from ARPA to solve community issues, and focused on creating a diverse and inclusive community. I am grateful for being entrusted with our community's tax money to make tough allocation decisions. Moreover, I am grateful for the Stow community standing behind me when I needed to take tough votes and to make pointed statements about the way our Select Board and other town boards ought to be doing business. We have accomplished a lot, but there is much more to be done.
To my fellow Select Board members, I wish you the best in securing a bright future for the town of Stow. There are many deep tensions we have dealt with over the last many months, and there are many yet to come. I wish you the best in making these decisions and ensuring no one voice, especially when placed into a role on the Select Board, speaks louder than the other voices: the board only speaks as one.
I can't wait to cheer the town's continued success, especially as the town confronts substantial infrastructure needs. In particular, I want to thank our Town Administrator for her vision, drive and transparency through which she leads Stow. Stow is very lucky to have such an accomplished, dedicated, driven and brilliant person at the helm.
Finally and most importantly, to my fellow residents, my neighbors in Stow: thank you for being genuinely great people and stewards of our future. Please continue to take care of each other.
With love and appreciation,
Zack Burns