Editor’s note: This is the third of three articles on candidates for the Lincoln Planning Board, which has three candidates running for two seats. We featured Steve Gladstone on Thursday and Margaret Olson on Friday. Olson’s piece initially omitted her address and cell phone number, which have since been added.
Jennifer Morris Gundy
To the editor:
My husband, Walter Gundy, and I came to town 24 years ago, just before our third son was born. We loved living in Cambridge, but were outgrowing our condo. We knew Drumlin Farm, Walden and the trails of Lincoln and were delighted to find a home we could afford here. All our boys attended Lincoln Schools. Two went on to L-S and the other to an alternative school in Brookline.
When we arrived, we owned an entertainment lighting business in Somerville with three partners. I was involved in planning and delivering installations for many large theaters and hotels, and became familiar with construction permitting processes and documentation. Later, I left the company to pursue an opportunity in media design and marketing that made fewer travel demands. In 2005 I enrolled at Simmons School of Management to earn an MBA, concentrating on sustainability and entrepreneurship. After graduating, I continued to work as an independent consultant, which gave me more time to volunteer for school, Scouts and church activities, and to become involved with town affairs.
I joined the Lincoln Green Energy Committee in 2009, and was instrumental in developing public forums and achieving Green Communities designation for Lincoln. In 2011, I helped launch a SolarizeMass initiative, in collaboration with Wayland and Sudbury, and served as solar coach. I’m proud that we have been able to apply over $400,000 of grant funding to make Lincoln more energy efficient, and to help add over 300kW of solar power to our energy portfolio. We achieved a great deal, and I believe I can use the knowledge and experience I acquired to help the Planning Board become more effective as well.
Lincoln will be facing several significant decisions within the next three years. We already have plans in place including a Comprehensive Long-Term Plan, a Campus Master Plan, and a Lincoln Station Planning Study to help guide those. However, changing circumstances may force us to take a close look at priorities and see that specific actions are taken to fulfill those plans. In particular, the loss of commercial tenants such as Cambridge Trust Company is going to put pressure on our ability to achieve the vision for Lincoln Station. I believe we need to accelerate processes and motivate compatible developers to work with us in creating a unique and vibrant commercial center that can serve to maintain the diversity in our community and help us feel better connected.
We have a new Planning Director, Jennifer Burney, in place, which should enable the board to focus on policies and policy implementation that produce results for the community as a whole. I’ll be guided by a line from Bob Lemire, a past Conservation Commission chair, who wrote in his book Creative Land Development: Bridge to the Future: “In Lincoln, we build what needs to be built, and save what needs to be saved.”
Sincerely,
Jennifer Morris Gundy
8 Bowles Terrace
781-572-4423 (mobile)
www.jenniemorris.com
Jennie, I am proud to support you as a Plannng Board candidate.
I’d like to add that Sharon Antia has graciously offered to host a coffee time with me, in her home at 165 South Great Road, on Saturday March 12th, 3:30-5:30pm. I’m looking forward to talking with Lincoln voters, and ask that you email Sharon (sharon.antia at gmail.com) if you plan to attend.