A social media post shared by Laura Briggs
The Sudbury Housing Trust (SHT) met 8am on 9-10-2026, to review their draft Resolution (recommendations for senior and affordable housing on the Sewataro property) to the Liberty Ledge Sewataro Committee (LLSAC). The LLSAC received the SHT Resolution prior to their meeting later that evening on 9-10-2026.
During the call, Janie Dretler advised her fellow SHT members:
- Revisit the 2019 Sudbury Livable Community Document. Janie noted the report clearly outlines senior living needs, and Sudbury has been relying on the report for transportation needs. Janie noted that housing was also addressed within the report and found it to be informative. {44:45}
- Janie noted her preference for the second version of the proposed Resolution (Town Staff edited the original draft by Jeff Levine) as she felt it spoke more clearly to the mission mandate of the SHT, was collaborative in nature, and language was more clear. {48:31}
- Jeff Levine proposed recommending a land study for the Sewataro property. Jeff erroneously thought the May 2026 Town meeting article for $20K was for a land study, however Janie clarified the $20K Article intent was to hire a person to support the LLSAC Committee with their work in 2026. {53:26}
- Janie asked if the Staff could revisit the second draft where it references low & moderate income housing, noting the words “a Comprehensive Planning Process” were different from Jeff’s wording in his draft. Janie asked if the Staff could explain, from a planning perspective, what “a Comprehensive Planning Process” involves. She recommended the Trust define the wording, so everyone is clear, and to get it on the record. {54:04}
The group complies with Janie’s requests and continues to wordsmith the Resolution.
Towards the end of discussion, Jack Ryan asks if everyone is ready to take a vote, noting Janie dropped from the call. Jack states Janie needs to take a careful position on the proposed SHT Resolution to the LLSAC, as she is a member of the Select Board (SB) and is Chair of the SB.
The five SHT members on the call vote unanimously for the SHT Resolution, in which Janie provided feedback.
If Janie is providing thoughtful edits and consideration for the SHT Resolution, why would dropping from the call before the vote hide the fact that she was clearly involved?
Why not stand behind the fact that you are proposing affordable housing at the Sewataro property?
Commenters noted:
Commenter 1: Possibly Select Board Chair Dretler was conscious of the conflict of interest of SB Chair influencing/shaping (from her spot on the SHT) the recommendation the Liberty Ledge Sewataro Advisory Committee is meant to advise the Select Board about.
In addition to Select Board member Radha Gargeya who is on the LLSAC, that’s two Select Board members advising the Select Board itself on what to do.
Voting on the SHT’s resolution to be provided to the Select Board is the left hand telling the right hand what to do.
Too obvious, so dropping off the call after expressing her support but just before the SHT vote avoids a paper trail.
Commenter 2: Dropping off right before the vote after spending the entire meeting working the committee toward a particular direction is a very transparent attempt to claim you did not vote for something which may cost your votes in an upcoming election.
Commenter 3: This is a poorly disguised effort to manufacture consensus on a matter where none exists. LLSAC survey results clearly show that the SHT and COA resolutions are hopelessly out of touch with the desires of town residents. Those results effectively destroyed LLSAC’s ability to engineer consensus or advocate for development. They immediately moved to Plan B, a coordinated effort that resulted in the SHT and COA passing nearly identical resolutions in favor of development. I suspect we will soon see similar resolutions or expressions of support from other town committees (CPC, SHA, etc.). Recognize these actions for what they are, manipulative efforts of a few individuals attempting to push a viewpoint and agenda that the majority of town residents do not share.
https://imd0mxanj2.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ssr/watch/6aa96e9462a2260002b0c213
